Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-19
a big rock under il.

take position on foot along the railroad.
While they were lying around in groups
trying to keep warm for it was cold,
frosty, wet night, the guard who had been
left with the horses came galloping toward
us, shouting:
"The Yankees are comingp'
every trooper OF us made quickly for
our animals and when we got there ex-
pected TO receive rain of bullets. We
listened, but could not hear sound. The
guard had been frightened by sow and
her pigs running through the dry autumn
leaves. Thoroughly disgusted, we went
back to the railroad, after Col. MosbY had
used some language toward the guard
that cannot be found in Sunday school
books. AS punishment the colonel
threatened TO send the fellow back to the
army, which was dreaded by all the
rangers.
"Col. Mosby, who was never known
to sit down or stand still when in expec-
fancy of fight, being wiry, nervous
man, walked up and down in front Of his
men cracking jokes with them. Sudden
ly there came the sound OF locomotive
whistle and the distant sound OF an ap-
preaching train. The troopers ,sprang TO
their feet at his command, and Lieut.
Hatcher was ordered to take one man
and 90 down the track hundred yards.
with instructions to fire if there was a
guard on the train. If there was no guard
he was not to fire.
"Lieut. Grogan was directed to form
the rest OF the troopers on the bank op-
posite the obstruction on the track. We
had just taken our positions when we saw
| the headlight of the locomotive. Then
the train came laundering past us. This
was between two and three O'Clock in the
morning, October IA, 1864.
at was fast westbond train going at
full speed. We saw no guards on the
cars and consequently did not fire our
Cdlulileo vi plSlOlS.
Some nervous rangers fired his re-
volver when the train reached the post
and there was return fire from the train,
but no one was killed. When the engine
struck the distractions il tumbled over
into the other track. The train was not
badly wrecked, and besides general
iolting the passengers were not seriously
injured.
Hatcher and myself rushed down the
embankment and were soon in the rear
coach. There were ten choaches in the
train. We rushed in, pistols in hand, ex-
pecting to be confronted by some soldiers.
But to our surprise we found the train al
most filled with the gentler sex. When
the ladies discovered that we were Mos
by's men they Sprang up and down and
gave vent TO screams the like OF which |
had never heard before.
Owe begged them to be seated, ex-
planning that we would not iniure them,
but that only added fuel 10 the flames.
They had no doubt read such exaggerated
stories about lis in the northern newspa-
pers that they believed US to be horned
deSperadoes.
"The conductor was ordered TO gather
his passengers in the field beside the
tracks so we could burn the train. There
were few private soldiers and several
officers on the train, including Major Rig
giles and Major Moore, paymasterS OF the
Union army. Moore had SOS. 900 Of gov
ernment money with him, while RiggleS
had 100000, making in all Sl68,OOO.
Charley Dear got Major Riggles and West
Aldrige got Major Moore. These two
troopers, with the gallant Irishman, Lieut..
Grogan, and one of our best guides were
dispatched at once for home.
eve were left behind to finish up the
job. The front coach was filled with en-
igrants going west The foreigners could
not understand our commands TO vacate
the coach, but clung TO their effects and
set up great iabbering, gesticulating
wildly.
Colonel one of Our men said, we
can't get these foreigners off the train
"'Then, burn them, was Mosby's re-
ply.
"a bundle OF newspapers was taken
from a newsboy and match applied TO
them. These were flung among the emf
grants. They understood the language Of
the fire and rushed pell NELL from the car,
like bees out of gum. The troopers
seized the lamps from their brackets and
scattered the burning oil about. In few
minutes the entire train was ablaze.
GAS the roots of the cars began to fail
in, we gave the rebel yell and made for
our horses, leaving the passengers all in
a huddle and the conductor trying to pac-
ify them. The engineer, fireman and an
other man were killed by the locomotive,
which was perfect wreck. We had
number of prisoners-Union soldiers who
were on furIough and going TO their homes.
These we took on our horses behind us.
We crossed the Shenandoah and when
we reached Bloomfield the money We had
filched from Uncle Sans treasury as the
spoils of war divided among the troopers,
amounting TO about s. 900 for each of the
men in the raiding party. For a time
greenbacks were plentiful in that part of
Virginia"
Soldier BaIks Death Plot.
II seemed 10 J. A. Stone, a civil war