Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-19
Big Haul Made By Mosby's Men at
DuffieIds.

Big Haul Made By Mosby's Men at
DuffieIds.
An account of the greenback raid made
during the civil war by Col. MoSby and a
detachment OF his troopers was related
before the Washington History Club re-
Gently by Thos. V. Lake, who was a
member Of Company A, Ard Battalion OF
Virginia Cavalry (Mosby's mem. In
prefacing his description of the raid Mr..
Lake said
"While none of us have any apologies
TO make, believing that we put up the
very best fight that was in US, and that
our cause was right, yet | am thankful TO
Almighty God that He has again brought
us into one united brotherhood-our one
common country today the mightiest in
the world, and know that we have sons
who would 90 even further than we did
in defense of it. If the world believes
otherwise. just let some nation knock the
chip off our shoulder"
GAS TO the greenback raid, October IL,
1864" continued Mr.. Lake, "a detach-
ment of Mosby's men, of which was
member, crossed the Shenandoah river at
Castleman's Ferry about dark and moved
off in the direction of Bunker Hill, on the
turnpike between Martinsburg and Win
chester. Occasionally one OF our fellows
would lose his hat by having it knocked
off by tree limb. Our party consisted
OF between 60 and 65 men. AT sunup
October 13, the command was halted in
piece of woods close to the pike. II was
a splendid place from which TO view and
command the road there being consid-
erable hill. Col. MoSby and few of the
men were on the hill with field glass.
We had not been there long before pa
troll OF II or Is Federal cavalrymen were
seen approaching.
"The colonel instructed me TO order
Lieut.. Grogan TO take 10 or II men and
90 out on the pike below, and to order
Lieut.. Harry Hatcher to take an equal
number of men and come out on the pike
behind the Federals after they had passed
by. Hatcher requested me to 60 along
with his party and did so. Just before
we struck the pike we heard Grogan's
men firing, and soon the Federals came
back just in time for us to
meet them.
$50 the Federal cavalry had nothing TO
do but surrender or scatter over the fields,
which a few did, but they were soon
captured. We had just gottogether again
when another party of horsemen were
seen coming along the road from the di-
rection of Winchester. There were about
10 Of them and they wore grey uniforms.
That Federal command was known as
Jesse Scouts. They wore the grey to
deceive the Confederates. They were
finely mounted and were about as fearless
a set of fellows as we ever struck. They
were evidently picked men. Col. Mos
by sent me with the same orders TO the
same officers.
''Lieut. Hatcher again asked me to 90
with him. entered protest and said
there were other men who had not been
out on chase. Besides, my horse, II had
a very fast black mare, was tired.
"Oh, come on and 60 with us, he said,
and so went. But before we struck the
pike this time the Jesses were rushed
back on us, so we had running fight.
The ground beside the pike was very
rough, having been made so by the pas
sage OF the army when the ground was
muddy. One fellow got out in front of
me on the rough ground and it was not
long until his horse fell and right over
him and his horse | went. Then there
was the worst sort Of amixup. My horse
turned complete somersault and l. saw
myriads OF stars in the daytime for the
first time in my life. | thought surely |
had received mortal injuries. When got
up asked one OF the fellows il the cars
had run over any one else. mounted
The horse OF the fellow had fallen over
and rode back to Col. Mosby and his
party, my face all bleeding.
"Your face looks like the Chinese al
phabet, remarked non-sympathetc
Virginia trooper who sat his horse near
The colonel.
Gone of our fellows recovered my mare
and captured two prisoners after chasing
them about couple of miles. We had
some Is or l6 captured horses and batch
Of prisoners. That night we rode off in
The direction of the Baltimore & Ohio rail-
road and struck it at point mile or so
west Of Duffield's depot. There was
deep cut just west of Shenandoah Juno
ion which was an ideal place to throw
rain from the track with the least injury
10 the passengers.
at was clear, starlit night and the
air was chilly. Rhe command was halted
IN a woods close by. Col. Mosby and
our of us rode across small field to the
cut. The colonel asked if there was any
one in the party who knew how to tear
Ip the track. There was no response.
He commanded me TO ride back and get
hrna or four men who kneu hnu To fakn