Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-10-07
War Adventures With Joh n
Y. Beall

about the rupture between the North
and South took place, | was living In
Cumberland, Nd, my birthplace, and
was about II years old. Ny father be-
Ing Virginian naturally espoused
the southern cause, and when it be-
came evident that war was inevitable
aud the towns people arrayed them
selves on their respective sides, my
Esther said TO me: "My sou, find that
1t is impossible for me to remain here,
50 l have decided 10 go South. You
may remain here or go with me. If
you go with me you may expect to en-
dure many hardships, wash your own
clothes, cook your own rations and
you may expect to have your head
knocked off, AL. of which | nearly
experienced.
Early in May General then Colonen
Lew Wallace put in his appearance
with regiment ofIndiana troops. In
consequence of that my father con-
cluded to leave Cumberland at once.
We crossed the Potomac at daylight
In skiff and made our way to Rom
ney, where we spent the night. Next
day went to Winchester, where en-
listed in company of Maryland cav
airy commanded by Captain George II.
Gather, which was afterwards assign
ed to the First Virginia Cavalry, com.
manded by j, f. B. Stuart.
Il We left Winchester after Johnston's
army had gone to reinforce Beaure-
gard, but were too late to participate
| in the engagement at Manassas. The
day after, the Cavalry moved to Fair
| fax Court House, where I remained
about one mouth, and then II applied
for transfer to Company G. Second
Virginia Infantry Stonewall Brigade,
which transfer duly signed by John-
son and Stuart ! have to this day.
/ | followed the maneuvers of this
brigade until Kerns;ewn, where / was
severely wounded in the face and taken
prisoner, Owing to the crowded con
dition ofthe Union hospitals l was
cared for at my aunt's IN Winchester
until General Jackson drove Ban ks
out of the valley when | was recap
tured. Not being fit for service, owing
to my wound, went to Richmon d
where | remained for 10 months in the
q. M. ID. under Major John Amber,
and in the Reserve Corps, where I
took part in sorties to repulse the raj DIS
about Richmond.
| In Sept. 1858, me. John ". Beall,
who been private in my company
and who had been wounded near Har-
pers Ferry. He had received COM
mission AS Acting Master in the Nav y,
and his party numbered Is. l joined
him at Horn Harbor, Matthews coun-
ty., and we first proceeded TO Raccoon
Island, near Cape Charles. Our feet
consisted of 2yawls, one painted white
and the other black and we christen-
ed them the "Swan" and the "Rayenu
espectively. On the 2lst of Septem-
Der lying Off Cape Charles we captured
the yankee sloop "Mary Ann" and
two fishing scows, which we took to
watch Sprig Inlet, on the Atlantic
coast where we saw the 200 ton schoon-
er "Alliancc" of Providence, r. /. and
laid plans to capture it, which we did
| about Midnight, Notwithstanding the
equinoctiai gale which was blowing. 1
was in the "Swann commanded by
Beall and we approached the "Alli-
ance" on the lee side and boarded
without difficulty, but Mcdonald who
approached on the windward side was
Jess fortunate. The raven was dashed
against the side of the schooner, her
! tiller broken and Mcdonald thrown
overheard. His men fished him out
however, and they boarded success
fully. The party was divided, half GO
Ing forward to capture the crew and
| half going after to look after the cap
tain and mates. They were playing
dominoes in blIssful ignorance of the
nearness ofany Confederates, and were
naturally surprised, but Captain Ire
land made move to resist, until warn
ed by Mcdonald with cooked pistol,
that such move was dangerous. He
subsidized and was put into the
hold with the rest Of the crew while
we occupied the cabin and investigat-
ed The cargo which we found to be
sutler goods Of all descriptions of enor-
nous value to the Confederacy at such
time.
Next morning we boarded and cap
tured three more sloops. These, with
the others, we ran out to see, scuttled
them and turned them loose with the
jibs up and the helm hard down. This
made them sail in circle until they
were picked up, an account OF which
we afterwards saw in northern paper.