The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-14
HELD HIS HONOR
HIGHER THAN LIFE

BALTIMORE. MD. Special. The
death and burial last week at Staun
ton, Va, of John McCue a welI-knownl
engineer and member OF one OF the
first families" of the Old Dominion.
recalls to many old residents OF Balti-
more an interesting trial by court
martial in this city in Civil War
times. AS boy of fifteen and a Con
federate soldier. John McCue was
tried for his life as a spy and was
only saved through the hard work and
influence OF prominent Baltimoreans.
When the war broke out the spirit
of the South of 81 beat high in the
breast of young John McCue, but he
was mere boy-twelve years old
and his father, Captain John McCue.
ST., who had himself Joined the Con-
tederate Army, forbade the boy en-
listing. To keep him out of trou-
BILE young McCue was sent to the
Virginia Military Institute where il
was thought the gray uniform and
drilling would be sufficient to satisfy
his military appetite.
The war dragged on class after
class of sturdy youngsters left the in
stitute TO join the Southern army. but
still John McCue was too young.
Then came the dark days OF 1864
when the beautiful Valley OF the
Shenandoah was overrun with the
blue troopers. In those days in Vir-
ginia boys became men in a day. and
the Virginia Military Institute cadets
were ordered to join the little army
gathered to oppose the march Of the
invaders. They fought at New Mar
ket and historian and poet have told
how the boys of the Virginia Military
institute charged up to the muzzles
of the Federal cannon, bayoneted the
gunners and planted their little flag
on the battery.
But the fame won by the cadets on
the field of New Market was denied
John McCue. When the cadets march
ed to meet the foe they left at the in
sutute a dozen weeping boys. too
small even to march with their COM
them.
Join MOsby's Rangers.
That was the last straw A few
weeks later there rode into the camp
of Mosby's Range-Mosby, the que
rilla-a mite OF a boy on a pony al
most as small. 1t was John McCue.
who had run away from school.
I want to enlist" stammered the
stranger.
A roar of laughter went up from
the hardened veterans Of many
fight, and the lads face turned pur-
pie.
Where's your arms?" asked q
ranger. trying to look serious.
I've got a pistol" said McCue.
producing toy such as boys used to
There was another shout of laugh
ter. and Judge Dorsey, OF Howard
county, one of the rangers. said:
My boy, il you shot me with that
I'd think mosquito had bitten me-"
But the rangers knew a man when
they saw one, no matter what his
age and size, and John McCue was al
lowed TO stay with the band to SHOW
his mettle." He did not have long to
wait There were few intermissions
in the Great American drama of the
sixties. When the rebel yell rang
out on the Valley air and the Colts
began to pop. John McCue rode in the
front rank Of gray. In the melee he
rode up to a Federal cavalryman,
thrust his tiny pistol in the mans
hNe minutes later, mounted on a big
horse branded ~. S." and with car
bine slung over his shoulder and big
Colt in hand, John McCue Joined in
the chase.
Captured in Maryland.
Soon afterward McCue and several
comrades were scouting in Maryland
when they ran full tilt into a party OF
Federals. In the fight McCue was
Knocked from his horse. and, after
struggle, was helpless in the grasp OF
big soldier in blue.
Young McCue was brought to Bal
timore and locked up in Fort McEen-
~ to be tried for his life as a spy. At
that time his father. Captain McCue.
was a prisoner of war in Fort Della
ware and the frantic father wrote to
Mrs. Robert Hull, Of Baltimore. to try
TO save his boy. Mrs. Hull went at
once to Captain Wigel. provost mar
shall of Baltimore, and explained the
case TO him, asking permission to en-
ploy lawyer to defend McCue. Cap
tain Wigel gave her the permission.
but advised her not to employ a "se-