The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-19
uY W. q. MrDOIyEI.L.

erals Kelley ana Crook. or tho L. s. a.
on tho morning or February Il 1865,
by the Partisan Rangers under Lieu
tent Jesse G. McNeill and few voiun-
teers from Company +, or the Seventh.
aud Company -, of the Eleventh Viz
Binta Cayalry. Rosser'S brigade. Il
total Of sixty MEN. vino. one ana half
hours before dawn, entered Gunbcr
lnnH, Maryland, Il city rf 5000 souls,
;:i surrounded BY an cllranpmcnt OF
5000 To 5000 soldiers accomplishing
one OF the most daring and successful
icnis Of the War Between the States.
4 ] feel that the names Of some Of the
most prominent parties or that raid
have been omitted, whether inten-
,lonallS or not, know not and my
purpose in writing this article IS 10
give honor ~ whom honor is due.
without dctractinG from those whose
names arc mentioned To John b. Fay.
now AN cmploye in the Post-Oficc De-
partnlent at Washington. y. c., more
than to any other individual is due
the successful planning and carrying
ont Of tho enterprise Previous TO
this time Fay had proposed tho cap
,urc OF General Kelley 10 his captain.
John Hanson Mcneil. for the purpose
Of holding him IS hostage for ccr-
tain of McNeills men who We're In
the hands OF kellcy. and whom he was
threatening 10 execute as guerriilas.
Before this movement could be eNccut-
rd the gallant, Captain NrNcill poured
ont his HES blood upon hts country'a
altar in the fall Of 1864, IN a fight
ncnr Mount jackson Va. The COM
Inand Of the rangers then fell upon his
gallant and courageous son. Jesse,
who was next in rank. owing to the
fact that Lieutenant jesse Mcneil had
the reputation OF being excifnblc ana
sometimes indiscrete. General .Iubal
Early hesitatcd to give him full CON
troll Of the rangers. but made several
efforts TO get some one who, In his
opinion. would he moro competent to
Wear the mantle or his distinguished
father. This very naturally nettled
lieutenant Mcneil who determined TO
do some daring act to prove himself
worthy OF wearing a captains bars.
ana knowing Of the suggestion OF Fay
TO his father. he approached Fay, and
consulted him about the feasibility OF
getting into Cumberland, Md, and
capturing Generals Kelley and Crook.
Cumberland WAS Fay's native place.
md ''hc knew II like a book Sew
cral times during the war he had en-
tered IL. remaining for u week at one
time, though large proportion of its
citizens were Northern sympa thZers.
Fay assured Lieutenant Mcneil that
the enterprise was perfectly feasible.
and volunteered TO go and find out
whore these generals We're qunrtcred
city Lieutenant McNeill asked pri-
vate Jacob Gassman, Of Company +.
Seventh Regiment OF Virginia Cavalry,
5 to accompany Fay. AS GassmHns home
had been Cumberland. and he was also
familiar with the city, but Gessman
declined, as he was recovering from n
severe wound. and thought walking
might be necessary on :. part Of the
journey and lie was unable 10 stand
the fatigue, but promised McNell TO
accompany him on his raid. Fay then
chose ii gallant lad from Missouri as
ha companion named G. T. Halter.
not yet out OF his teens, but or we'll
tested courage and prudence. The In
formation secured lEallcr was sent
back 10 inform Mcneil. who started
"a. once on his hazardous undcrtaking
being soon joined by Fay. The capture
or Dickcts and the entrance into the
city has long since become history
SO ] VIII. not detail il interesting MS
it is McNeill came near running the
undertaking by tirhing on one OF the
pickcts outside Of The city. There
We're two details made TO 20 to the two
hotels 10 capture the two generals.
General Kelley was Guartcred al Bar
NUNS Hotel (now the Windsor HotcD,
and the detail for his capture was un-
der the command OF Sergeant joseph
w. Kuykcndall. OF Company +. Seventh
Virginia Cavalry special scout Of
General Earlys, and who had one time
been in the hands OF General Kelley
as a prisoner, and whom Kelley re-
GoSnIzed when commanded to surrend-
er. and who replied when General
Kelley asked TO whom do I surrend-
err ITO me, general At the same
hotel was captured Major Melvin,
kcljey's- acknowledgements. afterwards
Il distinguished judge OF West Vir-
ginia together with the headquarters
n eli iIo,. -,
limo was taking place at the Revere
Hotel. where the party entering the
hotel was in command of Sergeant
Joseph l.. Vandiver. who passed him
self off as General Rosser and under
him were Jacob Gasstnan and Sergeant
Charles James DALEY. Cinssman had
been clerk I'm this hotel, which was
then owned by his uncle, and Dalley's
father was thcn proprietor OF the
hotel. After first capturing tho guard
iii front OF the door or the hotel they
Knocked at the door. which was opened
by a negro named Fill Cooper. who
both Gussman and Daley knew, and ia
an inquiry. rs General Crook iny'' he
answered. NO and when they show
cd their rcyolVers pretty close to his
heat and said. "Wc want the truth"
he answered, Eyes sab, In his room.
but don't you tell him told YOU"
Gusaman went at once TO No &c. as
they had previously found tho number
Of hts room. and Gassnnan was
familiar with every room In tho house.
Nandivcr ana DALEY went TO the Of
flee to secure a light and look over
tho register. fiassman knocked Mt tho
door, surprising the door to be locked
on the inside. and II reply came. WHO
is therc?' Gnss,nnn answered. "a
friend" and is told to enter Vandlvcr
and DALEY make their appearance ut
this time and Vnndiycra hid thc general
TO arise and dress quickly una inform
cd him he was Il prisoner. Crook
aslss ITO whom do surrendcrY' and
q Ia TOLD ~ O -i:cnrrnI Rnsscrn ,rhcrc 1xaa