Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
STORIES ABOuTLAUKEL BRIGADE.
1any Winchester Men Served IN
der Turner Ashby During the
Civil War.
oHEW's RATTERY IIIs PET.

known as Ashby's brigade), we came
across some items about soldiers from
this section that may be of interest to
the survivors of that gallant band.
Their ranks are thinning fast now.
Eoh How sNiftly tlssy ore passing, they
are passing fast away;
Like the leaves that fall in autumn,
falling are our boys in Gray;
One by one around the campfire Of
eternity they meet,
One by one they GROSS the river. and
their old commander greet
Like the dreaming Of dreamer, comes
the memory of that time.
When these comrads, old and hoary,
were In their youthful prime:
When with the gallant jackson, and
Ashhy. peerless knight,
They fought through many battle for
the cause they thought was right.
Twenty years hence there will be but
few alive of the men who helped to
make history so years ago.
McVicsr's Letters on MunferA.
An item in this history Of ''The
Laurel Brigade" tells Of letter writ
ten to Charles w. McVicar of Chew's
Battery by Gen. Thomas Munford, who
took command Of the brigade after the
death Ct Ashby. This general says
that Ghew.s Battery was Ashby,s right
arm, as Ashby was the right arm of
Jackson. Among the Winchester men
who were In Chew's Battery we find
the names of DR. w. P. Mcclure, John
j. Williams, Clayton Williams. Henry
Deahl. Charles w. McVcar, Philip w.
Boyd and Reall Burgess.
Lieut.. Baylor tells Of foray made
into Front Royal In the August Of 1852.
A company of Federal infantry was
forming to repel them, and Baylor call
ing to Henry Deahl and Charley Crane
to come to his assistance, they dashed
10 among the Federals, and with drawn
revolvers on the officer in command.
they ordered him to surrender. He did
30. ordering his men TO ground arms,
which order they quickly 1obeyed.
Capture 4 Train.
An account Is given Of the capture Of
train between Summit Point and
Wade's depot in the August OF go.
General White was then stationed at
Winchester, which he had to evacuate
after the defeat of Pope at the second
Manassas. We remember hearing a
lady tell Of this attack on the train.
She was Mrs. Littleton. of Jefferson
county. and was on her way to this city
to visit relatives. She told of the
fright of the passengers when body
of cavalry came from the woods firing
on the train. They had placed obstruc-
tions on the track 80 that the engineer
was forced to stop the train. Lieut.
Rouss was in command, and he and
his company made so bold dash that
the eight Federal soldiers who were on
the train 20 guardit made no resistance,
and were taken prisoners, The pas
sengers were allowed to go on to VIM
chester. Rouss made rich haul that
time. for the express car was loaded
with wine. fruits and other delicacies,
and they secured 81, 900 of Federalmon-
ey that was being sent to Winchester
for payments. We can remember yet
about the great sensation it made at
the time, and what rushing to aud
fro of the Federal cavalry there was
in hot pursuit. General Whites camp
was in what is now called the big
Fort on the hill west of our city, and
cur own home was in sight of it.
In West Yirginia and Maryland.
This book tells Of foray made into
West Virginia and through some of the
mountain towns of Maryland by part
of the Laurel Brigade under General
Jones. They routed the small garrison
near Oakland and got into the town
about church time. Many groups of
excited people were on the streets, and
there was q great commotion among
the people.
William L. Wilson, who afterwards
became Congressman and postmaster
general under Cleveland, was then .
private in Company B, Twelfth Virgin
ia Cavalry. He was atLbrave soldier
and naturally of cheerful, jovial dis
position. Seeing young man and
woman together on the street seeming
~ very much agitated. He called out
to them to not be afraid. and said to
the girl: Don't You think that the
Rebels are better-looking men than the
Yankees 2, The young woman was
very quick with her answer: Not
you, anyway, with that moustache the
color Of buttermiIk. and then the
laugh was on Wilson, who had s.been
cultivating his budding moustache and
was quite proud Of it.
Private Property Rights.
General Jones had strict orders from