Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-03-14
Marker Number Twenty-Five.
SURPRISE FOR LoUDouN RANGERS AT
KEYS SwITcH.

On April 5th 1866, COL John S. Mos
by organized Company n" with
George Baylor as Captain: e. F.
Thompson, 1st Lieutenant; J. G. Wilt
shire. End Lieutenant; Jas. a. Carter,
Bird Lieutenant. On the day following
Baylor with his company crossed the
Shenandoah river at Smokers Ferry
.cds marched in the direction of Charles
Town. In his report Of this expedition
he says:
Ton the way ! learned that the Lou
doun Rangers were camped near Mill
vile (Keye's Switch. AZ it was then
calledl, and that most of the Federal
cavalry had gone up the Valley. The
Loudoun Rangers were two companies
of men from Loudoun county and the
neighboring country, and Mosby's men
had long been DESTROYS of capturing
them, Here was the opportunity; q
regiment Of infantry was camped just
east Of Halltown, picketing down to the
river, and It was necessary to pass
through this line Of infantry pickets TO
reach the Rangers Camp. The infan.
TRY picket was approached about 70 .,
M, salnted, aud passed WistiDus nnoles-
tation, our men keeping perfectly in
rank, and making no effort to capture
or disturb them. This picket very POI
litely gave US the usual military salute
= present arms '-bpt Some of our
boys, who took sly glance at them,
say it was the most tremulous salute
they ever witnessed. Having safely
passed the infantry picket line, we
rode quie ~ to within fifty yards Of the
Rangers Camp, and seeing them in
their cavalry tents. horses tied ito stakes
and engaged in various diversions, or
dered q charge. They out-npmbered
our force two to one, but we were play
ing q bold game. and the bold game
generally wins in war as well as in
cards. With two jacks and the poker
in orr hands, our opponents must yield.
A g eral furry and commotion follow
| ed our charge. A few seemed disposed
to fight, but some to surrender: A few
shots soon quoted the more pugilistic.
Some ran for the bushes and made good
their escape, but the greater part were
made prisoners. The loss of the enemy
was killed, I wounded, 65 prisoners.
81 horses and equipments; our loss, one
wounded. Frank Helm, of Warrenton.
This was pretty good beginning fol-
company II, yet scarce two days old,
and it felt proud of its achievement.
/ Gathering up the prisoners, horses and
Equipments, the tents and wagons were
fired, and company H rode off, while
the Federal infantry ID full view were
sounding the ''long roll and falling in.
to line. The river was crossed al
Reyes, Ford, and pursuit was not at
/ tempted by the enemy.
KEYEs' FoRD.
| On the night of March %, 1864
George Baylor with seven men passed
unnoticed through the enemy's infantry
| picket at Halltown. and got in rear q
cavalry force at Keyes Ford, giving
the Rebel yell they charged along thu
river road and dashed into the enemy'i
camp, where they found fifty horses
and Is men. The party consisted Of 81
cavalry. the rest had taken to theil
heels and concealed themselves. Bay
ior and his party gathered up thirteen
prisoners and rs horses, leaving tn,
other horses because they could mo-
well manage them. Then they crossel
the river and made their escape alonl
the Blue Ridge Mountain road. Thil
remarkable skirmish illustrates tn
terror troops feel when surprised AM
attacked ia the night
THE END.
II