Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-01-24
FEDERAL GENERALS CAPTURED
Thrilling Raid Into Cumberland BY
Confederate Troopers

Jesse C. Mcneil, who marched into
Cumberland, Nd, before daylight
on the morning Of February FL,
1868. captured Major Generals
Crook and Kelly and without the
luss of single man carried their
distinguished prisoners back into
the Confederate lines. was graph
ically related on Lee-Jackson Day,
last Friday, the 18th, before the
Confederate Veterans aud Sons OF
Confederates by Veteran Jacob
Gassman, who was a participant in
the daring raid.
Mr.Gassman illustrated the places
mentioned in his recital by map.
He stated that in the latter part oil
the war he was wounded and was
recuperating in Hardy county, now
West Virginia. He was a member
of Company l, 9Th Virginia Cavalry.
When Lieutenant McNeill was ar.
ranging to start from Moorefield for
Cumberland, Md, distance OF
sixty miles, to capture Generals
Crook and Kelly, he invited Mr..
Gassman TO join the party, because
he was familiar with that section of
the country, and was reared in
Cumberland. His services, there
fore. were valuable to the men en-
gagged in such q daring exploit.
Following is his story.
Our troopers started on their per-
ilous expedition Monday morning,
February Goth. They reached the
home of Voss Harriott, near Rom
ney, about 8 O'Clock at night and
left several hours afterwards. We
continued the journey over Middle
Ridge and across the valley OF Pat
terson's creek through the ridges
beyond the base OF Knobly Mount
ain, where = northeasterly direction
was taken. Passing up this gap
over the icy road, the fields above
were covered with snow and the
thermometer registering at zero. In
order to reach Cumberland in time,
it was necessary TO go the shorter
route by way OF the New Greek
road. About two miles from Cum
berland, where the road defects Il
the left and winds up through tn,
ravine and over the hill to the cit,
a cavalry picket was stationed a
the mouth of the ravine. AS W,
reached this point a solitary vidett'
was observed standing on the road
side. who upon noticing our ap
proach gave the challenge; Halt
who comes there?' Friends from
New Creek" was the answer.
Lieutenant Mcneil putting spur
to his horse rushed towards tn,
picket and as his horse passed, un
able 10 check his speed, ne fired
Others Of our party came up ant
secured the picket. Two othet
picketS, at a distance of severa
hundred yards, seeing the troubl
Of their companion, hastily decamp
ed. They we're pursued. however
and captured. From them, b,
threats OF summary punishment
the countersign was secured, whic
was Bulls Gap" The next pos
was about mile away, at the junci
ion of the road which we were o.
" it'll the old Frostburg pike. A
we drew near their log fire aroun
which they were playing cards, on
OF the men got up. reached for hi
musket and advanced to halt US. 7
his formal challenge, one of our me
answered, Friends, with th
countersign. Our men advance
rapidly and surrounded the Fec
; erals and, without single sho'
captured them. Their guns wei
) broken and they were left unguart
cd under parole. We were now il
; side the picket lines and a sho
r. distance away was the slumberir
+, city,
~. After a consultation as to how 81
!. capture OF the two Generals CroC
!. and Kelly should be made. we Q
+ tered the city and rode boldly l
Baltimore street. Some of the ID,
: went to the Barnum House whe
- General Kelly lodged, and some