Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-11-06
By MEMO.
In The Winchester Star

In The Winchester Star
In an old Winchester paper we find
little sketch written by Capt George
Baylor. He tells Of OccutrencesIn the
winter Of 1853. when be, with some
other soldiers Of Ge1eFel Jones sscbms
mand (which was then quartered near
New Market. were on scopt III the
lower Valley. There were about a
dozen Of them. among them Lieut.,
Rouss and John Chew. They must have
fianked Winchester. for Milroy was
here then. Captain Baylor says that
the 18th of February found them at
Summit Point. and that they pursued
squad Of Yankee, cavalry toward
Middleway, passing Happy Retreat. .,
where their sweethearts lived, without
lingering. Glory was stronger than
love just then. There was a skirmish
near MiddIewav, in which several Fed
eral soldiers were killed, and three men
and eleven horses and equipments cap
tured. but in a short time they met
much larger force of Federal cavalry
coming from the direction Of Charles
town, and then the situation was re-
Versed. Tkey were surrounded and
forced to surrender their small force.
and. of course, their horses and prison
ers were recaptured. Capt. Baylor
says;
"Gharlestown was reached about A
p. m. had entered this place 20 Of
ten as victor that / felt my humilia-
tion deeply, and covered my head SO
that my friends would not recognize
me. My escort kindly permitted me to
stop at my cousins (the Rutherfords,
on the eastern limits of the town),
where borrowed $50 for use during
prison life. which / anticipated would
be long. as at that time there was no
exchanre of officers.
When captured was wearing a
pair of spurs presented to my father
bv his friend. Hon. Henry Bedinger,
and purchased by him in Denmark
while minister there. I recognized
them as Legitimate prize Of war. but
riding along Lieut.. Hall This captor)
asked me if I would like to part with
them. / told him their history. and
said that while wishedsto retain them,
/ was aware that he had right to
them. Well. said he, If you wish to
keep them, do SO. Take them otf, end
put them in your pockets. did go
and brought them safely back to Dixie. /"
At darpers Ferry. Captain Baylor
was put in a guard house, which was
in the basement of the Presbyterian
Church, where there were number of
other prisoners and deserters. He
writes:
4 appreciated that night Gen. Charles
Lees request not to be buried in any
Presbyterian churchyard or within
mile of any Baptist meeting house, as
he had been forced to keep SO much
bad company in life that he wished to
avoid it in death. have been afraid
of Presbyterian churches ever since.
Heaven and hell are too close to each
other. The lieutenant had advised me
to place any money or valuables had
in the hands of the officer of the guard,
as my fellow prisoners were a bad lot
and might rob me- l took his advice
and handed over my gold watch and
$40, with vague suspicion that
would never see them again.
In this miserable den found Com
rades Manning and Coleman. Our
couches We're mud and dirt. and our
associates the West of the vile. Morn
ing was welcomed. our names wereeI
called, and as we passed out my watch
and money were handed to me, much
to my surprise. -
They were put on the cars and taken
to Baltimore to General Schenck's
headquarters, who sent them on to the
provost marshaPs office. While there
Captain Baylor's heart was touched by
the action of little girl who wasssell-
ing oranges. She saw that there were
two prisoners and her little heart was
filled wife pity for them. Watching
until the guards attention was turned
away, she slipped each Of the prisoners
an orange and refused to take any pay
for them. OF this act Captain Baylor
says; How much good thereia in this
world that we do not know Of. Her
little act was more than sermon.
This little waif of the street had made
,us feel the kinship of all men"