The Washington herald., 1914-11-15

Ne was koooc1ateo IN tne9e campai8nl
noted his quicknsss, his mental resources
which were remarkable. and his aptitud.
for star work. Logically. he secured, to
ward the end OF 1sss, stan appointment
In this capacity he passed the winter Of
1854
When. after Grants bloody progres.
across Virginia in lset troops were sent
to protect Washington. and afterwards C
clear the enemy out OF the Shenandoah
Valley. MAJ Young's field OF action and
his commanders changed.
In the valley he was on the stan oi
Col Oliver Edwards, Of the Thlrty-sev-
enth Massachusetts Infantry, command
ing brigade and the post Of Winchester
II was while engaged In this duty that
he distinguished himself as q scout and
won the opportunity to organize the
scout service Of Gen Sheridan and be-
come It's chief
On Special Service.
Unfortunately Maj. Young left no me-
moirs or letters that would furnish de-
tailed facts about his career. Owing to
the character OF bis work. references to
his services are few and in general terms
They are. however. all Of like tenor.
showing him to have been a man Of won
derful dash. courage. and ingenuity.
Following the battle of Cedar Creek.
on October 19, the Federal army, under
Sheridan. lay on its arms watching the
movements Of the enemy. who was re-
treating up the valley.
Though q period Of rest for the troops
+, as q whole. II was q time of great ac-
tiVity for the pickets and scouts Of the
army. Col John s. Mosby, the partisan
ranger. was annoying Sheridan by fire.
duent dashes at his trains and outpost
picketS
On November the Presidential election
was held, and, under the Law. the soldiers
In the army was permitted to cast their
votes in the field. commissioners being
votes Of their respective State contin-
gents.
In Sheridan's army was q brigade of
Maryland troops. whose votes were i'm
portant as II was believed the State s
vote would be close. and that the soldier
vote might swing Il IN favor Of Lincoln.
On election day a report reached the
FedeFals that q column under Gen John
c. Breckenridge was moving northward
as II to flank Sheridan's army and at
tack Winchester.
There being little definite information
to be had, Col Edwards sent Maj. Young
out on q scout to ind the Confederates
and learn their route and purposes.
Young. dressed in a Confederate uniform,
penetrated the Confederate lines, and
after q brief stay started back for Win
chester. where he arrived after an alb
sence OF less than thirty-six hours, hav-
inG ridden nearly 80 miles.
He found that Winchester was not
BreckinridEe's objective, but Hancock.
Nd. and that q plan was on foot for the
Confederates TO capture the Maryland
election commissioners on their way
home and destroy the votes that had been
cast by the Maryland soldiers. in the hope
Of turning the State against Lincoln.
Chosen BY sheridan.
This service by the little major from
Rhode Island attracted the attention of
Gen. Sheridan, who believed he had found
In the man who could perform II a
worthy chief Of scouts. He directed Col
Edwards to send him Mai. Young, and
ordered Young to organize the scouts as
he thought best
Fifty years ago today Mai. Young
picked fifty men from among the Veterans
in Col Edwards command. and adding TO
them seven scouts attached to Sheridan's
headquarters formed q band Of hard rid
ers whose equal in efficiency for the work
in hand could not have been found out
side the valley.
One Of Young's scouts. Arch H. Row
and 0ater Of Pittsburgh, Pa), speaking
at the dedication Of q statue Of Mai
Young at Providence on July L, 1911. had
this to say Of his chief:
From the moment that he began the
organization Of his new command Mai
Young's activity knew no pause. He
found hiseR at the head Of a band Of
seasoned veterans. all ready for any test
OF their courage and endurance. And the
tests came, terrible and incessant, for
Harry Young's brain was always busy,
and each day he had new plans and de-
vices for harassing the enemy and de-
moraIizing him
His genius was a marvel to me.
had been doing scout duty since the fall
Of 1852, first as one OF Milroy's scouts,
then under Custer. Averell Hunter. and
afterwards under Sheridan: but under
Young ] was to have a new experience
and to learn more than I ever dreamed
as to the possibilities Of an organized
Secret Service.
within Enemy's Lines.
Besides cutting out work for his men.
Mai. Young worked individually. taking
the most amazing risks. but by reason
of his coolness. his shrewdness, and his
ready wit, almot invariably securing
whatever information he went after.
"Once he played invalid and lived for
two weeks at a boarding-house within
the Confederate lines. where he picked
up a mass OF important information. He
was as expert In the use OF various dis
guises as any lightning change artist on
the stage.
"On one occasion. when he wanted to
test a new disguise, the uniform Of a
Confederate colonel, he let himself be
captured by men Of his own old COM
mand. who took him to headquarters in
thinking they had a prisoner Of
the first importance. II remained a mys-
tery TO the poor fellows why the dis
tinguished prisoner Immediately disap-
peared as IL the earth had swallowed
him"
Operating in this fashion, Maj. Young
had many stirring adventures, and rap
idly made a name for himself One Of
his most dashing exploits was the cap
ture within the enemy's lines Of Col
Harry Gilmor, Of Maryland, one OF the
best-known cavalry commanders in the
valley.
Young was with Sheridan until the
close OF the war. With peace, he looked
for fresh fields. and volunteered his serv-
ices to the Mexicans. who were then
against the domination Of the
French. He rode into Mexico never to
and no facts were ever obtained
by his friends or former comrades as
to the time or place Of his death. His
statue, erected by the State of Rhode
Island "as an incentive to patriotism"
stands on the west side OF City Hall
Square in Providence.
ReSinninS of Sherman'a March