The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-07-29
DEMANDED SURRENDER DE-
CUMBERLAND DURING WAR
Famous Old Confederate Captain
Muse Was Authorized to Negotiate
as TO Terms.

Announcement of the death this week
at Gore, w Va, of Captain Robert
Bruce Muse, farmer and Confederate
soldier, calls to mind the part he took
in the stirring times of '63, when as
captain of a Confederate cavalry bri-
gade, he was authorized to negotiate as
to the terms of surrender of the city of
Cumberland, as recited in the History
of Cumberland (Lowdermilk)
Captain Muse entered the war in 1861,
and was elected a lieutenant in the
Thirty-third regiment, Virginia in
fantry, which afterward formed one OF
the regiments that made up the famous
Stonewall brigade, commanded by
General Stonewall jackson. Captain
Muse was in command of Company D.
Later during the war he served as COM
mander Of Company F, Eighteenth
Virginia cavalry. He served until the
close of the war,
Lowdermilk tells this story with
which Captain Muse is connected.
On the 18th of June, 1863, in conze-
quence Of the defeat of General Mil
roy's command at Winchester, orders
were issued by the commandment of this
department for the evacuation of Cum
berland. and the concentration of the
Union forces at New Greek, where
upon the provision and supply trains
were Immediately sent off, together
with all the hores, etc The Fifteenth
Virginia regiment. and the Second regi-
ment, P. H. B., both Of which were on
duty in this vicinity. followed, and
Cumberland was left wholly 'unprotect-
ed. A thousand rumors were soon
ahoat, and the streets were filled with
excited people, who were in momen-
tary expectation of the APPEARANCE of
the Confederates. Their apprehension
was still further excited by the removal
OF the rolling stock, movable ma
chinery, etc, of the railroad company.
On the 10th it was reported that the
enemy was rapidly approaching the
city in force, whereupon a number of
citizens retired with considerable pre-
cipitancy in the direction of Pennsvl-
vanla, and merchants began to cast
about for means whereby they might
save their goods from consideration bv
the expected visitors. Night came.
however, and brought with 1t no en-
DIT bo "a
small squad of strange looking men on
the brow of the hill, east of the CITY,
on the'Williams road. Several of the
escaped cavalrymen, from Milroy's
command, advanced to ascertain wheth-
er they were friends or foes, and were
saluted by the discharge of two small
field pieces, the shells from which drop
ped in the vicinity of McKaig's foun-
dry, whereupon the aforesaid cavalry
men retired with commendable speed
The presence of the enemy was quickly
heralded throughout the city; a few
more citizens took refuge IN flight,
while the merchants generally closed
up their stores, and joined the excited
groups gathered on the streets. In a
little while two representatives of the
Confederacy rode into town, with a
flag of truce. Shortly afterwards act
ing Mayor V. A. Buckley, heading a
depItation of citizens, with a similar
flag, met the emissaries of the Confed-
eracy. and consultation was held, the
result of which the town was surrender
ed, with the understanding that private
pr perty was to be respected. and no
depreciation to be permitted.
The following is the correspondence
on the occasion:
You are surrounded by a superior
force, and as an act of humanity, l de-
mand the surrender of the city. The
bearer, Captain R. B. Muse. is author
lied to negotiate as to terms of sur
render.