The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-01
A LOCAL Renaissance
OF THE CIVIL WAR
Reads | ike Fiction But Is A Recital
Of Facts-The Heroine Still Lives.

cence refers to the wife of J. H. Riley,
ticket agent. Western Maryland Rail-
way Company headquarters Flkins, w.
Va. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Riley are we'll
known throughout West Virginia and
Western Maryland, and especially along
the West Virginia branch of the West
ern MARYLAND Railway. S. B. Riley,
general foreman of the Western Mary
land at Hagerstown shops. is son.
Mrs. Riley enjoyes the respect of a
large circle of friends at Elkins, their
present home. She is now past 70
years of age.
An interesting story of the Civil War
was recently published in West Virginia
newspaper with a request that it be
given more general circulation.
The article was written by Mrs. NJ.
A. Yost, widow of DR.. Yost, formerly a
well known physician of Marion county,
West Virginia. Mrs. Yost is now
resident of St. Louis, No. The article
was originally entitled, "A Little
Rough Rider of 1885," and was as
follows:
In this semi centennial year of the
close of the Civil War, doubtless many
incidents of the desperate struggle will
be related by those then old enough to
remember them now.
One Of the bravest of them all, con-
sidering the age and sex of the actor in
it. was a feat performed by little
golden haired girl of ten, who is now
little gray haired grandmother, living
In Elkins. W. Va.
She was brought up on her fathers
1900 acre farm in the northern end of
Garrett county, Md, and horses were
her playthings almost from the cradle.
Two or three years prior to the war
a fine bred mare belonging to her
father. died. leaving a colt but few
days old.
He said to her, Daughter, this little
orphan shall be your own property if
you can raise it."
So Maria Immediately got busy, rig
ged up primitive nuasing bottle and
drew generously upon a new herd OF
COWS for supplies.
Badly responded in fine style to
Maria's good care. and by 1862 was a
beautiful animal and the idol of her
heart.
She could ride like a young Centaur
and the horse responded to her will and
way as if part of herself No fence
was too high for leap. if his young
mistress was urging him over.
10 1868 Imboden's Confederate cav
airy swept through the southern end of |
Garrett county, burning the bridges and |
exchanging their worn out steeds for
fresh mounts along their line of march,
then raided on westward, carrying panic |
and dismay into the ranks of the |
''Bloody Sixth" who were guarding
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in West |
Virginia.
Rough looking, grey-clad men armed |
to the teeth with carDines, bayonets
and six-shooters. rode through the low
er end of Garrett county, which had |
escaped the Imboden raiders, and began |
to gather in all the most valuable horses, |
saying: at is ordered as a military
necessity" These proved to be not
Confederate soldiers, but a band of |
marauding horse thieves.
Poor Maria "BaldY" at once attract
ed their favorable notice and was soon
added to their booty in spite of all the
little girls prayers and tears and Of
fers of 1.-TWO of papa's best horses" if
they'd only release her pet.
With oaths and jeers they rode on,
as she watched the form of her pet |
fade into the distance, with streaming
eyes and a breaking heart, for she
thought she had looked her last on
Badly.
Late the same evening the raiders re-
turned, leading several strings of horses
and ordered Maria's father to furnish
them with hay and oats and the men
food.
After supper an armed guard was
placed over the animals and the others
camped down on large porch over
looking their plumber.
They were astir at the peep of early
dawn and demanded more food for the
horses and breakfast for themselves.
They were evidently nervous and anx-
ious to get to some safe rendezvous.
The horses were tethered to a long
chain in the side yard by ropes on the
neck of each.
AS soon as breakfast was announced
the leader called out, "All come and eat
at once, the horses will be safe
When they were busy with their food,
Maria whispered to a brother, II am
going to save Badly, or die in the at
tempt" He replied, Don't dare to
think of such thing. They would
shoot you like rabbit"
She snatched up sharp knife, and
running to the rack, slashed the rope
that held her horse and leaped on his
back, without saddle or bride, break
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