West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-07-22
DEMANDED SURRENDER OF
CUMBERLAND DURING WAR
Famous Old Confederate Captain
Muse Was Authorized to Ncgo-
tiate as to Terms-Oecupied the
City Only Few Hours and Did
No Damage to Property

Announcement of the death this
week at Gore, 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 n Confederate cavalry bri-
gade. he was authorized to negotiate
as to the terms OF surrender OF the
city of Cumberland. as recited I'm the
History OF Cumberland CLowdermilk)
Captain Muse entered the war I'm
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. Cap
tain Muse was I'm command of Com
pany ID. Later during the war he SER
we'd as commander OF Company f.
Eighteenth Virginia cavalry. He serv-
ed until the close OF the war.
Lowdermilk tells this story with
which Captain Muse is Connected:
On the 18th of June, 1863, in conse-
quence OF the defeat of General Mil
roy's command at Winchester, orders
were issued by the commandant OF
this department for the evacuation OF
Cumberland, and the concentration of
the Union forces at New Creek. where
upon the provision and supply trains
were Immediately sent off, together
with all the hoses, etc. The Fifteenth
Virginia regiment. and the Second
regiment. p. III. b.. both OF which were
on duty in this vicinity, followed, and
Cumberland was left wholly unpro-
tected. thousand rumors were soon
ahoat, and the streets were filled with
excited people. who were i'm momen-
tary expectation OF the appearance OF
the Confederates. Their apprehension
was still further excited by the remoy-
al OF the rolling stock. moveable ma
chinery ETC.. of the railroad company.
On the 10th II 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 Pennsyl-
yania, and merchants began to cast
about for means whereby they might
save their goods from confscation by
the expected visitors Night came.
however. and brought with IL no en-
emy. But the early dawn discovered 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
whether they were friends or foes. and
were saluted by the discharge of two
small field pieces, the shells from
which dropped I'm the vicinity of Nc
kaig's foundry, whereupon the afore-
said cavalrymen retired with com
mendable speed. The presence of the
enemy was quickly heralded through
out the city; 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 rep-
resentatives OF the Confederacy rode
into town, with a flag of truce Short
ly afterwards acting Mayor V. A..
Buckley, heading a deputation of citi-
zens, with similar flag. met the ennis
saries of the Confederacy. and con
sultation was held. the result of which
was that the town was surrendered
with the understanding that private
property was to be respected, and no
depredations to be permitted.
The following is the correspondence
on the occasion:
You are surrounded by a superior
force. and as an act OF humanity. I
demand the surrender OF the city. The
bearer, Captain r. b. Muse. is author
lied to negotiate as to terms of sur
render.
G. w. IMBODEN,