The Washington herald., 1915-01-24
CIVIL WAR DAY BY DAY, FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thrilling Graphically Described Union Confederate Reviewed

ffty-seven in all-and fifty picked vet
Grams from the Fifth New York Cavalry.
By some mistake the fifty men were not
| picked, but were chiefly recruits. This
nearly cost Young his life, as when hard
pressed at Edenburg some of the cavalry
men broke and ran. exposing Young to
the enemy while his horse was down.
Happily others made a stand. with the
seasoned scouts. and Young was saved.
Picket Is Captured.
\ graphic account OF the affair at Eden
burg is contained in a personal narra-
tive Of a survivor OF Young's scouts.
Arch II. Rowand. ir.. a former member
of the First West Virginia Cavalry, who
was speaker at the unveiling of a
statue to Young I'm Providence, r. l.. in
July, 1911, Rowland being then resident
/ Of Pittsburgh. Pa.
The ride from Winchester and capture
OF the picket were thus described by
Rowland in a letter to his father:
''On Saturday night at o'clock we
left Winchester for Edcnburg. distant
thirty-siX miles. At 10 o'clock We passed
our outer vidctte>, passing through New
! town, and uankinE MiddIetown. Stras-
I burg and Woodstock. and a little after
narrow pass two miles from EdenhurG.
without the enemy knowing 'Yank'
was within twenty miles Of them. Going
in a pretty fast trot to the town, We
dashed through and captured the
Cnemy's videttc at tho bridge just out
side of town. with his horse tied to the
railing of the bridge Leaving a man
with him, We made for the reserve. the
enemy being yet asleep in their blan-
4 hot H.
II was the most complete surprise l ever
witnessed. Our capture was one lieuten-
ant and forty-twO men.
We had a very. nice affair Of it, had
We got away with them. but W" didn't"
FederaIs Flee at Best speed.
The FedCrals. delighted with their sue
cess. halted for breakfast on their re-
turn march, at Woodstock
II had finished my breakfast amongst
the first" says Rowand. when a one
armed butcher q strong Union man,
named EOOntZ. walked by me and whis-
pered 200 on the back road coming
Immediately went to Mai. Young, but he
laughed and answered, 1 will not bulge
until | have finished my breakfast Jim
Campbell. a veteran scout, who died at
Fort Smelling. Mimi, 1904. as a head
quarters scout and guide. protested. but
it was no use. The major went on with
his breakfast finished it at his ease and
then gave orders to mount.
But it was too late. The Confederate
cavalry were already dashinC into the
village. At the sight OF them our raw
cavalry let the prisoners go and took to
flight
Young took in the situation at a
glance. 'ROwand,' he shouted. for God $
sake stop the cavalry and bring them
back
"Rowand did the hest he could He
stopped the cavalry sergeant and threat
ened to blow his brains out if he did
not help to turn the men. but the men
would not heed him or their sergeant.
Just then Chrisman called. 'Rowand.
come back; Young is down. Sure
enough, Young was down fighting fierce
ly beside his dead horse. Chrisman, Row
and and Campbell charged into the
enemy, got Young on a horse. and got
out of that nest in a hurry. Tom Cas-
siday and Jack Riley were taken. but
Jack took A flying leap fifteen feet over
wall and bank at Fishers Hill and join
cd us the next day"
The Federals fed at their best speed.
and the COnfederates pursued and at
tackled them in a running fight.
They charged us at Chews Run.
mile north Of Woodstock" says Row
anu we ltI4lStu IueIll ] ne MAYOR
here sent orders for the main column to
push ahead with the prisoners, leaving
the scouts as rear guard
Running Fight for Ten Miles.
"As We were moving along twenty of
the enemy dashed off a hill to our right.
and not twenty yards distant; giving a
yell they came on US. We fought for
about ten yards distance for a few min
utcs. They being re-enforced, we were
forced to fall back.
we had a running fight for ten miles.
Three times the enemy was within twenty
yards of me, the fieetness of my horse
alone saving me. A Craybac5 would yell
out for me to surrender, but I couldn't
see the point.
Young always remained in the rear,
realizing he had made a mistake. and
fighting like a ffend to save his prison.
ers, but unfortunately the cavalrymen
let the prisoners go. and were glad
enough to get away themselves
Eight or ten Of the Fifth New York
fought we'll Had we had all old men of
the Fifth We could have brought our
prisoners off with safety.
we lost all OF our prisoners Eight
scouts are gone, one known to be killed,
three wounded, two mortaIly and four
captured. One OF the captured being
dressed IN gray. ! heard he was shot
after being taken. About fifteen of the
Cavalrymen were captured. hundred
of the rebels followed us to Fishers Hill
where the pursuit ended
when Gen. Sheridan heard of this he
remarked his scouts were smart enough
to be even with Them and they were
The next Saturday night Mai Young.
without any cavalry and with thirty of
his men. again captured the ,enemy's
picket line from Edenburg to Columbia
Furnace and got back to camp with all
the prisoners without the loss of a man.