The Washington herald., 1915-01-10
Herald Reader Gives
McNeill's Men Credit

Editor Of The Washington Herald: The
writer Of the articles in The Herald
under the caption The Civil War Fifty
Years Ago Day by Day has won my
admiration, because Of the unbiased
and impartial manner IN which he in
variabIy presents the very notable events
OF those heroic days.
But, as he must necessarily rely upon
official statements and the reports OF
others for many of the facts which he
has undertaken to relate. It would be
an impossible task for him TO give In
every instance a full and entirely cor
rect account.
Oflcial reports. which ought to be
most reliable authority, are not always
so. I am led to this reflection In Pc
rusing his narrative OF Gen. Rossers
raid into what is now the State Of West
Virginia, and which eliminated in the
surprise and seizure Of New Creek Cnow
Keyser) and its garrison, which appeared
in a recent edition Of the Sunday Her
aid. That article. as did Gen. RosSer
in his official report, failed to mention
the brilliant exploit of McNeilfs men
in the Old Fields, three miles north OF
Moorefeld. on November q, 1854, tho
day before New Creek was taken.
On that occasion Lieut.. McNeill with
about seventy-hve men. including Lieut..
Vandiver with a squad OF Company F.
seventh NlTklIllh NdNdTNs dlLdChEN -
much superior force. advancing upon
Moorefeld and put them to route, killing
and wOunding a great number OF men
and taking forty prisoners, their horses
and equipments, one piece Of artillery,
wagon and ambulance.
The Federal force consisted OF 30 men
OF the Fifth and Sixth West Virginia
Cavalry and a section of O'Rourke's Bat
terry l.. First Illinois Light Artillery, un-
AaV NnVVF Nrl
This affair. in which the Federals wers
50 completely routed that those who es-
capped capture only managed to reach
New Creek singly and I'm small squads.
had the effect Of making the surprise and
capture OF that stronghold by Rosser on
the following day a matter Of compare
lively easy accomplishment.
The fugitives. after their long flight
from the vicinity of Mooreheld. were still
arriving at New Creek when Rosser's ad-
vance clad IN blue uniforms reached
that place. In consequence the pickets
were deceived and taken without creating
any alarm. The Confederates were thus
enabled to reach the base Of the low hill
upon which the fort was located unob-
served. when in a grand charge, led by
Gen. Payne. they swept up the hillside
and took the fort and its garrison.
That Gen. Rosser was a gallant soldier
and accomplished officer. and that the
troops under his command had no su-
perior and few peers In the cavalry
branch of the Confederate army are facts
cheerfully admitted.
But It added no feather to the generals
cap when he failed to give the credit 80
Justly due TO Lieut.. McNeill and his men
for their gallant feat at Moorefield. On
the contrary, in his Official report to Gen.
Early he simply and modestly took credit
for the whole AFFAIR, referring to II In the
following words. TO wit: After capturing
the artillery and wagons at Moorefield
on the 27th, moved on New Greek" etc.
The fact that McNelll's command was
an independent one. and only temporarily
under his orders, made Rosser's action In
the premises most inexcusable. Yours
]. 3. FAY.
Dunn Loring, Va.