The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-12-07
SILENCED LEES
LAST BATTERY
Capt. J. NJ. JorbOe, of Oakland,
With His Men, Had That
Distinction.

dl SOuII I1OuSG III WHICH
the command of Capt. John M. Jarboe,
resident of Oakland for more than
fifty years, figured very prominently,
his men having the distinction of silenc-
ing the last battery placedin action by the
Confederate General. 1t may be added,
however, that at the time of this bat
tie Capt. Jarboe had been placed in
command of his brothers. Company
Capt. James Jarboe) who was on de.
tached service:
The last battery that the distinguish
ed commander of the Confederate army,
Gen. r. E. Lee, ever put in position
near AppomattoX Court House, was ST.
fenced by skirmish line thrown for
ward by Brigadier General T. NJ.
Harris land commanding at Fredericks-
burg, under command of Capt. Jarboe
of the 10th West Virginia and consisted
entirely of West Virginia troops, arm
ed with the Spencer seven shooter.
Gen. Lee, suppOsing that there was
nothing but cavalry in his front, order
ed his column to dispense it and move
forward. The 24th Army Corps hav-
ing, by forced march of twenty-four
hours duration, with but a short in
terval of rest, at the middle of the night
been thrown in line across his front in
the rear of the cavalry, checked his ad.
yancing columns. Gen. Lee had placed
a battery IN position, and was Smelling
the line commanded by Gen. Harris
Consisting as before remarked, of West
Virginia troops) at a furious rate,
when Harris ordered the skirmish line
forward, under Capt. JarboeIwith or
ders to silence the troublesome battery,
which, with the aid of the Spencer ri.
fie, they were enabled to do in half an
hour, the line of support following I'D
rapidly. A portion OF the battery had
been withdrawn, and one or two guns.
the horses of which had been killed.
fell into the hands of the Federal Cen
eral. These cannon were the last ever
ordered into position by Gen. Lee.
Soon after their capture, terms were
proffered by Grant, and accepted bv
the Confederate General, and the war
in Virginia was at an end. Gen. Har-
ris was the same officer afterward de-
tailed on the court martial to try Mrs.
Surratt and others. -
The following extract from letter
written by Gen. T. M. Harris and pub
lished some time ago, also speaks highly
OF the conduct offs Capt. Jarboe on this
occasion:
In front of Lees army, we faced by
the rear rank to advance toward the
enemy. This threw Gen. Foster on nv
right, which, by this manoeuvre
now became my left. Just as we halt
ed and faced to the rear, we found our
selves in range of rebel battery. the
shells from which, bursting in the vi
entity of my line, were doing US some
injury. | ordered Capt. James A. Jarboe
of Co. /, 10th W. Va, but now in COM
mand of two companies armed with
Spencer rifles, acting as a pioneer
corps, to advance at double-uuick and
silence the battery. | followed with
my line at quick step. We had to
march through thick woods. and had
not gone more than 100 yards when we
heard Capt. Jarbo's rafting fire, and
the battery was silenced at once, Be-
fore getting through the woods. which
was perhaps 200 or 300 yards wide.
met staff officer of Gen. Ord's with
orders to have my men cease firing. as
there was flag of truce out. We then
completed our march through the woods
rapidly, and with little regard to Or
der. Having passed through this strip
OF woods, the open country about Appo-
mattox Court House was before ne
And such scene! Our men were wild
with excitement, throwing up their
caps, brandishing their sabers. officers
greeting each other as only men could
do who realize that the happy DAVIS of
peace had come again, after four
years struggle attended by many dis
appointments, and many disasters and
discouragements to the cause of the
Union; but through all of which ma
triotic and loyal hearts had never hest
tatci nor doubted as to our final fri
umph. After contemplating this scene
for few minutes, turned nv atten-
ton to Capt. Jarboe. | found that the
shells which annoyed me on hating to
form by the rear rank, had been thrown
by section of a battery which had
been advanced in support of the at
tempted advance of the rebel cavalry
He had secured position for his COM
mand behind fence, within 60 wards
of the battery, which he had been Or
dered to silence. The stiffness of death
reigned there. Emerging from the
woods at double-quick, the first init
nation that the enemy had of his pres
ence was a rafting volley from his
command. He silenced the battery
quicker than | can write the account.
And thus was silenced the last hatterv