Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-09-26


ferson County Camp of Confederate
Veterans, extracts from which we
will give from time to tims.)
An Account of The Fight of BayIor's
Company At Charles Town,
November 20, 1864.
By Captain George Baylor.
On the night of the 2sth of No
vember, 1864, with 80 men of Com
|pany Il, we attacked he camp of the
Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry at
Charles Town. Passing through the
enemy's picket line, through q hol-
low just east of town, under cover
OF a fog such as usually hangs on
autumn nights over the little valleys
near the river and unobserved by the
sentry on the adjacent hills, we
reached in safety the north side of
the town and the rear of the enemy's
camp, and rode quietly to a point
near the block house, about twenty
yards from the camp. Here the
men dismounted, leaving the horses
in charge of the fourth man in each
file of tours, and nAiselessly gained
the block house.
camp was entered, and the occupants
awoke to find themselves prisoners.
There was sudden confusion and
scampering among the enemy.
Some twenty of their number,
lodged in a stone house nearby,
opened fire on us. Recognizing the
gravity of the situation, we rushed
upon the house, and, seizing the
doors and windows, poured several
volleys into the building. Just az
George Crayton, my brother Robert
w. Baylor, Jr. "a boy Of seventeen)
and myself entered the door, several
shots were fired by the inmates, one
mortally injuring my brother and
another severely injuring Crayton
After few minutes the cry Of sur.
render came from the group huddled
together in the building, and the
firing ceased. My brother ano
Crayton were removed to the house
OF DR.. Mason, who had been fol
years our family physician, anc
where / knew they would be vel
cared for. My brother died in &
few hours, but Crayton rallied for 6
while and died soon after the close
of the war. The loss of these two
gallant soldiers was deeply deploree
by their comrades, and especially b.
2 myself. In this engagement w,
t killed and wounded IL of the enemy
e captured 27 prisoners and 81 horses
!, and equipments.
Il 1t seems a little strange in tn,
light Of recent publication of tn,
0 War Records that success attende,
t US in this attack, for we find tina
e as early as November 23rd, the da,
e after the attack at Keyes' Ford
d General Sheridan dispatched Genera
: Stevenson at Harpers Ferry as fol
lows:
e Kernstown, Va, November %, 1864
General: 1t is reported tina
: Major Congdon, of the Twelfth
n Pennsylvania Cavalry, reports tn,
enemy in force at or near Charlie
+ Town. Find out if he has made thi
= untruthful report. If the Twelfth
e Pennsylvania Cavalry cannot keel
t that country clear of guerillas,
r will take the shoulder straps of
e every officer belonging to the regi
: mennt and dismount the regiment il
f disgrace.
: P. II. Sheridan, Major-General.
And on the 28th of the sam,
month he wires the commanding
officer at Charles Town:
Kernstown, Va, November %, 1864
= Commanding Officer, Charles Town
= Va.
y Lookout for Mosby tonight.
r +. II. Sheridan, Major-General.
n And Captain Paine, Commander,
e the Twelfth Pennsylvania on tn,
t night of the attack in his repor
says:
: L have the honor to report that il
: accordance with information of yes
t terday, our reserve post was attack
: ed by the rebels last night between
: the hours of IL and IL O'Clock, kill
e ing two men, wounding one, ant
3 capturing five of our men and Is
' horses. The enemy lost in killed
one man Ia young Baylor) and
three wounded. They were about
: zoo strong, and attacked the post
from different directions, dismount.
ed. They were commanded by q
Major. Lieutenant Baylor was also
; with them, as his name was fire..
} quently mentioned by them at the
time of the attack.
Nathaniel Payne, Captain Command.
: ing.
| Lieutenant S. F. Adams,
Acting Assistant Adjutant- General
Harpers Ferry, w. Va.
: The eyes of the Captain on that
| night evidently had large magnify
ing powers when viewing our little
band OF 30 men, and corresponding
minimizing powers when 'recountinQ
his loss on that occasion. He wa.
afraid of General Sheridan,s threat.
After the fight at Charles Town.
we retired to the neighborhood of
Milldale, and got rid of our prisoners
and booty. The enemy, it seems,
took scout around, as usual after q
fight, and reported as follows:
Headquarters Second Cavalry Divi-
sion, December 1, 1864.
Major William Russell, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant General Cav
airy:
Major: The reconnaissance sent
out yesterday under Major T. Glib
son, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cav
airy, has returned, having thorough
ly secuted the country between
Milldale and Summit Point to near
Charles Town. No enemy was seen.
Mosby was reported to have been in
Berryville on the goth. BAYLOR.
who commanded the party of rebels
which fought the Twelfth Pennsyl-
wanna Cavalry at Charles Town, was
kiiled, with one man. The party
dispersed after the fight.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
VIM. B. Tibbitts,
Brevet Brigadier General Com
handing.
MARKER NUMBER NINTEEN