Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-08-15
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY.

(From Book Published by the JEFF
ferson County Camp Of Confederate
Veterans, extracts from which we
will give from time to time.)
MARKERS ONE, SIX AND EIGHT
Ksarnsysville. UviIla, Crossing of
Uvilla and Charles Town Roads.
On the Sixteenth of October, 1S-
62, Brigadier General Humphreys
crossed the Potomac at Buffers
Ford, with Six Thousand Infantry,
Five Hundred Cavalry, and Six
pieces of artillery, and advanced on
the roads leading to Kearneysville.
Another force, commanded by
Brigadier General w. s. Hancock,
with his own brigade, fifteen hun
dred from other brigades, four regi-
ments OF cavalry, and four pieces
of artillery, advanced from Harpers
Ferry at the same time, in the direc-
ton of Charles Town. We had, at
the time, line of pickets extending
from the North Mountain to the
Shenandoah River. The advance was
so sudden that it cut off some of the
pickets.
Company d, of the Twelfth Vir-
GINA Cavalry, was picketing from
Engle's Hill to the Shepherdstown
road. The reserve was near where
Marker No. 8 stands, at the inter-
section of the Uvilla and Charles
Town roads. A sharp encounter
took place between the Federal ad-
vance and company D, little south
of this point in Rocky Lane. Captain
Knott was wounded in the shoulder.
Many of the company were from this
section, and knew every road. They
easily made from this section, and
knew every road. They easily made
their way through the enemy's lines
and Joined the Regiment. Thus they
played even; for about a month
pprevious, our line of pickets were
being advanced, and company D
struck their pickets at Duffields, and
chased them back on their company
reserve at Marker s. They held
their own until the company had
closed up, when charge was made
and they were driven to Lucas
woods, where a regiment was sta
toned. They all decamped and
crossed the Potomac.
Humphreys advance guard went
as far as Smithfeld, and his main
body little south of Kearneysville.
The Confederates had been destroy
ing the railroad in this section, and
some of General Winder's Infantry
was near. They, with Fitz Lee and
Hampton's Brigades of Cavalry
commanded by General Stuart, at
tackled late in the evening of the
Sixteenth of October, Marker No.
! ID, and, after some severe fighting,
drove him from his position. They
were steadily driven back on the
Seventeenth, but made a determined
stand two miles south of Shepherds
town, on the Shepherdstown and
Duffields road at what is called the
Forks. A brigade of regulars, COM
manded by Major Lowell, u. S. A.
occupied this part of the field, and
the importance of holding it was
apparent. Back of him was the
Trough road which led to the ford
on the Potomac and also the road
leading to Shepherdstown. If the
position were carried his retreat was
endangered. Trees were felled a.
Ecross the road to impede the artillery
and cavalry, but Winders infantry
forced them back slowly, and the
whole force crossed into MARYLAND.
The losses on both sides were
considerable. No estimate of the
losses could be found. Our badly
wounded were taken to the Uvilla
churches and neighboring farm
houses, and cared for. Many wound
ed had been left at these churches
after the battle of Sharpsburg, and
those unable to get away were parol-
ed by the Federals. At this point is
planted Marker No. 6.
| MARKERS TWO, FIVE AND
Buffers Woods, Moler's Cross Roads,
and Uvilla.
After the Gettysburg Campaign,
with Lee back in Virginia and Har-
pers Ferry in the hands of the
enemy, the situation in Jefferson
County was about as follows The
enemy's pickets extended about 2
miles out from Harpers Ferry, with
signal and spy stations on MARYLAND
Heights. Any movement of troops
IN day time could be seen by them.
Even many of the picketposts were
under their observation. The Shen-
andoah River was high,-hardly
fordable. Lees army was in Jeffer-
son and Berkeley Counties until af-
ter the middle of the month. The
Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers
were carefully picketed, and the
army uncertain what the next move
would be. On the Sixteenth, the
Federals, crossing at Shepherdstown
and driving in the pickets, advanced
large force of cavalry as far as
Kearneysville. Here Fitz Lee and
Chambhss' brigades of cavalry con-
fronted them and steadily drove
them back. The federals were amply
supplied with artillery, and at every
favorable position, made stubborn
resistance. Late in the evening.
Stuart came on the field and took
command, having ordered General
Jenkins, with his brigade of cavalry
from near Martinsburg to his as
slstance, who arrived later in the
evening.
The enemy, having fallen back to
Buffers woods, made a final stand.
The cavalry could not well operate,
and so both sides dismounted their
men and fought until dark. The
Confederates remained on the field,
expecting to renew the engagement
IN the morning, but the enemy NOV
ed off in the night.
There is no official account of the
losses on either side. Colonel Drake.
of the first Virginia Cavalry, was
mortally wounded, and died that
night at Mr.. Marshall's. About 40
feet from Marker No. 2, measuring
west, is the place where he was shot.
He was an able officer.
This movement of the enemy had