Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-07-20
How Lieutenant Russell Saved 100
Soldiers.

OF winch the present generation has
never heard, is depicted in graphic
style in an article in the Washington
Sunday Star by the pen of Major Hen.
ry W. Carpenter, u. S. M. C.
The article, filling page, tells OF
the heroic deed Of Lieut., Russell in
carrying a letter to Gen. Sheridan a,
Winchester, in which Gen. Mosoy ask
ed that the retaliation tactics OF Gen.
Custer be called of SO that he Gen.
Mosby) would not be compelled to
execute 100 Federal prisoners.
Many of the younger generation re-
call that Gen. Custer hanged severa! Of
Mosby's men he had captured in retail
iatlon for an attack by the Confeder
ate scouts upon a Union supply train
at Front Royal, which contained
wounded men. Mosby did not know
amhulances were a part of the train.
MoSby later captured several Of Gus
tcrs men and hanged them from a
tree on Crindstone Hill above Berry
vile. This was followed by war to
death between Clusters and Mosby's
men.
Inc former were encamped this side
OF the Opequon and Mosby's men had
their lines around Paris, Va. Custer
mad issued orders that every member
OF Mosby's command should be hang
ed upon capture. This infatuated
Mosby and he announced such pol
icy would be met by the hanging Of
Custer's men when captured. 1t seems
that Mosby later captured about 100 Of
Clusters men and they were held for
the hangman's moose impending a re-
vocation Of Clusters order.
According to the recital told Major
Carpenter by Lieut.. Russell, Mosby did
mt want to hang the prisoners. They
were young men, and as Lieutenant
Russell says, he couldn't look at them
without tears coming to his eyes.
So Mosby made one desperate effort
&c save the prisoners. He called up
o. Lieut. Russell to take a letter 20
Cen. Sheridan at Winchester. Mosbv
told Lieut.. Russell it probably mean
..'' - him, but if he got through he
might be the agency of saving tn
live, of 100 Federal prisoners. Lieut..
n ell, after two efforts 10 GET in the
Union lines, succeeded ~ waving =
white handkerchief He WIS taken BY
Il e-'s men and Gen. Custer prompt
~ announced that he would he exc
'cu;Sl. Lieut. Russell told Custer that
he Fad 4 letter to Gen. Sheridan from
90" NoSby with instructions to deliv-
er it TO Sheridan personally. Custer
wanted the letter, and Russell told
him he could get it onlv r, taking it
from his dead body Finally, Rus
sells earnestness Prcvaiiet uron Gus
ter to send him to Winchester with the
letter. He was led blindfolteI to Win
chester. AT Winchester he was taken
to the Provost Marsha"s e., Hice ami
there Russell again insisted upon see
ing Sheridan personally &gain his
persistence won. Finall.. he was
u5tcrei into Sheridan's osicc, and
Sheridan closed the door He deliver
cd the letter. Sheridan then interro-
gated Russell and then commended
him for the faithful performance Of
his duty.
Sheridan then got in touch with Gen.
Grant with the resul: that Lieut.. Rus
sell was sent to Gen Mostly with a
letter frmo Sheridan. He vas escort
ed through Berryvlle by Fedora! cav
airymen and then made Zee line for
Paris. There Lieut.. Russell delivered
the letter to MoSby and the lives of
100 men we're saved.
Maj. Carpenter, in graphically de.
picting this heroic deed. PAYS a high
tribute to Lieut.. Russell-hieh because
it comes from a soldier TO a soldier.
He says that although the Federal
and Confederate armies we're filed
with hrave and daring men. it must
in truth be said that no, one of them
exce!.ed this little gray man Lieut.
RuSSelN in cool daring and stead
fast courage"
Inc Oldest postofice building in the
United States is in ST Augustine, Flor
ida Records at Seville, Spain, show
that the structure wac erected sor,o