Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-07-24
CIVIL WAR
AN EPISODE
Interesting Story Told BY Those Who
Participated-Capt 17-An
Echo of the Past

A very unusual incident occurred
in February, 1864, right in Edinburg,
and one that is worthy of record. (
On Saturday of the aforementioned
February flag of truce came to
town and with them they had the
body of young man who had been
killed in battle. The young man had
lived near New Market, and the
Yanks wanted to take the body home.
Capt. G. j. Grandstaff's company
was on picket duty along Stony
Greek, one or two men being sta
toned at each ford or crossing
When Maj. Young and his squad
reached the pike bridge, at the South
end of town, they were halted. Their
unusual mission explained, Capt
Grandstaff took charge of the body
and sent it to New Market He es-
corted Maj. Young to the North end
of town, where he entertained him
at dinner at the Ritter House, now
1bCSl nav SA lun. Alt6I the
Major and his men started on the
return to his command. During the
night the weather changed and Sun
day morning the ground was COW
cred with sleet, ice and snow. About
daybreak. Major Young and his
troops dashed into town, captured the
pickets and the bridge and then
across the fields to Humston's woods,
where the reserve pickets were
camped. So complete was the surprise
that the whole squad were captured
and the Federal soldiers and their
prisoners started North at a rapid
rate. Capt. Grandstaff's company
was made up of men from this sec
ton and, being kind and consider
ate officer, he kept men enough in
camp and allowed the remainder to
go to their homes for a few days.
when they returned to camp and re-
lieved their companions, who in turn
were granted the same privilege. The
/ Captain himself was at his fathers
home, mile or more from camp.
Lieut.. Joseph Miley happened to be
in town when the raid was made.
After Maj. Young passed through
town, Lieut. Miley. accompanied by
M. l.. Grove, then a boy not old
enough for service, got their horses
and, crossing the creek got around
the soldiers and dashed for Capt.
Grandstaff's home. Oace Grandstaff.
a boy of IL, who had spent the night
IN town, ran up the Greek to the
Grandstaff saw mill and notified the
picket there of the advance of the
enemy Lieut.. Miley and Grove,
however, reached the captain first
and advised him of what was going
on. Captain Grandstaff at once
mounted his horse and started after
the enemy. AS he went along the
road, his men dropped in from all
sides and by the time he reached
Woodstock he had quite little squad
with him. They struck the enemy at
that place and a running fight be-
gan. BY the time they reached Maui
rertown, he had captured five or six
Federal soldiers. Those, he sent
back, guarded by Luther Grove and
Bob Windle, both boys. too young for
service. The captain and his men
followed rapidly, and before reach
ing Strasburg, he had recaptured all
his men and IT of the enemy. Thus
the outcome was very satisfactory to
the Confederates but notifying to
the enemy.
Captain Grandstaff had been ac-
tive and his capture was much de-
sired. Failing to make the Captain
a prisoner, there was satisfaction in
getting his men, but the rejoicing.
as stated above, was of short dura-
ton, and Maj. Young, who barely
escaped capture himself, went back.
sadder man than when he started.
While Edinburg was spared anv
pitched battles, we saw much of the
war At one time. Gen. Banks. on
the school house hill, and Gen. Ashby
on the old graveyard hill, cannon
AIDED over the town for 10 days. Re
mains of the old Notifications can
yet to be seen.
In all three wars, the boys from Ed
inburg and Madison District distin-
guished themselves as brave and true
soldiers.