The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030918704 Cornell University Library E534.6.L7 G65 History of the Independent Loudoun VIrg olin 3 1924 030 918 704 ALL QUIET ON THE POTOMAC. H ISTORY OF THE INDEPENDENT LOUDOUN VIRGINIA RANGERS. U. S. VOL. Cav. (SCOUTS) 1862-65. By Briscoe Goodhart, CO. A. washington. d. c. Press of McGill & Wallace. 1896. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, by Briscoe Goodhart, In the ofBce of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. PREKACE;. As the basis of every great national achievement is to be found in the thoughts and feelings of the people, so the real history of a great army is founded upon the annals of the separate organizations of which it was composed. The "History of the Loudoun (Virginia) Rapgers," as feebly set forth in the following pages, claims attention as apart, however small, in the history of one of the greatest wars the world has ever known. As the name of their organization indicates, they came from a State which was arrayed in arms against the authority of the National Government. No Governor, or Senator, or Member of Congress guarded their interests ; nor was any State or local bounty held forth to them as an allurement. Their enlistment in the Union Army — their country's army — was the spontaneous outgrowth of a spirit of lofty patriotism. As they saw their duty they were not lacking in moral courage to perform that duty ; and with no lapse of years shall we ever fail to insist that the principles for which the Rangers contended were eter- nally right, and that their opponents were eternally wrong. While most of the events narrated in this work passed under the personal observation of the writer, he has also made use of reliable information from every available source. He desires to express his grateful sense of obligation to those who have materially lessened his labors and largely contributed to the value of his work by furnishing useful materials, such as reports, letters, diaries, etc. Should these pages interest the reader the writer will feel that his labors have not been in vain. B G. Washington, D. C, 1896. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Early Porination of Loudoun County — Early Emigrants — Cavaliers — Germans — Quakers— Genesis of the Rangers . i-io CHAPTER II. The Secession Movement — Public Sentiment Ag.ainst — A Convention Called^ — An Election Ordered — Methods Employed in Forcing Virginia out ol the Union . 10-23 CHAPTER III. Samuel C. Means goes to Maryland — Given a Commission to Raise a Company of Cavalry*— Recruiting at Loveltsville, etc. — Election of Officers — The Fight at Waterford . , . 23-40 CHAPTER IV. The Fight at Leesburg — The Confederate Army Invades Maryland . 40-50 CHAPTER V. The Attack upon Harpers Ferry — The Cavalry Cut Their Way 'Out — Capitulation of the Place — Battle of Antietam, 51-78 CHAPTER VI. Camped at Point of Rocks — Moved to Brunswick — Lieut. Slater Resigned on Account of Wounds — Camp moved to Bolivar Heights — To Berry ville— Confederate Army Marches Northward 78-91 CHAPTER VIL The Gettysburg Campaign— Frederick— EHicotts Mills— Re- lay House— Tennallytown— Camped atDrippingSpring — The Fight at Gray's Farm. . . . . . 91-107 vi contbno^s. CHAPTER VIII. Back to Harpers Ferry — Recruiting Company B — The Affair at Neersville — Camp Moved to Charlestown — Scouting in the Valley — The Fight at Charlestowu — Recruiting Com- panies C and D 107-119 CHAPTER IX. Back to Point of Rocks— In Winter Quarters— Gathering Hay — Moved to the Furnace — Ordered to West Vir- ginia — Capt. Means Leaves the Service — The Second Fight at Waterford .... 119-131 CHAPTER X, The Confederate Army under Gen. Early Invades Maryland — Battle of Monocacy — Frederick — Relay House— EHicotts Mills — Washington . . 131-144 CHAPTER XI. Gen. Sheridan in the Valley — Battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill— Tom's Brook— Cedar Creek 144-170 CHAPTER XII. The Fight at Adamstown — The Fight at Goresville — French Bill — Tritapoe and Best — Downey's Mill — His- toric Shenandoah Valley. . . . ... 170-190 CHAPTER Xni. Back to Harpers Ferry — The Raid to Upperville and Middle- burg — Fight at Hamilton — Capt. Keyes Resigns on Account of Wounds — Capt. Grubb Commands the Bat- talion — Keyes Switch— John Moberly — Lee Surrenders — The War is Over — Retrospective — War Finances .... 191-203 CHAPTER XIV. Prison Experiences— Libby — Pemberton — Castle Thunder — Belle Isle — Andersonville — Roster, etc 204-234 HISTORY OF THE LOUDOUN (VA.) RANGERS. CHAPTER I. Early Fobmation op Loudodn County — Early Emigrants — Cavalier — Germans — Quakers — Genisis of the Rangers. President Lincoln's call for 300,000 troops in the summer of 1862 touched a responsive chord in the hearts of nearly 600,000 patriots. Into this vast ag- gregation of volunteer soldiers the Loudoun (Virginia) Rangers cast their little mite. Possibly the Rebellion could have been suppressed without them, yet that Grand Army that marched to the music of the Union, from Fort Sumter to Appomattox, was composed of just such mites. The command was recruited in Lou- doun County, Virginia, and mustered into the United States service at Lovettsville, the 20th day of June, 1862. It was an independent command, organized in obedience to a special order of the Honorable Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, and was at first subject to his orders only, but subsequently merged into the Eighth Corps, commanded at that time by the vener- able Major General John Ellis Wool, hero of three wars — the second war with Great Britain in 1812, the Mexican War, 1847, and the Civil War, 1861-65 — an honor that has been enjoyed by comparatively few. Perhaps the reader may inquire how the Rangers came to be arrayed on the side of the Union, coming as 2 HISTORY OF they did from within the territory of the alleged South- ern Confederacy. The answer is, "Blood will tell." A majority of the, citizens of Loudoun County cast their wavering fortunes under the seductive folds of the Stars and Bars, and fought with a courage and a desperation worthy of a better cause. They, like thousands of other so-called "loyal sons of the South," were carried away by the plausible delusion of "States' Rights," to fight against the Government in which they lived, and which afforded them protection. But while a majority of the citizens of Loudoun County was extreme Secessionist, a determined and enthusiastic minority was just as firm in its loyalty to the flag of its country as was any section of the Union. Owing to the meagreness of colonial history it is im- possible to state the exact period this section of the State was settled. The first record we have of an attempt at settlement is in 1670, when Capt. Henry Batte organ- ized an expedition from the head of tidewater on the Potomac (probably near Alexandria), passing up that stream and crossing the Blue Ridge at or near Snicker's Gap, invading the Shenandoah Valley. The Indians did not look with favor upon this intrusion of their territory, as a war of extermination against the few settlers was waged with great fury for the next five years, terminating in a gre^it battle on the site of the City of Washington, resulting in a defeat of the red skins. In 1700 Gov. Sir William Berkeley assumed a very friendly attitude towards the Indians, gradually extend- ing settlements on the western frontier. In 1716G0V. Spotswood visited this section, and the visit is known in history as the " March of Spotswood." In a list of his equipage is to be found eight kinds of wine. On the summit of the Blue Ridge his party held a kind of banquet, or "passover," with the Indians. THE I.OUDOUN RANGERS. 3 The desire among the early settlers to possess choice pieces of real estate developed slowly, consequently little progress was made in settling the country, yet intercourse with the sav,ages had been kept up, result- ing in a better acquaintance, which gradually led to a partial yielding on their part to the inevitable — the onward march of civilization. Permanent settlements began about 1725. What is now Ivoudoun County was then a part of Prince William County, and owned by one man, lyord Thomas Fairfax, Baron of Cameron. The County was divided in 1742, and Fairfax County created and named in honor of the landlord, and in 1757 Fairfax County was divided and lyoudoun County created and named in honor of L,ord Loudoun, a prominent officer in the English Army, afterwards Commander in Chief of the British forces in the American Colonies, and Governor of Virginia from 1 758-1 762. About the earliest settlers we have any authentic record of (1725) were the English Cavalier stock, who located in the eastern and southern portions of the county, extending from the Potomac River south to Middleburg and from the Catoctin and Bull Run Moun- tains east to the eastern border of the county. This stock was the first to introduce and foster slavery in the county. From 1725 to 1735, there came from Pennsylvania a sturdy and vigorous people who settled what is known as the German Settlement, extending west from the Catoctin Mountains to the Short Hill Mountains, and from the Potomac River south to near Wheatland. In 1710 to 1720 this same people had come from the Palatine States of Germany, and settled in New York and Pennsylvania. The earliest date the Germans settled in lyoudoun County is not exactly known. History places the 4 HISTORY of' period at from 1725 to 1735. There is some evidence, however, that they came at an earlier date. The black- heart cherry tree that has flourished for centuries in Germany has been grown in this German settlement to perfection, and the growths of the oldest trees show it to have been planted in 1720. This is presuming, of course, that the seed was brought from Germany by these people. There came about the same time members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) from England and from Ireland and settled in the central portions of the county, extending from Waterford south to Goose Creek. The term Quaker, originally given in reproach, has been so often used by friend as well as foe, that it is no longer a term of derision, but is the generally accepted designation of a member of the Society of Friends. With this apology we shall use the word Quaker when- ever we may have occasion to refer to them in the course of this narrative. Both the Germans and Quakers left friends and all those pleasant associations that cluster around the place of nativity, and willingly assumed the dangers of a long and tedious voyage across the Atlantic, for the sake of liberty. When the French crossed the Rhine into Germany and wav;ed a bitter war of persecution against those that dared to free themselves from the Romish hierarchy, thousands of Germans, the adher- ents of Luther, sought refuge in America, where they could worship God as their consciences dictated, with none to molest them or make them afraid. The Quakers were also the victims of a similar per- secution in England on account of their religion. Many of this people were cast into prison because they insisted on their own simple form of worship, "The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Men " and, because this was denied them, turned their faces The LOUDOUN rangurs. 5 to America, where liberty of botli mind and body was guaranteed to all. Mr. Asa Moore (great grandfather of Mrs. Samuel C. Means) was one of the earliest emigrants of this people, one of the founders of Waterford, and he named it after his native town in Irelani. He built the first house in Waterford, which is still standing, and adjoins the residence of the late Capt. S. C. Means. The Quakers also laid out the village of Hamilton, which they named Harmony. The descendants of these people to a large extent still occupy the land settled by their ancestors. That por- tion of the country settled by the Germans imdFriends, while it is no better, and perhaps not so highly favored as other sections, shows a higher development than any other section of the county. The well-tilled farms, the comfortable, though unpretentious houses, fine orchards, and all that pertains to a prosperous and happy people, are particularly noticeable. The inde- ' fatigable industry of this people is especially commend- able, as everybody works at something, and there is absolutely not a pauper amongst them. This territory of about 125 square miles contains more churches, school houses, mills and factories than can be found in the same number of square miles else- where in the County, and as a natural consequence the standard of intelligence and morality is exceptionally high. It is no disparagement to the thousands of others that came to this country to state that the Germans came better fitted to battle against the inconveniences of a new country. To use a modern expression, " They came to stay." It is a remarkable coincidence that those that settled in Loudoun County represented every branch of industry. To ascribe the many good qualities these early 6 HlSfORY OI^ settlers possessed entirely to the men would be a great injustice to the fair sex. While the men ploughed and planted, the women wove and spun. The first sheep in the county were brought from Germany by these people, and from the fleece of these the nimble fingers of the housewife fashioned clothing for the family, dyed by the barks and herbs of the forest into a diversity of colors, from which, by the ingenuity of the weaver, some gorgeous patterns were produced. Many speci- mens of their handiwork may be found amongst the early households. One of the most conspicuous, as well as the most useful of these, is the counterpane, or cover- let, of which we venture the assertion that no other sec- tion has produced this article in a more durable and artistic design than is here made. Many of them have been in use from fifty to one hundred years. Flax was also extensively raised, from which threads and summer fabrics were made for the household. These people were pre-eminently Americans by adop- tion, if not by birth. When the American colonies were threatened with subjugation the Germans did not hesitate to take up arms for their adopted country. Nearly every family had a representative in Washington's army. It is a well-known fact that Loudoun County was one of the most densely populated counties in the State at that period, and at the close of the Revolution the county's militia numbered 1,750 men. The county furnished the fifth President of the United States, in the person of James Monroe, the father of the famous Monroe Doctrine. It was here his neighbors and fellow-citizens gave him his political send-off in life, by electing him to the modest office of justice of the peace, which modest beginning finally led to the White House. The census returns for fifty years previous to the war THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 7 of 1861 place Ivoudoiin County in the first rank in im- proved farms, live-stock, wheat, corn, and fruits ; the county contains valuable minerals, such as gold, iron, copper, salt, and marble. Some fine varieties of Lou- doun marble were used in the construction of the Capitol at Washington. Those large columns in the old House and Senate chambers, of dark conglomerate marble, were taken from a Ivoudoun quarry. The county can also boast of an honor that has been enjoyed by but few counties in the United States, as it contained the Capital of the United States for a brief period. During our second war with Gieat Britain, the Brit- ish had captured Washington August 24, 18 14, and laid some of the public buildings in ruins, including the White House, or rather the red house as it was at that time. President Madison and his Cabinet loaded the archives of the Government into four four-horse wagons and hauled them to Ivcesburg, originally called George- town, where they exercised the functions of govern- ment for several weeks. The Declaration of Independ-- ence was among the valuables thus hauled away and saved. The conservative citizens of Iveesburg were not en- thusiastic over so much prominence being thrust upon their quiet village, as they were probably fearful of the consequence, should the British come this far. The President's wife was a Quakeress and a native of this section — the popular Dolly Madison. The first settlers, known as the Cavaliers, were firm advocates of slavery, and the inaugurators of State rights, and as a natural result their progeny grew up to espouse the cause of secession — in fact, they were "last ditchers." While neither the Quakers nor the Germans favored slavery, their interpretation of State rights was un- 8 HISTORY OF compromising allegiance to the Union of States and the flag of their country, purchased and made sacred by the blood of their Revolutionary sires, and, as a se- quence, their descendants grew up to oppose secession with all their might and main. Out of the loins of this people grew the lyoudoun Rangers. The question of States' Rights is the rock upon which so many misguided State crafts have stranded, and it is deemed important to state the position of the Rangers on this all-important subject in the beginning. They were believers in States' Rights to the fullest acceptation of the term. They believed each State a part and parcel of the National compact that found a fuller and more permanent recognition of the United States of America as the siipreme and governing power of this country, and it was the "State's right," and duty of the individual citizen, to render unfaltering allegiance to that power. They even went farther than this — they believed that when a State insisted on the right to secede from the National Government it is the duty of the parent government to proceed with due solemnity and take the rebellious State across the right knee and administer a spanking that Would bring the adventurous and misguided member back to a full recog- nition of the authority of the parent government. Capt. Samuel C. Means, Ivieut. Edwin R. Gover, Quartermaster Charles F. Anderson, Orderly Sergeant James A. Cox, Commissary Sergeant Edward T. White, Sergeants Flemon B. Anderson, David E. B. Hough, T. W. Franklin, Henry C. and Isaac S. Hough, Edward Bond, Samuel, William, Joseph F., George W., and Robert W. Hough, Fenton P. and Charles F. Rinker, from in and around Waterford, were, more or less of Quaker lineage. Ivieut. lyuther W. Slater, Sergeants James H. Beatty and John P. Hickman, George V. Kern, Samuel, Joseph Capt. S. C. MEANS, Co. A. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 9 and Peter C. Fry, Jacob Cordell, Samuel E. Tritapoe, George C. Tritapoe Jacob E. Boryer, Charles and George W. Baker, Samuel J. and W. J. Cooper, George P., John M., and Presley A. Davis, Thomas, Charles, and Henry Dixon, Armistead Everhart, Briscoe Goodhart, Philip H. Heater, Mahlon H. Best, Edward Jacobs, Joseph T. Ritchie, John Ambrose, Charles F. Moreland, Albert C. Mock, John Denhart, George Swope, Charles Stout, Charles D. Spring, Charles H. Snoots, William Shoe- maker, John W., Charles W., and Richard Virts, Frank Mormon, James Stoneburner, Johnathan Myers, Jacob Long, coming from around Lovettsville and Taylor- town, were of German ancestry. While a very large majority of the command belonged to the German and Quaker stock, there was quite a sprinkling of other nationalities, principally Scotch- Irish, comprising Lieut. D. M. Keyes, W. S. Keyes, Sergeants James H. Corbin, Milton S. and James W. Gregg, Joseph T. Divine, Bugler John S. Densmore, Michael McMullen, J. C. McCutcheon, D. J., George H., and Robert S. Harper, John W. Forsythe, Peter Miles, Charles McDade, George Welch, James W. and Sylves- ter Shackelford, and Joseph T. Cantwell. The Quakers, on account of their religious faith, were strictly opposed to war, but when brought to the thresh- old of their own home the flesh grew stronger than the spirit, and in the late war quite a number laid down their lives that the Nation might live. In one of the early battles of the late war one of that faith found himself on the skirmish line, with the blood- thirsty enemy in front. He selected his man and raised his trusty Enfield. With the remark, " Friend, it is unfortunate, but thee stands exactly where I am going to shoot," he pulled the trigger, and when the smoke cleared away the enemy had one less to draw rations. General Jacob Brown, the "fighting Quaker" and lO HISTORY OF Christian soldier, was a brigadier general in the second war with Great Britain, later a major general, and finally Commander in Chief of the United States Army from 182 1 until his death in 1828. The hero of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie, he was related to the ancestry of the wife of Captain Means and to many Quakers of Ivoudoun. CHAPTER II. The Secession Movement — Public Sentiment Against It — A Convention Called — An Elkciion Okdebed — Methods Employed in Forcing Virginia odt of the Union. In 1 861 the citizens of Virginia as well as several other Southern States found themselves very much divided on the question of secession. An undoubted majority was opposed to the new doctrine and had so expressed themselves on various occasions. Governor John Ivetcher convened the legislature in extraordinary session January 7, 1861, for the especial purpose of de- termining what attitude the Old Dominion should take on that all-absorbing question. That august body decided to call a State convention to meet in Richmond February 15, to take such action as would best represent the majority of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The Convention was composed of 152 delegates chosen February 4, and as was anticipated a majority of the delegates were opposed to the ordinance of secession. The convention convened February 15, and elected the Hon. John Janney, a citizen of Ivoudoun County, as president, who on taking the chair made a strong and vigorous speech in the defense of the Union of States. After debating the question for three weeks the convention, April 4, rejected the ordinance of se- cession by a vote of 89 to 45, lacking one vote of being two to one against the measure, which was a o-reat 1*HE LOUDOUN RANGERS. II disappointment to the ultra secessionists, who had de- termined on a policy of rule or ruin. A system of threats and bribery was now resorted to that would cause a blush on the callous cheek of Caesar. Their leaders grew desperate in their frenzy to have Virginia arrayed on their side to assist in waging a cruel and unjustifiable war on the best government that ever existed. The Hon. R. M. T. Hunter and other rabid secession leaders visited the largest cities of the State and held mass meetings, packed for the purpose of forestalling public opinion and adopting stereotyped resolutions, to be sent to the convention then in session in Richmond, to encourage that body in passing the ordinance of se- cession. A meeting for this purpose was held in Lees- burg and addressed by J. M. Kilgore and others. Jeffer- son Davis sent Alexander H. Stephens from Montgom- ery to Richmond to use his persuasive eloquence on the convention, and assist in whipping-in those that were inclined to be . refractory. Roger A. Pryor and Edmund Ruffin were dispatched to Charleston to urge an attack on Fort Sumter, hoping that the shedding of blood would inflame the passion of the Southern people and that the excitement that would follow would force Virginia to be arrayed against the National Government ; and it did. The announcement in Richmond of the attack on Fort Sumter was followed by the booming of cannon and the waving of Confederate banners, yelling and parading of streets ; in fact, pandemonium reigned and ruled supreme. Roger A. Pryor rose to be a major general in the Confederate army. When taken prisoner, Jeff. Davis accused him of desertion and going into the Federal lines. Pryor denied the charge, resigned, and enlisted and served to the close of the war as a private soldier, and is now (1896), having joined the cohorts of Tarn- 12 HISTORY OI*- many, a prominent judge of New York City. Edmund Ruffin pulled the lanyard and fired the first shot at Fort Sumter. After General Lee surrendered, Ruffin committed suicide by blowing the top of his head off", saying he wanted to die because the Confederacy could not live. Richmond was in the hands of a mob and ready to do their bidding. Meanwhile the system of intimida- tion and bribery had its effect ; ten of the union dele- gates, apprehensive of the dangers that were threaten- ing them, left the city for their homes. April 17 the convention in secret session passed the ordinance of secession by a vote of 88 to 55 on condition that it should be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection, at an election to be held the 23d of -May, 1861, for that purpose. Alexander H. Stephens and other Southern leaders were prolific with opinions that the action of the convention was final ; that the State had already seceded, and that it did not require the action of the people further. The convention, however, insisted that the people must approve or disapprove the action already taken, and the election should be held for that purpose. The Southern leaders fully determined to stultify the voice of the people by ordering 50,000 rebel troops into Virginia to assist the dear people in mak- ing up their minds how to vote ; ,and as by these troops the United States Government property at Harper's Ferry had been seized and the immense navy yard at Norfolk had been destroyed, this canvass and election as conducted was a mockery of justice. Many Union people had been driven from the State, or prohib- ited from voting ; a number of citizens of L,oudoun County had sought refuge in Maryland ; those that remained and insisted on voting ran great risk of personal injury. There was some disturbance at the polls at Ivovettsville and lyincoln. A gentleman liv- T^HE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 1 3 ing near lycesburg and voting the Union ticket against secession was treated to a bath in a mud hole. Sev- eral were thrown in the Potomac River for the same offense. This was practically the beginning of the war in Virginia, as the rebel troops took a promi- nent part in the canvass, practically prohibiting the opposition from making a canvass. The result of the election was an endorsement of the action of the State convention in passing the ordinance of secession, the vote standing, for secession 125,950 ; against secession, 20,373. At this time the State contained over one million and a half population, and if an honest and fair election had been held should have polled at least 300,000 votes, but there was cast less than half that number. In these piping times of peace much is heard of the monstrosity of troops at an election. Bayonets at the polls should be used sparingly, and only to secure an honest expression of the will of the people. In this case they were used to prevent an honest expression of the will of the people. In Waterford, Lovettsville, Hoysville, and Neersville a majority was given against secession. This election was Virginia's first Appomat- tox, and for the honorable name she held in the sister- hood of States proved to be a hundred-fold more disas- trous than the last Appomattox, when her shattered armies lay bleeding at every pore. A sample of Confederate election returns taken from the Confederate archives is presented : Headquarters Virginia Forces, Richmond^ Fa., May jo, 1861. Col. F. H. Smith, Richmond, Va. : Colonel : I submit below the information you ask for the council. It is, of course, not stirictly correct, though I think it is not far out of the way. It is im- possible to get returns from these volunteers: Norfolk, no returns, 7,000 conjectured; Jamestown Island, no returns, fifteen companies, 1,050; Williams- 14 HISI^ORY O-^ burg and Yorktown, no returns, 3,500; Gloucester Point, no returns, 6o3 ; West Point, 250; Richmond, including Ashland and the Confederate States troops, 5,500 ; Fred- ericksburg, including counties on the lower Rappa- hannock and Potomac Rivers, number not known, 2,700 ; Manassas Gap, no returns, 6,000 ; lycesburg, no returns, 500 ; Harper's Ferry, excluding Maryland troops, not known, and excluding Point of Rocks, 5,500; Grafton, no returns, 1,000 conjectured ; Kanawha Valley, no re- turns, 1,100 ; Abingdon no returns, 500 conjectured ; Ivynchburg, no returns, 1,000 conjectured ; besides a few companies supposed to be at Staunton, Charlottesville, &c. Total, 36,200. I am, sir, very respectfully, &c., R. S. Garnett, Adjutajtt- General. General Garnett was killed at Gettysburg, and, of course, his secret of counting election returns is lost to posterity. Whether any of tlie troops voted against the ordinance of secession we do not positively know ; but we do know if they did it was not counted, as 36,200, the number of State troops in the field at that time, are returned as voting solidly for the ordinance of secession. It is known, however, that in some of the troops that were recruited in the Shenandoah Valley, there was a ma- jority of some commands that vigorously opposed the ordinance of secession before and after election. This election began to bear fruit early. In less than twenty days the Union people of West Virginia, who would not submit to such tyranny, met in convention at Wheeling (June 13), and organized a separate State government ; resolutions were adopted denouncing secession, and offering their services to President I^in- coln, which were gladly accepted, and a new State was created. The rebel government now had complete control of the Old Dominion, and proceeded immedi- ately to slay the goose that laid the golden &^g. THE tOUDOUN RANGERS. 1 5 In order that the reader may have a clearer concep- tion of the men and methods employed in forcing Virginia, as well as other Southern States, out of the Union, a few extracts from the proceedings of the secession convention, also several Confederate orders relating to this section, is inserted. Extract fro7n proceedings of the Advisory Council o; the State of Virginia. Sunday, April 21, 1861. ***>!«*** It being considered desirable to ascertain the con- dition of affairs and the state of public opinion in Maryland, the Governor is respectfully advised to appoint Col. James M. Mason a Commissioner to pro- ceed forthwith to that State, and to acquire and com- municate to the Governor such information as he may obtain. Monday, April 22, 1861. A telegram from John S. Barbour, Jr., confidential agent of the Government at Alexandria, asking for arms for the Maryland troops to enable them to resist the passage of Northern troops to Washington, who are said to be now concentrating near Baltimore, was submitted to the Council by the Governor for advice. Whereupon his excellency was respectfully advised to send the following telegram to Mr. Barbour : " Telegraph received. Maj. Gen. Kenton Harper, in command at Harper's B^erry, is hereby ordered to deliver to General Steuart, at Baltimore, one thousand of the arms recently taken at Harper's Ferry. ^ 5): # * * * * It was also advised that the following telegram be sent to the Governor of Tennessee : "The condition of affairs in Maryland and Virginia makes it important that we should know how far we 1 6 HISTORY OF may rely upon the co operation of Tennessee to repel an invasion of our common rights. Please communi- cate fully and without reserve. Answer at once." 5l< ^ ^ ;}; ij: * * Ordered, That the Governor be respectfully advised to communicate to the Convention, in secret session, the purport of the telegram in reference to the loan of arms to General Steuart, commanding the Maryland troops ; and also the telegram advised to be forwarded to the Governor of Tennessee. Advised unanimously that the following telegram be returned in answer to Governor Harris : " Since telegram of 22d of April, Convention has formed provisional agreement with Confederate States, placing troops of Virginia under control and direction of President of Confederate States. Those from Ten- nessee should be subject to same rule, and at Lynch- burg can be provided for as troops of Virginia by Colonel Langhorne. Advise him." •ifi if. •!(. if. -^ ifi if. Petersburg, Va., April 20, 1861. L. P. Walker, Secretary War, C. S. A. Colonel Owen, president of the Virginia and Ten- nessee Railroad, has just reached here from Baltimore by way of Norfolk. He witnessed the butchery of Baltimore citizens by the Massachusetts regiment yesterday. He states the city is in arms and all are Southern men now. He says bridges north of Baltimore been burned, and no more troops can come from the North unless they march, and in large bodies, as Mary- land is rising. Lincoln is in a trap. He has not more than twelve hvtnrlred regulars in Washington and not more than three thousand volunteers. We have three thousand in Harper's Ferry. Our boys, numbering four hundred, went down to-day to Norfolk to join the companies there and youi 'i'orces coming from Charleston. You know how many we want. As leader we want Davis. An hour now is worth years of common fio-ht- ing. One dash and Lincoln is taken, the country saved and the leader who does it will be immortalized. H. D. Bird. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 17 Richmond, May i, 1861. Hon. L. P. Walker. Arrangements have been made to call out, if neces- sary, 50,000 volunteers from Virginia, to be rendez- voused at Norfolk, Richmond, Fredericksburg, A-lex- andria, Har[)er's Ferry, Grafton, Kanawha, Parkersburg, and Moundsville. Convention has authorized a provis- ional army of 10,000. Our troops are poorly armed. Tolerable supply of powder ; deficient in caps. Jno. I/ETCHER. Richmond, May 3, 1861. By the Governor of Virginia. A PROCLAMATION. The sovereignty of the Commonwealth of Virginia having been denied, her territorial rights assailed, her soil threatened with invasion by the authorities at Washington, and every artifice employed which could inflame the people of the Northern States and misrep- resent our purposes and wishes, it becomes the solemn duty of every citizen of this State to prepare for the impending conflict. These misrepresentations have been carried to such extent that foreigners and natural- ized citizens who but a few years ago were denounced by the North and deprived of essential rights have now been induced to enlist into regiments for the pur- pose of invading this State, which then vindicated those rights and effectually resisted encroachments which threatened their destruction. Against such a policy and against a force which the Government at Washington, relying upon its numerical strength, is now rapidly concentrating, it becomes the State of Virginia to prepare proper safeguards. To this end and for these purposes, and with a determination to repel invasion, I, John Letcher, Governor of the Com- monwealth of Virginia, by authority of the Convention, do herebv authorize the commanding general of the military forces of this State to call out and cause to be 1 8 HISTORY OF mustered into the senace of A^irginia, from time to time, as the public exigencies may require, such additional number of volunteers as he may deem necessary. Given under my hand, as Governor, and under the seal of the Commonwealth, at Richmond, this third day of May, 1861, and in the eighty-fifth year of the Com- monwealth. John Letcher. By the Governor : George W. Munford, Secretary of the CommoJiwealth. Headquarters Virginia Forces, Richmond^ Va., May i, 1861. Col. T. J. Jackson, Commanding Harpef s Ferry ^ Va. : You are desired to urge the transfer of all the ma- chinery, materials, &c., from Harper's Ferry, as fast as possible, and have it prepared in Winchester for removal to Strasburg, whence it will be ordered to a place of safety. The machinery ordered to this place must be forwarded with dispatch, as has already been directed. The remainder will await at Strasburg further orders. All the machinery of the rifle factory, and everything of value therein, will be also removed as rapidly as your means will permit. If the troops can be advantageously used in the removal of the machinery, they will be so employed. It is thought probable that some attack may be made upon your position from Pennsylvania, and you will keep yourself as well in- formed as possible of any movements against you. Should it become necessary to the defense of your position, you will destroy the bridges across the Poto- mac. You are particularly directed to keep your plans and operations secret, and endeavor to prevent their being published in the papers of the country. I am, sir, &c. , R. E. IvEE, Major General^ Commanding. the loudoun rangers. 19 Headquarters Virginia Forces, Richmond, Va., June 10, 1861. Col. Eppa Hunton, Commandiitg, Leesburg, Va. : Colonel : Your letter of the 8th instant has been received, and it is hoped that you have accomplished the destruction of the bridges upon the Ivoudoun and Hampshire Railroad, and otherwise rendered the road unserviceable to the enemy. Unless any of the rolling stock can be transferred to the Orange or Manassas Railroad, it must be destroyed immediately. Should it not already be demolished, the gondola and flats must not be permitted to fall into the hands of the enemy. It is necessary to destroy the navigation of the Chesa- peake and Ohio Canal, to prevent its being used by the enemy, and you will take measures to do so effectually, by cutting the dams at Seneca and Edwards Ferry, and blowing up the Monocacy aqueduct. Respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. Lee, General, Commanding. The bridges referred to in Gen. L,ee's order were Shepherdstown, Harper's Ferry, Berlin, and Point of Rocks, and were burned Sunday, June 9, 1861. The election of May 23, on the approval or disap- proval of thfc passage of the ordinance of secession by the convention had not been held, and of course the State was still in the Union, yet we see that the State had actually been turned over to the Confederate gov- ernment, while her citizens were blindly deceived by being asked to vote on that very question. The State militia, which had been organized, drilled, and partly equipped two years previous, was now ordered into the field under a reorganization. The 56th Virginia militia, commanded by Col. William Giddings, was called out, and about 60 per 20 HISTORY OF cent, of the regiment that lived east of the Catoctin Mountain responded. The Goresville company, or rather the remnant of that company that did not go to Maryland, was ordered to Cheek's Ford to guard the river and keep the Yankees from crossing at that point. It seems the captain of the company, John Money, was absent, and Campbell Belt, the quartermaster, was put in command. Quarter- master Belt was somewhat of an inventive genius, a kind of a Col. Mulberry Sellers. If the Confederacy had given him the slightest encouragement, no doubt he would have invented a kind of an infernal machine that would have demolished the whole Yankee nation in a jiffy ; but war does not always recognize genius, as was doubtless the case in this instance. Quartermaster Belt had ordered quite a number of the farmers' harrows and had them placed in the river at the ford, claiming that it would tangle up the Yankee army if they attempted to cross. The Yankee forces on the Maryland side soon learned of the harrow scheme, and ordered out two comjianies, raised the harrows, and knocked out the teeth and shipped them North, where they were sold at good price, as samples of rebel weap- ons of war. Less then half of the Waterford company obeyed the call to be mustered into the rebel service. 'I'he company at Ivovttlsville sent ten men, and but four men went from the Hoysville company. Those that refused to array themselves under the rebel banner were Union men and courted the displeasure of the secessionists, and must be severly disciplined. A bitter war of ostra- cism and revenge was resorted to. Quite a number of Union men had been particularly demonstrative and had not hesiiated to express themselves for the Union and its flag on every occasion. This class was threatened with punishment or arrest. Vn-^ I.OUDOUN RANGERS. 21 It will be remembered that a large portion of the citizens of Loudoun County were intensely loyal to the National Government. Many of them were willing to and some did suffer death rather than take up arms against the United States. They were generally com- fortably situated, by industry and economy had accumu- lated a fair share of this world's gdods, and in main- taining their unswerving loyalty to the Union neces- sarily indicated a self sacrifice on their part of their property. From Union citizens, who preferred to leave the State and all that was near and dear to them rather than go into the rebel army, their property, excepting their lands, was generally taken by that army. They left their families in Loudoun, and if ever f6und visiting them they would be arrested and cast into a Southern prison, where their chances of life were very poor. In December, 1861, William Smith, Armistead Ma- gaha, Emanuel Ruse, and Isaac C. Slater had come from Maryland to visit their families, and on returning had got to the ferry opposite Berlin (now Brunswick), where they were arrested as spies, taken to Richmond and confined in Libby prison, where they almost starved to death. Slater, who was young and delicate, was re- duced almost beyond recognition, and was years after his release regaining his health and strength. In April, 1861, the galling yoke of secession was made still more oppressive to the Union citizens of Lou- doun. The Loudoun Cavalry (Confederate) visited the farmers in the German and the Quaker settlements, taking teams for the Confederate army. From many farmers a team of four horses and a wagon were taken, but where farmers were found with less than that num- ber, one or two horses, or even one horse would be taken, and a wagon from others ; thus making a complete 22 HIS'rORY OP four-horse team from one or two small farmers. This property was taken with the promise that it would be returned ; but this promise, like other promises of the Confederacy, was never fulfilled, neither did any of the citizens receive any compensation for the property thus taken. If a citizen was found that did not possess either horse or wagon, he was pressed into service as a driver. There was probably not a citizen in the territory above referred to whose property was not taken, and taken at a time when the Confederacy had money to pay for supplies, if they had been actuated by honest motives. The Confederate archives are dumb with reference to this property. We insert Gen. Beauregard's famous proclamation, "Beauty and Booty," it will be remembered by many of Loudoun's citizens : Headquarters Department of Alexandria, Camp Pickens^ June 5, 1861. To the good People of the Coimties of Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prijice William : A reckless and unprincipled tyrant has invaded your soil. Abraham Lincoln, regardless of all moral, legal, and constitutional restraints, has thrown his abolition hosts among you, who are murdering and imprisoning your citizens, confiscating and destroying your property, and committing other acts of violence and outrage too shocking and revolting to humanity to be enu:nerated. All rules of civilized warfare are abandoned, and they proclaim by their acts, if not on their banners, that their war-cry is "Beauty and booty." All that is dear to man, your honor, and that of your wives and daughters, your fortunes, and your lives, are involved in this mo- mentous contest. In the name, therefore, of the constituted authorities of the Confederate States, in the sacred cause of consti- tutional liberty and self government, for which we are contending, in behalf of civilization and humanity itself, I, G. T. Beauregard, brigadier general of the T^HIt LOUDOUN RANG^^RS. 2^ Confederate States, commanding at Camp Pickens, Mana.5sas Junction, do make this my proclamation, and invite and enjoin you by every consideration dear to the hearts of freemen and patriots, by the name and memory of your revolutionary fathers, and by the purity and sanctity of your domestic firesides, to rally to the standard of your State and country, and by every means in your power compatible with honorable warfare to drive back and expel the invaders from your land. I conjure you to be true and loyal to your country and her legal and constitutional authori- ties, and especially to be vigilant of the movements and acts, of the enemy, so as to enable you to give the ear- liest authentic information to these headquarters or to officers under my command. I desire to assure you that the utmost protection in my power will be extended to you all. G. T. Beauregard, Brigadier General^ Commanding. It is difficult to account for this remarkable procla- mation, but it is most probable the general was suffer- ing from non-action of the liver. CHAPTER III. Samuei, C. Means goes to Maryi' He dashed down the line 'mid a storm of hurrahs. And the wave of retreat checked its course there, because The sight of the master compelled it to pause. With foam and with dust the black charger was gray. By the flash of his eye and his nostril's play He seemed to the whole great army to say : ' ' I have brought you Sheridan all the way From Winchester town to save the day ! " Hurrah ! hurrah ! for Sheridan ! Hurrah ! hurrah ! for horse and man ! And when their statues are placed on high. Under the dome of the Union sky — The American soldiers' temple of fanie— There with the glorious General's name, . Be it said, in letters both bold and bright : " Here is the steed that saved the day By carrying Sheridan into the fight From Winchester, twenty miles away ! " 164 HISTORY OF President Lincoln, the War Department, and the American Congress vied with each other in, honoring Sheridan, as the following will show : " Executive Mansion, " Washington, October 22, 1864. "Maj. Gen. Sheridan. " With great pleasure I tender to you and your brave army the thanks of the nation, and my own personal admiration and gratitude, for the month's operations in the Shenandoah Valley, and especially for the splendid work of October 19, 1864. " Your obedient servant, "Abraham Lincoln." " War Department, Adjt. General's Office, " Washington^ November /^, i86,f. " [General Orders, No. 282. J " Ordered by the President * * * ^ T^^t for the personal gallantry, military skill and just confi- dence in the courage and patriotism of his troops, dis- played by Philip H. Sheridan on the 19th day of Octo- ber, at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of Providence, his routed army was reorganized, a great national disaster averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels for the third time in a pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H.Sheridan is appointed major general in the United States Army, to rank as such from the 8th day of November, 1864. " By order of the President of the United States. " E. D. TOWNSEND, ^^ Assistant Adjutant General.''^ "[Public Resolution, No. 13.] " Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the United States of America in Congress assem- bled^ That the thanks of Congress are hereby tendered to Major General Philip H. Sheridan, and the officers and men under his command, for the gallant military tHt LOUDOUN RANGERvC. 165 skill and courage displayed in the brilliant series of victories achieved by them in the Valley of the Shen- andoah, and especially for their services at Cedar Creek on the 19th day of October, 1864, which retrieved the fortunes of th^ day and thus averted a great disaster. Sec. 2. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be, and hereby is, requested to com- mjUnicate this resolution to Major General Sheridan, and through him to the officers and soldiers under his command. " Approved February 9, 1865. " By order of the Secretary of War. "E. D. TOWNSEND, " Assistant Adjutant General. ' ' The battle of Cedar Creek practically ended the cam- paign in the Valley. The enemy had been defeated and humiliated beyond measure. The Valley, where their intrepid army had held undisputed sway for three long years, had now been wrested from them, and was the " dwelling place " of their enerhies. The land that had' fed and sheltered their armies now furnished them '' bitter .waters. " In closing with the battle of Cedar Creek, we wish to impress upon the mind of the reader the " unfaltering " fidelity and patriotism of Phil Sheri- dan's famous black horse, "Winchester." Perhaps we cati partly do him justice by relating the following inci- dent : Some years after the war an evangelist and great ad- mirer of Sheridan was holding a revival in the blue grass region of Kentucky. Among the many that pro- fessed religion was Gen. Abe Buford, an ex-Confed- erate, a gentleman noted for owning a number of fine race horses ; with his change of heart, his love for fine horses seemed to increase. The evangelist called on the general a few days after his conversion, and the Ken- tuckian's heart overflowed with praises for fine horses, and he assured the revivalist that there would be horses l66' ■■ HISTORY OF* ill heaven. "Yes," said the good parson, " and the hoirse that Phil Sheridan rode from Winchester to Cedar Creek will have the front seat." The fragments of Early's army, with the exception of small roving bands, were soon drawn towards Richmond, where the final battle was to be fought, while Sheri- dan's cavalry completed the work of destruction in the Valley. ' In performing a mission of this kind, where the work of destruction was intrusted to so many hands, it -vyould naturally be expected that many acts of lawlessness would be committed. There may have been some, but history fails to record a single case where private prop- erty was perverted to personal gain, or where tribute was demanded from any source. " ■ November 24, 1864. Maj. Gen. H. W. Haheck, U. S. Army, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C- General : I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of property captured and destroyed and lost by capture by the Middle Military Division during the campaign commencing August 10 and ending November 16, 1864, in accordance with telegraphic orders received from you. I am, general, yours, respectfully, P. H. Sheridan, Major-General Commanding. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 167 Report, of property captured and destroyed {from the enemy) by the Middle Military Division^ Map. Gen. P. H. Sheridan.^ commanding ^ during the campaign commencing Attgust ro^ 1864^ and ending November 1 6., 186 f. Pieces artillery . 94 Barns . . . 1,200 Caissons 89 Furnaces 7 Limbers ; . . 8 Tanneries . 4 Forges . ... 6 Railroad depot . . .1 Battery Wagon . I Locomotive I Artillery ammuni- Box cars 3 tion ... rounds 23,000 Wheat bushels 435,802 Army wagons . . 131 Oats . . do. . 20,000 Ambulances ... 137 Corn . . . do . 77,176 Medical wagons . . . 7 Flour barrels . 874 Harness . . . .sets . 1. 134 Hay . tons . 20,397 Horse equipments do . 1,140 Fodder do. 500 Battle flags, . 40 Straw do. 450 Small-arms . . . 19,230 Beef cattle . 10,918 Small-arm ammu- Sheep 12,000 nition . rounds . 1,061,000 Swine 15,000 Horses ■3,772 Calves . . '250 Mules . ... 545 Bacon and hams . lbs . 2,000 Flour mills . 71 Tobacco . .do. 10,000 Woolen mill . . I Rails . . . miles ■ 947 Saw-inills . 8 Potatoes . . bushels . 2,500 Powder mill . . I Cotton yarn pounds . 1,665 Saltpeter works 3 ■ November 28, Gen. Merritt and Col. Crowninshield with two brigades of cavalry left Winchester on a raid into-l/oudotin and Fauquier counties, with orders to de- stroy all forage and supplies that the enemy could sub- sist on. They captured 87 horses, 475 beef-cattle, and 160 sheep, and destroyed 230 barns, 8 mills, i still house, 10,000 tons of hay, and 25,000 bushels of grain. Repof-t of property lost by capture by the Middle Military Division during the campaig7t commencing August 10, 1864, and ending November 16, 1864. Pieces artillery . 24 Medical wagons . . . ' 2 Caissons . . . 19 Harness sets . 726 Forges 16 Horse equipments. do"- 525 Battery wagons . 3 Small-arms. 1,849 Artillery ammuni- Small-arm ammu- tion . . rounds 460 nition . . ; rounds : I,20t) Army wagons . 86 Horses ... 359 Ambulances. . . 48 Mules . . 564 1 68 HISTORY OF Most of the articles under the heading " loit by cap- ture " were recaptured subsequently. The twenty-four pieces of artillery were all recaptured. Sheridan's career in the valley accomplished a double purpose, as he not only banished the enemy, but taught our own Government a valuable lesson. Some of the early prominent generals of the war, and others that were high in authority, declared the cavalry to be of little value in modern warfare, and doubted if it could ever be made efficient. Sheridan's Valley campaign demonstrated beyond question that when efficiently led the cavalry was the most val^iable arm of the service. The greater portion of the Army of the Shenandoah lay for about five weeks near Winchester, enjoying a brief respite. December i the Sixth and a portion of the Nineteenth Corps returned via Washington to Gen. Grant's army around Petersburg, while the Eighth Corps remained in the Valley to tlie close of the war. The cavalry under Torbert remained in the Valley until the last of February, 1865, when it marched over- land to Petersburg, Va. STRENGTH OF SHERIDAN'S ARMY IN THE VALLEY. Sixth Corps. . . . 13,322 Military District of Nineteenth Corps . 13,025 Harpers Ferry . 4,815 Eighth Corps (army -^ of West Virginia) 7,507 Total. . . 45,487 Cavalry Corps. . 6,818 Losses. Sixth Corps . . . 4,899 Provisional Divi- Nineteenth Corps . 5,020 sion 732 Eighth Corps . 2,885 Cavalry Corps . . 2,184 Total. . . . 16,721 Prisoners captured by Sheridan, 13,000. The LOUDOUN RANGERS. 169 The strength of Gen. Early's army was not over 30,000 at any one time, but being on the defensive eould throw almost his entire strength against his antagonist. As Gen. Sheridan advanced up the Valley he was compelled to leave a strong force along the route to protect his communications. During the greater portion of the campaign the Rangers were on special service in the military district of Harpers Ferry, under Gen. Stephenson. Their former brigade commander, Col. Wells, 34th Massachusetts, was killed near Fisher's Hill, October 13, 1864. Many, that followed the fortunes of Sheridan in the Valley distinguished themselves in after years. Col. R. B. Hayes, commander ist Brigade, 2d Division, Eighth Corps, rose to be President of the United States — 1877- 1880. He had a horse shot under him at Cedar Creek, and was himself wounded. Capt. R. A. Alger, of the Cnster Brigade, became Governor of Michigan. L^ewis A. Grant, of the Vermont Brigade, Sixth Corps, was Assistant Secretary of War under President Harrison's Administration. J. W. Keifer, a division commander of the Sixth Corps, served as a member of Congress and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Richard W. Blue, 6th West Virginia, W. A. Calderhead, 126th Ohio, of Kansas, E. F. L,oud, 2d Massachusetts Cavalry, of California, L. J. Fenton, 91st Ohio, of Ohio, and B. B. Dovener, of West Virginia, all members of the 54th Congress, served under Sheridan in the valley. William McKinley, A. A. G., First Division, Eighth Corps, has been a member of Congress and Governor of Ohio, and a host of others have been prominent in private life. -Many that followed the fortunes of the L/ost Cause in the Valley have been heard from since the war. Gen. John B. Gordon, a corps commander, has been Governor of Georgia and United States Senator. Capt. John W. 170. HISTORY OF Daniel, of Early's staff, is United States Senator from Virginia; Governor O'Ferrell and ex-Governor Cam- eron served under Early. Quite a number of Con- federates who followed the fortunes of Gen. Early in the. Valley have gone into the ministry since the war. " While e'er the lamp holds out to buru The vilest sinuer may return." CHAPTER XII. The Adamstown Fight — GoRESvitLE — French Bii,i„ Tritapoe, AND Best — Downey's Mii,!,— Historic Shenandoah VaIvI,e'y. October 14 the Rangers' patrol, froni the Monocacy, came in about 10 o'clock, and reported to Capt. Henry Bartnete, provost marshal, that a force of about 300 rebel cavalry had crossed at Cheek's, or White's Ford, and moved in the direction of Frederick. A few minutes later several boatmen came rapidly up the towpath and reported that Mosby's men had pillaged and burned five canal boats, taken the stock, and moved in the direction of Adamstown. Capt. B. Spence, ist Pennsylvania L,. A., Battery G, was in command of the post, and ordered Capt. Grubb, of the Rangers, to move in the direction of Adamstown and attack Mosby and force him back to the river, while he, Capt. Spence, would march with two com- panies of infantry down the river and await the return of the raiders. As the latter drew nigh the river Capt. Grubb was to charge their rear, while the infantry was to attack in front. Capt. Grubb, with 81 men (all there was in camp at the time), moved promptly to Adamstown and attacked Mosby's force, under Maj. Chapman, and drove them three miles to near the river. Much to our surprise, Capt. Spence did not show up ; but we were in for it, and made the best of a bad bargain. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 171 The Rangers charged and poured several volleys into the raiders, who fell back to a strip of woods near the riverj where they were re-enforced by two companies under Col. Mosby in person. This force now fell upon Capt. Grubb, who, in t\irn, fell back, endeavoring to save the command from as much damage as was pos- sible. In this charge and countercharge Company A lost George Waters, killed ; Robert W. Hough and Joseph Bagent, badly wounded. Sergt. J. N. Johnson and John Coates were made prisoners. Company B lost Sergt. John W. Forsythe and Daniel Burnett, made prisoners. Mosby reports his loss as two missing. These despatches, taken from the Official Records, vol. 43, refer to this raid : " Point of Rocks, " October /^, 1864. " Brig. Gen. Stephenson. "Sir : The rebels reported crossing at White's Ferry and moving towards Frederick, the boatman says, with a large force. I have sent the Ivoudoun Rangers to meet them. " B. Spence, " Captain Commanding.'''' " Harpers Ferry, " October /^, 1864. "Capt. Spence, ' ' Point of Rocks, Md. " Move out with all your infantry force to assistance of Capt. Grubb. ' If there are not more than 250 cav- alry you ought to whip them easily. "John D. Stephenson, ' ' Brigadier- General. ' ' o ' ' Point of Rocks, ' ' October 14, 1864—4 p. m. " Gen. Stephenson. " I moved down the towpath to cut them off. " B. Spence, ^'•Captain Commanding.'''' 172 HISTORY OF' November 27th Mosby's command was reported to be near Leesburg with a large force. L,ieuts. Graham, and Rhodes, with 39 men, crossed the Potomac late in the evening, and marched until about 2 o'clock a. m., rest- ing'until 8 o'clock a. m., November 28th. We advanced towards Leesburg, which was found to be occupied by a detachment of Mosby's men. Lieut. Rhodes ledia charge into town by the Winchester pike. On our ap- proach Mosby's men concealed themselves in the town. Two Confederate officers, mounted on fine horses, en- deavored to escape by going out the pike east of town. Sergt. Ed. T. White, John S. Densmore, Joseph T. Ritchie and M. H. Best gave chase. Col. Coleman, of the 5th Virginia Cavalry, was soon overtaken. The other officer, riding a long, gaunt, roan horse, bid fair to escape. While crossing the railroad his horse fell, pinning the rider to the ground. As our boys rode iip the officer cried out : " Gentlemen, won't you please get this horse off of my leg? " Densmore, Ritchie, White, and Best dismounted, and soon extricated Capt. Smith, A. A. G., of Gen. Early's staff. He was a son of ex- Governor "extra-Billy" Smith. Our bfief acquaint- ance was exceptionally pleasant. As we took them back through Leesburg, some young ladies presented them with several friendly greenbacks to " cheer them on the way." Lieuts. Graham and Rhodes marched their men for camp, going out the, Point of Rocks;road. After we had passed the Limestone the men began to straggle — it was about 2 o'clock. The men had been in the saddle ever since early morning, and would fall out of line, endeavoring to get something to eat. The col- umn was stretched out about one mile in length. As the head of the column approached Paxton's Store, about 50 yards in their front, in a slight hollow on the Point of Rocks road, was formed in line of battle 250 of Mosby's men. They raised a yell and the firing began. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 173 They recaptured our two prisoners and captured several of our boys beside. While this straggling in most cases would have proved disastrous, yet in this case it saved the cbmpaiiy from heavy loss. Those who were near enough in front to go but the Taylorstown road were all captured, except Sain. Fry, who rode buckskin and escaped. Thdse that were further in the rear escaped, with perhaps one or two exceptions. Sergts. James H. Beatty, M. S. Gr6gg, and privates M. H. Best, Henry Cole and others went out through the Whipmore farm, and were closely pressed by Mosby's men, led by Capt. Mountjoy; This force had captured M. S. Gregg and were in close pursuit of the others. M. H. Best turned in his saddle, took deliberate aim, fired, and killed Mountjoy,' the ball en- tering his brain. This ended the contest for the day. In the confusion that followed, M. S. Gregg escaped. Our loss in prisoners was Lieuts. Rhodes and Graham, John M. Davis, Webb Franklin, P. H. Heater, Peter Fry, John Lenhart ; wounded, Graham, Lenhart, Peter Fry, and Jacob Cordell. The latter was not captured. Mosby lost one killed, Capt. Mountjoy, and four wounded. After Sheridan' had rrlade the Shenandoah Valley untenable for an army, many of the Confederates sought refuge in Loudoun, where forage and supplies wCre more plentiful. The citizens in the German settlement had been greatly annoyed by raiders, principally Mosby's and White's men, under John Moberly and French Bill. This band generally had from two to twenty men, and would entirely disappear when any number of Federal troops was near. Gen. Sheridan had instructed the commander at Harpers Ferry, Gen. Stephenson, to break up this band if possible. The matter was placed in the hands of the- Rangers, and had to be done by small squads. Corporal S. E. Tritapoe, Joseph T. Ritchie, Joseph Fry, Company A, 174 HISTORY OF and Wilson lyathen, of Company B, were ordered to Virginia November 30 for that purpose. It was learned that the band of mauraders was near Lovettsville. By the aid of a light snow newly-made horse tracks were followed to the residence of Charles Johnson, a Union man, where one of the rebels vi^as found ; he was full of fight and began shooting at his captors. Finally, Tri- tapoe and Ritchie clubbed the revolver out of his hand and made him their prisoner. This rebel was none other than French Bill, the notorious freebooter and murderer. He was a deserter from both the 28th and the 6ist New York Infantry, a professional bounty jumper, and was finally caught up with and fled and joined White's command, and became a boon companion of John Moberly, the guerilla. He and Moberly captured the surgeon of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry and brutally murdered him. French Bill was taken to Point of Rocks and turned over to Capt. H. Bartnete, provost marshal, who had him taken to Harpers Ferry and placed in the custody of Gen. Stephenson. The following telegraphic correspondence, taken from Offi- cial Records, volume 43, part 2, pages 721-727, fur- nishes the tragic climax of the case, as well as the swiftness of cold-blooded military law : " Point of Rocks, " December /, 186^, " Brig. Gen. Stephenson. "* * * French Bill, of Moberly's freebooters, was yesterday taken by Keyes' men, I understand. If so, he is an important capture, as he is a deserter from the 28th New York Infantry. * * * * CqI. Root, of the 15th New York Cavalry, now at Pleasant Valley', will furni,sh you evidence against French Bill. Also a clerk in employ of Mr. Bush, who was sutler for 28th New York Infantry. I will bring him to Harpers Ferry. " D. Henry Bartnete, " Capiairt, etc,''''' THE IvOtTDOUN- RANGERS. 175 " Harpers Ferry, " December /, /'. The rebels did not heed this threat, but continued to, follow. There was a sharp turn in the road and a barn standing on the extreme angle, entirely obstructing the view beyond. One of the rebels rode up by the side of Best with a cocked revolver, heretofore concealed under his coat, and suddenly pushed it into his face, with the prompt demand to surrender, or he would blow Best's head off. Both parties stopped still. Best at first played possum, saying, "Now, you wouldn't shoot me, would you ? ' ' and as quick as a cat grabbed the rebel's revolver with a grip of Hercules. Now the battle began in earnest, and there and then was brought on one of the liveliest and toughest rough-and-tumble general engagements of the war. Tritapoe and the other rebel were having a lit- tle private shooting match of their own. While Best and the first rebel were pulling and heaving at the revolver for dear life— bang, bang— it was nip and tuck to keep the bullets from hitting the wrong man, with the ad- vantage decidedly favoring the rebel, because he held the butt end, while Best froze on to the end that shoots. 1 78 HISTORY OF The rebel would say, "Let go of my revolver, yoU Yankee." Best made no reply, but pulled and tussled; finally tliey pulled each other off their horses, both fall- ing in a heap in the road, but neither let loose of the revolver. They wrenched, they pulled, they twisted. The rebel swore, but Best saved his wind and pulled. ■ Both parties rallied to their feet but continued the "tug of war" with renewed vigor. Best made a des- perate pull — twist— jerk, and wrenched .the' revolver from the rebel's hand. The latter jumped behind' the barh, barely escaping a shot from his oWn weapon. Best now turned his guns on the forces shooting at Tritapoe, the third shot bringing down his man, who was mortally wounded ; he died the next day. Best and Tritapoe now turned their attention to the athlete that jumped behind the barn, but he had escaped. This ended the battle. The Bavarian army at Blenhiem lost one-fourth of that army ; the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo lost one- third of his army ; Gen. McDowell at first Bull Run lost one-tenth of his army ; Gen. Lee at Gettysburg lost less than one-third of that army — but this engagement of Best and Tritapoe stands without a parallel. The enemy lost all their horses, arms and munitions of war, one-half of their army was slain, while the other half escaped bare- headed. Best had his thumb terribly lacerated by the hammer of the rebel's revolver, and his paper collar smashed up generally. Tritapoe had two bullet holes in his clothes ; neither was in a presentable condition to visit ladies, and they returned to camp that evening with their booty. It was a shot from Tritapoe's revolver that did the killing. Capt. Keyes presented each of these heroes with the horse he captured as a partial recognition of his bravery. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 1 79 ' Aboiit the first of December lyieiit. Gover, with 40 men, left camp, crossing at Harpers Ferry, and going "Be- tween the' Hjlls- " On entering Hillsboro we struck Company C, White's battalion, in command, of Capt. Sam, E. .G'rubb. lyieut. Gover ordered a charge, driving them, through the village. In the charge we captured fbur of their men, including the commanding offiper, who was wounded. One was killed, by the name of W. D. Gooding. Several of pur horses and bne or two of the iDoys were hurt charging over a stone fence. We passed on through Wheatland, Waterford and lyovettsville, re- crossing the river at Harpers Ferry, Th6 Capt. Grubb above referred to is the same one we encountered at Neersville in September, 1863, pre- vious. December 24 Capt. Grubb, with 20 .men (Companies A and B) dismounted, crossed on the ferry boat at 4 o'clock p. m. to make a reconnaissance in Virginia. Geo. H. Harper, Joseph Fry, Dan. Harper and Jack Virts, stopped for the night in the mountain. Sergt. Flemon B. Anderson and Sergt. John P. Hickman, Com- pany A,, and Sergt. Geo. H. Hickman, Company B, stopped at Taylorstown. Briscoe Gopdhart and M. H. Best went to visit home folks.. Capt. Grubb and the balance of the squad continued on to Waterford, arriving at 7 o'clock p.' m. There were 200 of White's Confederate cavalry camping one mile out of town. Mrs. Anderson, near Taylorstown, was giving a social party at her residence that evening. Her son, Sergt. Ander.>on, John and George Hickman were present with other young folks, enjoying themselves. Sergt. Ander- son was sitting beside a young lady, that rumor had was to be Mrs. Anderson som,e day. About 9 o'clock the house was surrounded by 16 of White's and Mosby's men. Ten of them entered the front door, with drawn revolvers. Sergt. Anderson l8o HISTORY OK attempted to escape by the back door, being near there. As he arose his saber hook caught the chair back. In attempting to make his exit the chair caught on the door pasing. While extricating himself about ten shots were fired at him, three taking effect. With revolver in hand he was fighting like a tiger. As he gained the outside of the door he was shot through the head. In failing, his mother caught him in her arms, and he died in a few minutes. Sergt. Anderson was one of the best all-around soldiers in the command — of a quiet disposition, well- poised, and brave to recklessness. John and George Hickman were made prisoners, taken to Richmond and confined in Libby prison, and were exchanged in March. After they had surrendered one of the rebels wanted to shoot John Hickman for some alleged grievance ; the rebel snapped his revolver, but it missed fire. George Hickman appealed to their chivalrous spirit, saying, "We have surrendered like men and ask magnanimous treatment." One of the Bradens, of Mosby's command, who was related to the Andersons, interfered and put a stop to further bulldozing. Both of the Hickmans were excellent soldiers. In this affair the rebels had three wounded — Lieut. Chew, mortally, who died a few days afterwards. Eben Simpson was badly wounded. A sleigh was taken from Jule Fry, in which their wounded were conveyed to Mount Gilead that night. The Fry house was searched twice for George H. and D. J. Harper, Joseph Fry, and Jack Virts, who had left a few minutes before. Capt. Grubb left Waterford on his return at lo o'clock, arriving at Col. Giddings' at 12 o'clock mid- night, where he remained for the night, and left the next morning, December 25th, at daylight. Before arriving at Taylorstown they learned of the sad and Tim LOUDOUN, RANGERS. igj, iintortunate affair at Mrs., Anderson's., While stopping; to view for the last time the remains of Sergt. Ander-: son, who had marched by his side only a few hours be- fore, the tears rolled down Gapt. Grubb's cheek. . '^Sergt. Flemon Benjamin Anderson was buried 'in U-tiion Cemetery at Waterford, the next day, Monday^ December 26th. . ,;■ The balance of the squad returned to camp- at rr o'clock, with heavy hearts. ''•■'' As has been intimated in the course of this narrative',' the Rangers were a moderately favored class with the fair sex. All those that developed the slightest interest in matrimonial lines could with some slight effort enjoy reciprocity in -that direction. In fact, each had his ladylove. The' old adage, "True love does not fun, smooth," had, however, no exception in war times, of ariiong the Rangers! One of the fighting corporals of Company A had been very aggressive in his campaign with Cupid. He had often contended against great odds, but his strategy, combined with his "staying qualities" when among th^ ladies, had never failed him. Nearly every mail brought encouragement to his heart, until during Jan- uary, 1865, he received a letter that seemed to blast all hopes forever. His best girl had evidently been listei;- ing to some rebel. She wrote : " In view of the uncer- tainty of the war, and in case we get married and the Confederates are successful, as recent developments seem to indicate, you would not be allowed to remain at home, and under such circumstances I deem it best for ail concerned to sever our engagement." This letter seemed at first to bring disappointment to all his plans ; but, as has been stated, he possessed staying qualities in an immense degree, and resolved anew that the rebellion should be put down if he had l82' ' HISTORY OF • ■■■'■ to do it liimself, as that iseesned to stand hi' his road -tc future happiness. '■■'■'' i .. . .1 . - ■ ; j, . ; Subsequent developments seemed ta indicate that the corporal showed this letter to his' confidential friends,- and it soon got to be the. news ,of the camp. ' By some unknown way it fell into the hands of Sergt. J'ames H. Beatty, who immediately pinned it on the_ front of the corporal's tent. The boys, supposing it was a, bulletin from some recent battle, gathered arouijd to read, About this time the corporal appeared, very angry, and then the entire camp yelled, " The corporal's girl has gone back on him." He drew his revolver and threat- ened to shoot the one who had put the letter on his tent ; but, of course, no one knew. It is but fair to state that the corporal dealt the Confederacy some heavy blows afterwards, and when peace reigned supreme he claimed his bride, and was married, and to-day enjoys the company of several younger "corporals," that have come to call him papa. ' During the month of February, Sergt. James H. Beatty, Henry Hough, Joe Ritchie, and George Davis obtained permission to go to Loudoun. The river was high tmd roads were muddy, so the boys left their horses at camp and went on foot. Near Downey's still-house they striick the trail of four of Mosby's guerillas. The rebels had arrived at the still, dismounted, and gone intothe house arid filled their canteens with whisky. Sergt. Beatty and his men took position in the wagon shed. When the rebels came out to get on their horses, Sergt. Beatty's' crew rushed out of the shed and opened fire on the enemy, capturing all four before they h^d time to draw their revolvers. From their foes our boys got eight re- volvers and four excellent horses. One of the rebels was dubbed " Maj. Hibbs." He was one of Mosby's. desper- ate characters, but "not an officer, simply plaiii "Bill' Hibbs." Another was Capt. Janles — a lieutenant — a- 'fHE LOUDOUN RANGSRS. 183 judge-^these titles were all assum'ed. Our boys mounted their horses and marched tlie four rebels ten paces iti front, and in this order they were taken to camp. '' ! A- few weeks later Sergt Beatty, Henry Hougli and John Hickman went to Downey's. On entering the pador, one; of Mosby's men was sitting talking to- Mrs. Downey. Our boys took charge of him and asked him where his arms were, when he pointed to a eha:if in a corner of the room and . said, " There they' are. " He never tried to get them, and did not seem to care whethfer the school kept, or not. ■ The first of March the command moved again to the Shenandoah Valley, camping near Keyes Switch, on the Shenandoah River. This section was first brought to public notice by George Washington, who established the first arsenal in the United States at Harpers Ferry (originally called Shenandoah Falls), soon after the Revolutionary War. There were kept here, before the war; about 75,000 muskets. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was for many years the only means of transporta- tion' to and from Washington. The Harpers Ferry Arsenal, or Armory, was estab- lished in 1796, while George Washington was serving his second term as President of the United States. TJierewas purchased nearly 1,700 acres of ground at a Cost of . . . $45)477 Th-e im.provements, consisting of buildings, ;, .water power,: dams, etc., cost 1,787,430 ,.,, Total 11,832,907 Machinefy!and tools 1379,795 Mateirial and patterns I93>6i6 Arrhs, etc.,' in store 285,146 ■'Total U. S. property $2,691,463 184 HISTORY OF Near Charlestown there lived a trio of officers in the Revolutionary War whose histories were sadly similar— r Horatio Gates, Charles Lee, and Adam Stephen — all three were with Washington at Braddock's defeat, all were wounded, all became general officers in the Con- tinental army, all were court-martialed for misconduct on the field of battle and all found guilty. Near Harpers Ferry, on the Potomac, there was in- vented by James Ramsey, in 1785, the first steamboat in the world, the machinery of which is now on exhibition in the National Museum at Washington. The famous Shenandoah Valley, an Indian naniq, was originally called " Gerando." The Valley was first set- tled in about 1730, or 1732. This section drank long and deep of the bitter cup of war, in fact it was one con- tinuous battle field for four long years. The traveler passing from Harpers Ferry, or Shepherdstown, to Staun- ton, a distance of 150 miles, is never ont of sight of a bat- tlefield. The second battle of the war was fought here at Harpers Ferry, April 18, 1861, six days after Fcrt Sum- ter was bombarded, and one day before the 6th Mass- achusetts was mobbed in the streets of Baltimore. There were no less than 175 battles fought in the Valley from 186 r to 1865. Some localities can boast of as many as fourteen engagements, Winchester having had that num- ber, and in ten of those battles artillery was used. Front Royal, Berryville, Charlestown, Harpers Ferry, and Shepherdstown lay claim to one dozen battles each. Shenandoah Valley is often referred to in history as the "Valley of Humiliation " and the "Valley of Death," which is literally true in hundreds of cases. It was the valley of humiliation to Gen. Banks at Front Royal, to Gen. Milroy at Winchester, but doubly so to Gen. Early at Cedar Creek, at Fisher's Hill, and at Waynsboro. Why this valley should be selected as the stage where bloody and dramatic scenes of war were enacted was, probably, The LOUDOUN RANGERS. 185 because of its importance — a goodly land, that literally flowed with milk and honey. Previous to the war the farms produced forty to fifty bushels of wheat to the acre, and will do the same to- day with proper tillage. It was also studded with flour and grist mills and factories, and the choicest of fruits in great abundance. Many Federal soldiers who served here during the war were so favorably impressed with this Garden of Eden of Virginia, that after the final act at Appomattox, where the curtain rolled down and shut out forever, let us hope, the bloody scene, settled here and are to-day enjoying the fruits of their labors under their own vine and fig tree. As to the Confederacy, their choicest blood was poured out here like water that they might retain possession of this goodly land ; and how well they succeeded, the hun- dreds and thousands of grassy mounds between Harpers Ferry and Staunton will testify. It was also the natural gateway between the North and the South ; the Confede- rate army always passed through this valley going to, or coming from, invading the North. Both after Antietam and after Gettysburg their shattered armies sought refuge and recuperation in the Shenandoah Valley. The fight- ing in the Valley was exceedingly aggressive when cav- alry and light artillery took a prominent part. The ten cavalry regiments that suffered the greatest loss of any mounted troops during the war, namely, ist Maine, ist Vermont, ist New York Dragoons, ist New Jersey, 5th and 6th Michigan, 2d New York, nth Pennsylvania, and 8th Illinois, won their laurels in the valley with Sheridan and Custer. The future historian will find much here to repay for research. We turn in vain to fiction to find where the hilman mind in all its fertility of imagination has por- trayed anything to compare with the battles of Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill. Sheridan's ride stands without l86 HISTORY OI^ a parallel. That which was actually fought out a,nd demonstrated, the poet, artist and dramatist have loved to dwell on this scene, and have given to poetry and song some of its brighest gems. - ■ •- Trowbridge says the Shenandoah Valley was: sup- posed to have been a vast lake, or inland sea, that poured its majestic waters over the Blue Ridge, at Harpers Perry, forming a cataract that dwarfed Niagara Falls into insignificance. As this is beyond 'the scope of this work, we shall not present evidence to substan- tiate the above claim, but leave the reader to investi- gate for himself Charlestown is loaded down with war history. Gen. Braddock's army bivouacked here after its defeat in western Pennsylvania. "' Braddock's Well," about half a mile west of town, is pointed out to the stranger, and had it been anything else but a well would have been carried off long ago as a war relic. During the late war both Federals and Confederates slaked their thirst from this fountain. Tradition says this well was dug at the suggestion of Gen. Braddock's chief of staff, who was no other than Col. Washington, afterwards Geri. Washington and President George Washington. The town was named after the colonel's brother, Charles.- ' It was also the home of that talented Col. D. H. Strother, " Porte Crayon," historian and artist, the pro- genitor of , illustrated magazine articles which are nO\^ so popular; he was colonel of the 3d West Virginia Cavalry Regiment. President Andrew Johnson ap- pointed him Minister to Mexico in 1866. He died in 1886, rich in honors. It was here John Brown was brought from Harpers Ferry for trial, here convicted, and here executed for alleged treason, by being publicly hanged in an open field adjoining town, December 2, 1859! ■ THE r.OUCOUN RANGfiRS. 187 .•■:'■ ... " The case, dismissed, the record closed, ; ■ : . . '.': ' .■ " The, court adjourhed; yet his soul L., ., ; :■ ,. Went luarchiug on.'! . i . , , ,;The cause for which he died grew stronger and stronger with every pulsation of the great American liea,rt, until, it finally crushed out and expunged for- ever from the Constitution that foul blot of slavery. .;.Tliere lived a very interesting character about three miles south of town, on the Berryville pike, by. the name of Jim Roper, \vho had quite a remarkable war history. .Perhaps the word war might be less emphatic ; in reality, he did nothave any war history. The story is- a kind of a compromise between a tragedy and a romance. ■During the Mexican War every able-bodied man in this section was ordered to take up arms and march with ;Gen. Scott to Mexico. This man, Roper, who was of English descent, had immense possessions, and it grieved his heart to leave them. He had a very dark com- plexion, and to escape going to war he swore he had African blood in his veins. The scheme worked' like a charm ;. in fact, it worked a little too well ; it not only kept him out of the war, but it kept him and his family out of society the rest of their days. Notwithstanding his great wealth his n«ghbors shunned him as they would a case of smallpox. .' -He had several fine-looking daughters, but they found no admirers in the neighborhood. So far as company was concerned, they had just as well lived in the desert of Sahara. The old gentleman had several fine farms and offered one with each of his daughters to any man that would 'marry oftej but the inducenient did not prove Sufficient for investors in live stock, until the close of the late; war, one of E. V. White's 'Con- fefderate guerriHas, ' by the name of Charles Cooper, l88 HISl^ORY Olf married one of the daughters and got his farm. About the same time a German, by , the name of William Shultz, who belonged to a New York regiment and "fit mit Sigel," married the other daughter and got his farm also. The old gentleman was shrewd enough to deed the farms to his daughters and their children. The last we heard of Cooper he had sold off all the good timber from his farm to raise a little cash, without work, and had squandered that and was about strapped.- Shultz, coming from a race that had practiced great economy and industry, and had not forgotten these maxims in his new home, is now one of the successful farmers of the valley. The old gentleman died in 1870. Berryville is another interesting old town, also known as Battletown. This place was the scene of a number of severe engagements. Gen. Geary crossed swords here with Turner Ashby ; later Banks contended for supremacy with Jackson ; next comes Milroy and Jack- son, then Crook and Imboden. Wilson and Early fought a desperate battle here in the fall of 1864, nearly 8,000 cavalry being engaged. It was near here that Maj. Chapman surrendered Mosby's command, April 17, 1865, to, Gen. Hancock's command. L,ess than a dozen miles from here his command murdered six members of the 5th Michigan cavalry about six months before. After such a career for four years they were allowed to go in peace. Verily, the fragrance of the apple blossoms at Appo- mattox cast their mellowing influence to Berryville. Sacred Writ furnishes the only parallel, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Berryville was also the home of John Esten Cooke, the Confederate historian, also a member of Gen. Lee's staff. He wrote the lives of Gens. Lee, Stonewall Jack- son, Jeb Stuart, etc., and he wrote quite a number of works of fiction founded on the late war, of which the THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 1 89 principal was "Surrey of Eagle's Nest," a work of considerable merit and of a wide circulation, particu- larly in the Soitth. I About five miles southwest of Berry ville in April, 1862, occurred one of the darkest, saddest and most in- excusable blunders of the entire war. Gen. Banks' army lay in the Valley near White Post. Blenker's division was at Paris, east of the Shenandoah River, near Snicker's Gap, and was ordered to Mill- wood, west of the river, and to cross at Berry's Ferry. The stream was swollen and very deep at this point, Vi^ith swift current, with one old scow about 25 feet long to ferry them across. Gen. Bohlen's Brigade was cross- ing, the 54th and 58th New York and 74th Pennsyl- vania had crossed. Gen. Bohlen become impatient at this slow process, and in his rage, forgetting the old maxim of his own people (German), " slow but sure," proposed to take the short but very dangerous road to fame, and ordered his own regiment, the 75th Pennsyl- vania, to cross, putting 60 men of Companies A and B on board, when only 15 men had been taken over be- fore ; and to economize space, as he claimed, he ordered every man to strap his knapsack on his back, packed the men on as closely as they could stand, and started for the other shore. This excessive load caused the boat to begin to dip water from the start, and as the craft struck the current it sank, and 60 patriots went down to a watery grave. Every one of them was drowned, none of them ever rose to the surface, and not a body was ever recovered for respectable burial. Had not Gen. Bohlen borne such an excellent reputa- tion as a soldier, thoroughly infused with the spirit of patriotism, he would have been summarily dealt with ; as it was, considerable loud talk was indulged in against him. The feeling was such that his usefulness in the brigade was ended, and at his own request he 190 • •• HISTORY OF ■•"■■': was transferred immediately and assigned to McDowell's division, where he commanded A brigade on the Rappa- hannock. Driven by remorse on account of the fatal error he committed on the Shenandoah, he resolvefd to redeem himself in the confidence of his countrymen; and, in leading a gallant charge at Freeman's Ford on the ' Rappahannock, four months later, August ,'22, 1862, he was riddled with rebel bullets and fell, a'com*- plete sacrifice, on the altar of his country. Let. it be .said to his credit he died facing the enemy, and his example ought to have been followed by some of th'fe other early commanders of the Army of the Potomac, whenever an error was made. Five -miles southwest of Millwood is White Post", a very interesting locality, now a small village, which takes its name from a large white post erected by Gen.' George Washington. This ancient landmark stands in the center of the road, three feet thick at base and run- ning up 15 feet in height to a point. It is inclosed by a chain railing for protection. It was erected to mark the center of that vast estate of L,ord Fairfax, nearly six million acres, granted by the English Crown, embrac- ing the territory between the Potomac and the Rappa- hannock Rivers, and east of the Alleghany Mountains. General Washington surveyed this estate when he was less than twenty years old. This was his introduction to public notice. Lord Fairfax erected near here his residence, known as " Greenway Court." It was one of the haunts of Washington. When the news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to Gen. Washington reached Lord Fairfax, who was very much attached to the British Crown, he .said to his body servant, " Put me to bed, Joe ; it is time to die," and it was his death bed. He never rallied, and died December iQ, 1781. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. igj ,,. , , ; CHAPTER XIII. Back to "Harpers FEisRY— The Raid To Utpe'e.viIvI,e and Mid- ■ DLEBURG- Fight at HAMriiToN- Capt. Keyes resigned oijr : . ACCp.X7NT QF Wounds— C APT Grubb Commands the Battawon ^—'KeVjEs;. Switch— John' Moberi,y— Lee Surrenders— The War is over— Retrospective— War Finances. : March 20 an expedition was started from Harpers Ferry on an extended raid into Virginia, under sealed orders — that is, the expedition was to go to Upperville, Fauquier County,- where the orders were to be opened, etc. The raid was to be made with the following troops : Companies A and B, Loudoun Rangers, Capt. Grubb ; five companies of the 12th Pennsylvania Cdvalry, com- inanded by Col. Reno ; eight companies of ist United States Infantry, commanded by lyie'ut. Col. Bird, and two pieces -of light artillery. Col. Reno was in com- mand of the expedition. We left Harpers Ferry about i o'clock, crossing the Shenandoah River, going '* Between the Hills." At Hillsboro we struck a squad of rebels, capturing five who were -sent back to Harpers Ferry. The expedition moved on, and stopped for the night near Wood Grove. Omr pickets were fired into several times during the night. .- The next morning, March 2r, we marched to Pur- oellville, where the rebels were encountered in some force '■■, opened a bushwacking engagement on all sides, but would not come near enough for our forces to strike with effect. The column marched down the pike to-, wards Hamilton, and the rebels marched along parallel with our column, but kept about half a mile away. They were also in our advance and rear about the same distance. Whenever a, hill or ravine would protect them they woiild crawl near enough to the road to bush- 192 HISTORY OF wack Tis, and we kept out a skirmish line on each side and rear, and an advance guard to prevent a surprise. At Hamilton the rebels made a stand and endeavored to draw our forces into a trap. There is a crossroad run^ ning due south. On this road the enemy attacked our skirmish line, driving them in. The rebels slowly fell back into a piece of woods where their main force was concealed. As our cavalry advanced to a small rise of ground in the woods, the enemy suddenly charged from their ambush and drove our cavalry back in some con- fusion to near the pike, when our infantry opened on the rebels, driving them pell-mell in every directioiT. In this engagement we lost nine killed and about twenty wounded and five prisoners. The rebels left three killed on the field and an artillery officer, named Chew, dangerously wounded. Their wounded that could be moved were taken with them. It was learned after- wards they had two deaths among their wounded. The rebel forces engaged were Mosby's, White's, and Early's commands. The rebel officer left belonged to Bradley T. Johnson's brigade of Early's corps. Our forces camped for the night in Hamilton. We buried our dead that evening in the graveyard adjoin- ing town. It rained hard during evening and the early part of the night. Our pickets were fired into during the night, as usual. The next morning, March 22, our column moved back to Purcellville, with the same bushwhacking crowd on our flanks and rear. We continued on the pike to Snickersville, where we turned south, stopping for the night near Bloomfield. Here the bushwhackers made some demonstration, particularly in noise. March 23 we moved into Upperville, where the rebels were found in some force, but they withdrew on our ar- rival. We picked up two stragglers in the streets. The direction was changed here to east. The bushwhackers WHITE POST.— Erected by George Washington and Lord Fairfax, to mark tjie center of that vast estate granted to Lord Fairfax by the British Crown ; also to direct the traveler to " Greenway Court." a^HE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 193 were more annoying than ever. They would attack our force with terrific yelling and fire a few shots, but would not venture near enough to get hurt. While our column was crossing Goose Creek bridge Mosby made an unsuc- cessful effort to capture out wagon train, or run it off in- to the creek. The enemy was concealed in a hollow near the bridge, and after our troops had crossed they were to rush upon the train and capture or destroy it. There were several squads of the enemy stationed on the hills in full view of the bridge, and at the proper time they were to signal with looking glasses for their main force to charge. The Rangers crossed about ten minutes in advance of the other troops and discovered the looking-glass signals, and the force concealed in the hollow, and reported the facts to Col. Reno, who placed the infantry and the two pieces of artillery near the eastern end of the bridge until the train was over. At a certain time the enemy began their looking-glass signals, when their forces poured froui their place of concealment like a swarm of bees, chargng towards the bridge, yelling like coyotes, but when they saw the infantry and artillery waiting to receive them, their hearts failed them, and they gave up the job. Several shots were fired, but the range was too long for any damage. The column moved on towards Middleburg, where we captured three of Mosby' s men. The column now turned north, striking lyittle River pike, where we met the 8th 111. Cavalry, Col. Gamble, with two pieces of artillery, that came up from Wash- ington. We crossed Goose Creek again about 15 miles further down, but Mosby did not try to run us off the bridge at this crossing, probably because the bridge had been de- stroyed. The next day, March 23, we arrived at Hamilton, R.— 13 194 HISTORY OF where we captured two rebels. We stopped for the night at good, loyal, old Waterford. March 24 we arrived at the Ferry. Col. Reno gained some notoriety in connection with the Gen. Custer massacre in 1875, on the plains of Montana. Tlie close of every twenty -four hours demonstrated most fully and beyond question that the days of the Con- federacy were numbered and very few, yet the Confed- erate bands that inhabited Loudoun grew more desperate in their attitude towards the citizens of that county. It was almost impossible for the citizens to keep horses, as bands of guerrillas would take them. In many cases it was known that this stock was appropriated for their own use, although the Confederate government was di-' rectly responsible. As early as April, 1862, that alleged government passed an Act authorizing the recruiting of guerrilla bands, who were to receive compensation for tlfeir service from horses and other property taken from Union citizens. This was nothing more nor less than an attempt to legalize horse-stealing. A government that would attempt such legislation was badly in need of a conscience. Mosby's band was organized and fostered under the provisions of the above act. While White's command was originally recruited as regular Confederate cavalry, he afterwards obtained his largest nuuiber of recruits under the Act referred to. Perhaps the most desperate band of this military banditti was John Moberly's, who belonged to White's command, although he committed the most of his atrocious deeds on his own hook. He had become so desperate and such a terror to the citizens that Gen. Stephenson, the commander at Harpers Ferry, found it absolutely necessary to offer a reward for his body. A detail of twelve of the Rangers was ordered to the Loudoun Valley to capture or kill Moberly and his THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 195 band. The band had, at most, about twelve men, although generally only three or four. This squad of the Rangers learned where Moberly was expected to be, and endeavored to catch him at that place. They concealed themselves and waited, and it was not long before he approached, coming down the road, with drawn saber, chasing a negro boy who was driving a cart. The boy was badly frightened, which Moberly seemed to enjoy. As he approached, our boys rose to their feet and demanded a surrender. Moberly lay down in his saddle, put spurs to his swift-footed horse, and, making a sharp turn in the road, darted out of sight. Every one of our boys fired at him at close range, but did not strike him. We were on loot and could not follow, but returned to camp without the coveted game. A few days after, Capt. Keyes resigned, on account of a broken leg, and Ivieut. Gover acted as captain of Com- pany A, while Capt. Grubb, of Company B, commanded the battalion to the close of the war. April 1 news arrived that Petersburg had fallen. Five days later the same wires brought news of the evacuation of Richmond. This news was enjoyed by all. The command was camped on the Shenandoah River, while twenty men of Company A were detailed on special duty at the provost marshal's office in Harpers Ferry. April 5 parts of Companies A and B were absent on a raid, leaving the camp in charge of lyieut. Gover, with fragments of both companies. The Confederate army had been defeated at every recent engagement, and we were daily expecting to hear of its collapse. In such a state of expectancy military discipline was at a low ebb. April 6 the command, or rather what few were at the camp, were taking their ease when a body of about 250 men in blue uniform approached from the north- west, or the Charlestown pike ; little attention was 196 HISTORY OF given, as it was supposed this was a body of Custer's cavalry, that was known to be in the Valley. The column came up to less than 50 yards, when they dashed into our camp, capturing the majority of the few that were there. This force proved to be Mosby's command, who thus approached our camp under the guise of Fed- eral troops. We had about 20 broken-down horses in camp, and most of them were taken. As they undertook to recross the Shenandoah River our pickets, that were stationed there in charge of George V. Kern, opened fire on them, wounding several. One picket, Frank Kid- well, of Company B, was dangerously wounded, and left on the field for dead. Richmond having fallen into Federal hands, these prisoners were kept in custody by Mosby about one week and paroled. Eleven days after this event this same command (Mosby's) surrendered to the troops of our corps (Eighth) near Berryville. April II the news flashed over the wires that Gen. Lee's army had surrendered. This was no great sur- prise, as we were daily expecting such news. April 15, while this country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, was happy in the thought that the war was about over, the people were suddenly cast down in great sorrow over the unfortunate and untimely death of the immortal lyincoln. Vice-President Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, was sworn in as President of the United States. During the spring of 1865 the guerilla, John Moberly, and his gang had become such a terror to that section of Virginia that to stand him lono-er was impossible. They murdered citizens and took their property and converted it to their own use with- out cause or provocation. They also gathered up negroes and took them to parties whom he asked to take them into the Union lines and enlist them in tnt LOUDOUK RANGElRS. 197 the Union army and get the bounty and divide with him'. Gen. Stephenson, commanding at Harpers Ferry, fully determined to break up this outrageous business. April I some of the citizens of that section proposed to Gen. Stephenson that if the Government would com- pensate them liberally, and also furnish them with means to live away from home, they would pilot a squad of soldiers to Moberly's retreat, where he and his gang could be either killed or captured. Gen. Stephenson referred the matter to Gen. Hancock, who was in command of the department. Gen. Han- cock opposed offering a reward openly, but stated in a communication that the parties would be liberally re- warded in proportion to their services, and approved the measure. Monday, April 3, Gen. Stephenson ordered the com- mander of the Rangers to send to his headquarters a squad of three men. The men selected were Sergt. Charles B. Stewart, Company B, Joseph Waters and M. H. Best, Company A, and they with three citizens proceeded to Virginia on foot. The general informed Sergt. Stewart that he was to proceed, with a guide, to the mountains, where Moberly would probably be found, and capture, or kill him, and bring him to the Ferry. Stewart proceeded to the Short Hill, where he learned from reliable citizens that Moberly would be at a certain rendezvous some time the next day. Stewart's party rested for the night in a barn, and the next day proceeded to the appointed place, concealed themselves in a hay loft, and waited devel- opments. In the afternoon of April 5, Moberly, ac- companied by one man, approached directly towards where Stewart's men were concealed. Moberly rode into the barnyard, and under a shed, Stewart's men now revealed themselves, with drawn revolvers, when Mo- berly .was heard to proclaim, "Oh, Lord, T am gone." igS HISTORY OF All fired, and Moberly fell from his horse, dead, thus ending his career. The other rebel, who was some distance behind him, turned his horse and escaped. On Moberly's tombstone, erected by his lady friends, is found this epitaph ; " He lias fought his last battle, He sleeps his last sleep, No sound on earth can awake hiui to glory again." The next day the dead rebel's boon companions vis- ited the place where their leader was killed, and burned the barn and contents of hay, grain, etc., and Uncle Sam paid the owner, Luther H. Potterfield, $2,500. The parties received $1,000, besides their expenses while living at Harpers Ferry, but the Rangers got no part of it. The following correspondence, on file in the War Department, refers to the case : " H.4RPERS Ferry, April ^^ ^86^. " E. M. Stanton. " I sent out, on Monday, a small party to wipe out the notorious guerilla, Moberly, and his band. They returned to-day with tlie body of Moberly, and in the fight mortally wounded his right-hand man, Riley. " Respectfully, "J. D. Stephenson, ' ' Brig. -Gen. Commanding.'''' " War Department, " Washington., April ^.^ iS(>^. "Brig. -Gen. Stephenson, Harpers Ferry. "Accept the thanks of the Department for your dili- gence, skill, and success in the achievement mentioned in your telegram, of this date. " Fdwin M. Stanton, ' ' Secretary of War. ' ' *I*H^ LOUDOUN RANGEI?.S. I99 •, About the 20th of April Capt. E. W. Andrews (5th New York Heavy Artillery), provost marshal at Harpers Ferry, received a dispatch from Washington stating that parties supposed to be implicated in the assassination of the late President lyincoln were near Hagerstown, Md., and to proceed immediately to that point and arrest all parties under such charge. Capt. Andrews, with an escort of 20 of the Rangers, under Sergt. Joseph T. Divine, started from Harpers Ferry about 3 o'clock p. m., and ar- rived at Hagerstown about 7 o'clock p. m. He went four miles into the country and arrested the suspected parties and lodged them in the Hagerstown jail. We remained all night at Hagerstown. During the early part of the night, John McDevitt imbibed a little freely of " commissary," and climbed up on some boxes in front of the, Washington House, and went to sleep. While in this condition he rolled off and fell to. the sidewalk, a distance of about twelve feet. The fall nearly killed him, but he recovered sufficiently to be taken to Harpers Ferry the next day, where he was laid up for repairs for several days. April 26 Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Gen. Sherman. May 20 Gen. E. Kirby Smith surrendered. This was the last of the organized forces of the Confederacy. The Federal troops began to be mustered out of service. May 30 'the Independent Doudoun (Va.) Rangers were mustered out at Bolivar, West Va., lacking twenty days of serving three years. They were glad the war was over; glad that the prin- ciples for which they fought had triumphed ; glad that the question was settled forever— that this is a Nation and not a confederation of States ; glad that the arbitra- ment of arms, the court of last resort, had decreed that slavery should no longer degrade American labor; glad 200 HISTORY OF tliey were part and parcel of a Nation that shall stand without a parallel on the face of the earth. Retrospective. If you ask the veteran of either side when tlie war began he will tell you 1861. That is correct, so far as open hostilities is concerned ; but iu reality the war began with the first importation of African slaves in 1619, over eighteen months before the Puritans landed on Plymouth Rock. It was not the difference in people that fostered slavery in America ; neither was it the climate. It was the chosen methods rather than either. The English Cavalier and tlie Puritan descended from the same British stock. The first settlers at James- town gradtially led in population up to 1790. In tliat year the South had a population equal to the Middle States and tlie New England States combined. The Great West was yet unborn. While slavery existed in a very few Northern States, it was repulsive to the great mass, and was soon abol- ished, while at the South it flourished and was popular. At this period the North and the South began rapidly to diverge. From 1790 to 1830 the North gained a million more in population than the South. Thirty years later (i860) it had gained six millions more. The foreigner, seeking a home in America, could not be induced to settle in the South, because he could not compete with slave labor. Of the four millions that came to our shores during this period less than one per cent, settled in the South. As to natural resources, the South possessed advantages superior to the North. The immense de- posits of coal, iron, copper, and salt in Virginia, Ten- nessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and North Carolina are not tun LOUDOUN rangbrs. 2ot surpassed in the North, while in climate, soil, and timber the South has been highly favored. With these natural advantages, the South ought to have been filled with manufactories, and it would have been had it not been for slavery. While the North was forging ahead, adding wealth and population, building manufactories as monuments to its industry and prosperity, the South was building monuments of human slavery, which finally crumbled, tottered, and fell, and crushed the builders. IVizr Finances. 4 When President Ivincohi came into office, the 4th day of March, 1861, he found the public treasury empty, the National debt over $76,000,000, and the Govern- ment borrowing money at 12 per cent. In less than sixty days public confidence had been sufficiently re- stored to enable the Administration to negotiate a loan of over f 5,000,000 at 6 per cent. After the commence- ment of the war public credit became temporarily im- paired, which necessitated an additional loan of $7,000,- 000, at 10 per cent. The tariff was low, producing an income of but about $30,000,000 annually. The Presi- dent convened Coiigress July 4, 1861. That body passed an act July 17, 1861, for the issue of nearly $300,000,000 Treasury notes. ' ' The baby was born, and its name was Greenback." The National Banking I^aw was enacted by this Congress. The Government was now provided with ample funds to carry on the war, although the ter- rible strain on the country depreciated the currency to a considerable extent. The private soldier's pay was $13 per month, with rations and clothing, and it cost the Government over $1,000 per year to maintain each sol- dier in the field. At the. beginning of 1862 there was a premium of 2 202 HISTORY OF per cent, on gold ; at the end of that year it was 33 per per cent. ; December, 1863, it was #1.50 ; June, 1864, it was $2, making the greenback dollar worth just 50 cents July 11, 1864. When the rebel army of Gen. Early was encamped at Silver Springs, a suburb of Washington, preparing to attack the Capital, gold touched its high-water mark, $2.85. By the census of i860 the real and personal property of the United States was over sixteen thousand million dollars. The actual cost of the war, not including pen- sions, was about half of that amount, or, in other words, the cost of the war placed a mortgage of 50 cents on every $1 in the United States. A protective tariff was enacted. Congress also passed a direct, or income tax, whereby the enormous expense of carrying on the war was to be obtained by an equita- ble distribution of the burdens among the masses. All luxuries were heavily taxed, while the necessaries of life were moderately taxed. Confederate Finances. The Confederate finances were erratic and adventurous from the beginning. There appears to be no record, or report to be found among the rebel archives giving the amount of money issued by that government, yet there is evidence that the amount far exceeded the combined value of the real and the personal property in the seceded States. It was issued by the million in Mont- gomery and Richmond, and in addition in the Southern States, some county courts were empowered to issue such amounts as "were necessary " to meet the " various wants " of the authorities in support of the Confederacy, etc. In fact, the only limit to the volume of Confed- erate money was in the capacity of the presses to print it. On one occasion the Secretary of the Confederate Treas- ury sent to their congress a report in which was stated the l^HR LOUDOUN RANOfiRS. 203 outstanding debt. The next day the report was with- drawn on account of a trifling error — the error was #400,000,000. What the sum total must have been would baffle the imagination of a Wall street magnate. ■ This money rapidly depreciated until there was but little, if any, value to it, aside from what it was worth for old paper. After the battle of Chancellorsville, when Confederate hopes seemed brightest, their money went begging in Richmond at $1 for ten cents in greenbacks. At the close of 1864 it took $500 in Confederate money to buy $1 in greenbacks in Richmond. The following story will illustrate the value the pub- lic placed on that money : A countryman was riding a common scrub through their camp, when an ofiicer hailed him, offering him 150,000 for the animal. The rider gruffly replied, " No, sir ; I just paid $1,000 to have him curried this morning." The South largely abandoned raisiug cotton and farming during the war, and, with but few factories, there was comparatively little revenue to be derived from any source. The government was not democratic in form, but rather had monarchical tendencies. The edict of their President was almost supreme. They never had a Su- preme Court, or a Judiciary, as a check on the Executive, or Legislative branches. There was no question raised as to constitutionalit)'. Might was right with them. It was common to argue and settle questioi;s at the point of the bayonet ; in short, military law was the law of their land. President Davis vetoed thirty-eight bills during the four years of the Confederacy's exist- ence, but one, an unimportant measure, was passed -over his veto. The bill provided for carrying news- papers to the soldiers without the payment of postage. During the same period President Lincoln vetoed but .three bills. 204 SiSfORY OF CHAPTER XIV. A Dark Chapter — Prison Experiences — Libby — Castlk Thunder— Pemberton—Beli-e Isi,e— Andersonvu,i.e. " Whether in the prison pen, Or in the battle's van, The noblest place for man to die Is where he dies for man." This work would be incomplete without giving at least a brief account of those of the Rangers who suf- fered, as well as those that died, in Southern prisons. We have no apology to offer for the recital of the re- volting details of this chapter. It is a matter of history, and history has no value unless it is correct. An eminent artist presented for inspection a picture of Rome he had just finished, and some of the critics pronounced it a work of fine art, but concluded by say- ing it was rather dark, whereat the gifted artist grew eloquent, with the remark that a " true picture of Rome must be dark, as it was a dark subject." So with the picture of Southern prisons. The Confederate prisons form the darkest chapter in the blood-stained annals of this nation, and conclusively prove that a people of a section guilty of such barbari- ties to those within their power were totally unworthy of, and unfit for, separate nationality. All those that were so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the enemy, as prisonei's, received bad enough treatment ; some were treated like brutes, while others fared worse than brutes. As it -will be impossible to give the individual expe- rience of all, the writer will give the actual experience of those who were made prisoners at Charlestown. It is perfectly reasonable to presume that others received THE I.OUDOUN RANGERS. 205 equally as bad, while many received mucli worse treat- ment. The first of the Rangers taken prisoners and not pa- roled were J. H. Corbin and Joseph Waters, at Water- ford, August 27, 1862. Corbin escaped at Culpeper Court House, while Waters was taken to Richmond and confined in Libby prison, where he remained about three weeks and was exchanged. Those taken prisoners at Leesburg, September 2, 1862, were Jacob Cordell, Jacob Long, George W. Baker, Charles Baker, Peter Miles, Arinistead Everhart, George Welch and William Shoemaker ; and of these, Everhart and Long were badly wounded and paroled. George W. Baker and Jacob Cordell gave their names as belonging to Cole's Cavalry and were ex- changed at once. Charles Baker, Peter Miles, William Shoemaker and George Welsh, who gave their names as belonging to the Rangers, were confined in Castle Thunder, to remain during the war. Baker, Miles and Shoemaker died there, actually starved to death ; Welch remained until Richmond, in 1865, was evacuated, when he was released by the Union troops. 'Charles F. Anderson, Joseph T. Cantweli, John W. Forsythe and W. H. Angelow, having been paroled at Waterford, August 27, except Anderson ; all were ar- rested at Point of Rocks, or Leesburg, and taken to Rich- mond. They gave their names as belonging to Cole's Cavalry and were soon exchanged. Charles A. Webster, who left the company in No- vember, 1862, soon thereafter was reported to be in the hands of the enemy. It was reported he went there as a spy ; another report states he went there and gave himself up and offered to furnish information concern- ing the Union army, etc. Both of the above reports ,2o6 HISTORY OF came through rebel sources, A letter from a promi- nent historian, now in the possession of the writer,- states that Webster was captured in Ivoudoun County, Va. , in December, 1862. It has also been claimed that he went there with the in- tention of shootinsr Col. White and escaping, as nothing was too risky for him ; the reward for this he knew would be a promotion. The fact that Col. White had had Webster bucked and gagged, against the protest of every one of his officers, seemed to furnish a reason for this report. Webster was taken to Richmond and confined in Castle Thunder. It was not long before he had his entire floor organized into a plan of escape. As usual, there was a Judas in the crowd, and the plan was revealed to the rebel authorities. For this offense Webster was hand- cuffed and secured by a chain to a post in the center of the room. One afternoon in January, 1863, while the prisoners were permitted to go to the lower floor for water, etc., William Bensinger, of the 22d Ohio, a fellow prisoner, who was confined there for being one of the parties (Andrew's raiders) who captured a locomotive at Big Shanty, Ga., and ran it to Chattanooga, made a bone key and unlocked Webster's handcuffs and hurried him down stairs with the other prisoners, and concealed him in the basement, by covering him with tobacco stems, where he was to remain until evening, when he was to escape. When the other prisoners returned to their room Webster was missed by the Confederates and a search instituted, he was found and again handcuffed. A blacksmith was brought in and riveted irons on his ankles that would not allow him to step over twelve in- ches. In about ten days he was removed to the third floor, his irons remaining on him. He managed in some way to slip his handcuffs and break the irons from his legs, and after dark jumped from the third-story window THE tOtrboUN RAiSTGERS. 207 and fell in a pile of rubbish, breaking both legs. He dragged himself into a lumber yard near and hid. The next day he was missed from prison, and late in the day he was found concealed in a pile of lumber, and was again shackled and placed in a dungeon. Early in March, 1863, he was taken out of prison for trial, being charged with the murder of Capt. Simpson (see page 31), of the 8th Virginia Infantry, and also for violating his parole. Gen. R. L,. Wright, Isaac Van Deventer, John Ross, and H. S. Williams, Sr., of I^oudoun, were summoned as witnesses against him. It will be noticed that Web- ster was not allowed any witnesses, or even a defense of any kind. H. S. Williams, of Taylorstown, testified that Webster came to his mill, bearing arms, in charge of a squad of the Rangers, after flour. The arms he carried were those Col. White permitted him to retain in the terms of the capitulation at Waterford. As a matter of course, he was convicted, and by the same kind of a trial he might have been convicted of crucifying the Saviour. April 10, 1863, he was executed, by hanging, at Camp Lee (old Fair Ground), Richmond. About two thou- sand prisoners from Castle Thunder and Libby were marched out to witness the hanging. Webster was taken to the place of execution in a closed carriage, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Brown aivi detectives New and Capehart of the Confederate service. On account of his broken legs he was unabl- to stand, and was carried, seated in a chair, to the scaffold, where he was given an opportunity to say a few words, which he delivered in his usual clear, ringing voice, while sitting erect in the chair. He denounced the Confed- eracy in unmeasured terms, also Jeff. Davis, Col. Alex- ander, keeper of Castle Thunder, and Capt. Capehart, the Confederate detective. He declared his innocence of the 3o8 HISTORY OF charges, and finally declared his undying allegiance to the United States and tlie Stars and Stripes. At his own request, he gave the signal by tossing his hat amongst his fellow-prisoners. The drop fell and Web- ster was no more. The story, given currency by the rebels, that he con- fessed the charges and that five women called at the prison, each claiming him as her husband, was a wilful and malicious falsehood. Now as to his True Name. From the beginning to the end he was known to the Rangers as Webster, but that was not his name. His true name was Charles Brown. He was born in New Hampshire and moved with his parents to Weld, Maine, where he grew to manhood. On the discovery of gold in California, his father went to the Golden Gate to dig out his anticipated fortune, leaving Charles to care for himself. On the breaking out of the war, Charles en- listed in the United States army, whether as Brown or Webster we are unable to state. He, however, took the name of Webster from his mother, who was distantly re- lated to Daniel Webster, the great Senator and orator from Massachusetts. Soon after the battle of Antietam, while the loth Maine Infantry lay near Brunswick, some members of that regiment, who knew Brown in Maine, recognized him with the Rangers and addressed him as Charles Brown. It was said by his acquaintances in Maine that Tie took the name of Webster because his father was a malignant Copperhead (anti-war Democrat). The re- mains of Webster (Brown) are buried in the National Cemetery at Richmond, Va. Webster married Miss Alice Downey, of L,ondoun, in the fall of 1863. She died some time thereafter, his widow. Charles A. Webster (Brown). Drill Master. Corp. George H. Harper, Co. A. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 20^ June 17, 1863, Joseph T. Ritchie, M. S. Gregg:, Chas. Pekam and John W. Virts were taken prisoners at Point of Rocks. They were confined in Pemberton and on Belle Isle; their sufferings were severe. Charles Pekam died there, the others were exchanged in August. At Neersville, September 30, F. P. Rinker and James Stoneburner were made prisoners. They were confined on Belle Isle all the fall and winter of 1863-4. In March they were sent to Andersonville, where they both died, actually starved to death. At Charlestown October 18, 1863, 18 of the Rangers were taken prisoner and perhaps suffered the greatest of any, as 14 out of the 18 literally starved to death. We shall briefly give their experience. From Charlestown they were marched up the Valley to Staunton, where they were placed on cars and taken to Richmond, arriving one week from the date of cap- ture. On being made prisoners the first thing demanded was their arms. The next, their money and other valu- ables, although quite a number managed to save their money, watches, etc., by concealing them in the seams of their clothing and in their stockings. Their treatment was very bad from the beginning. The rations furnished en route to Richmond were about half enough in quan- tity and of a very poor quality. They arrived in Richmond Monday evening, Novem- ber I, and were placed in Pemberton prison, a three-story brick building (tobacco warehouse) on Cary Street, op- posite Castle Thunder. The prison was in command of Maj, Turner, assisted by Erastus W. Ross. It was dif- ficult to tell which of these two specimens of humanity was the more brutal, with the chances favoring Ross. He was very small in body, and still smaller in soul, if he had any. On Tuesday the prisoners were all put on the upper floors, one being brought down at a time. The name, R — 14 2IO HISTORY OF company, and regiment of each man was taken, and he was caused to disrobe himself, and while in this nude condition his clothes were turned, the seams and pockets all examined and thoroughly searched, his watch, money, pocket-knife, and all other valuables taken and placed on a table, with the guileless promise that these articles would be returned when the prisoner was ex- changed. This promise, like all other promises of the Confederacy, was never fulfilled. From the gth Maryland and the Rangers and ist New York Cavalry, about 375 men, the rebels obtained over $1,200 in greenbacks, and about sixty watches. This was an average of about $3 from each prisoner, and a watch from every sixth man. The Confederates cap- tured during the war about 180,000 Union prisoners; and, taking the above as a basis, the Confederates ob- tained no less than half a million dollars in greenbacks and thirty thousand watches and thousands of pocket- knives, etc., from their prisoners. This estimate does not include what was taken from the prisoners on the field of battle and en route to prison, which was at least half of their possessions, and generally all of them. What became of this property? The Confederate archives are si'.ent on this point. This Ross, above mentioned, took charge of this property in Richmond. The few years he liveil after the war were years of plenty. He lost his life by the burning of the Spots- wood Hotel in Richmond in 1869, his body being entirely consumed by the flames. All prisoners that were so unfortunate as to pass under his blighting touch were unanimous in the belief that eventually he would be consumed by everlasting fire, but were loth to believe he was to receive a fore- taste so soon. Their stay in Pemberton was brief, though long enough, just one week, and they were taken to Belle THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 211 Isle, in the James River, opposite Richmond. So far as nature is concerned, it is a beautiful landscape. It con- tains about thirty acres. The ground rising rapidly at the upper end, forming a ridge, or small mountain, while on the lower end it is a level, sandy plain, where the pris- oners were confined in a square enclosure containing about two acres, surrounded by an embankment, or para- pet, 5 feet high. There was a ditch on the outside, 4 feet wide, and on the outside of this ditch the guards walked to and fro. On the inside of the parapet was a ditch 4 feet deep and 6 feet wide, which was known as the " dead line," and woe be to him who ventured near. The stockade, or prison pen, contained a few old tents sufficient to accommodate 3,000, although there were double that number crowded into them. Eleven thou- sand was tlie greatest number of prisoners on this two acres at any one time, by which it will be readily seen several thousand were without shelter to protect them from the cold winter blasts. Genei'ally, when cap- tured, the prisoners were deprived of their blankets and overcoats, and in consequence many were actually frozen to death. During the month of December the United States was permitted to send a few blankets and some clothing to the prisoners, who were in great need. These supplies were sent in charge of a young man, who distributed them to the prisoners. This young man was D. L. Moody, now the great evangelist. The ration was a piece of corn bread, made from unsalted and unsifted meal, and about two inches square, which was generally furnished twice but often once a day, and sometimes once in two or three days, with occasionally a very small morsel of meat, or half a pint of bean soup. On several occasions it was weeks that they did not receive anything but corn bread. On this ration the prisoners became reduced rapidly in flesh. Without meat or salt, scrofula set in, and before spring 212 HISTORY OF no less than 5,000 actually perished, frozen and starved to death. Capt. Bossou a French gentleman, was commandant of the Island, assisted by Lieut. Haight. The latter had the management of the prisoners and proved to be more of a tyrant then Ross, whom they were glad to leave over in Richmond. The numerous friends of the prisoners in the North forwarded hundreds, yes thousands, of boxes of provi- sions and clothing to Richmond, but not more than one in twenty-five was ever delivered, the rebels appropri- ating their contents to their own use. Several boxes were shipped from Point of Rocks to the Rangers in prison. In some instances two and three b'lxes' were addressed to the same person. John Heater forwarded three boxes to his son, Buck, but not one was ever de- livered. Ivieut. Maginnis, of the i8th Connecticut, af- terwards killed in battle, recognized a suit of citizen's clothes, sent him from the North, on the back of one of the prison officials ; he pointed out bis own name worked on the watch pocket by his mother. According to the report of Col. Ould, Confederate Commissioner of Ex- change, he received nearly four thousand of such boxes at Richmond alone. He received three hundred boxes one week in January, 1864, and delivered six of them to the owners. Early in January, 1864, a large box was sent over from Richmond to Belle Isle. lyieut. Haight informed the prisoners it was from "God's Country," he ordered a squad to come out and open and carry in the contents. The box was from the United States Christian Commission, which society had forwarded quite a number of boxes filled with delicacies to the fam- ishing prisoners, which were greatly enjoyed, and in this case they knew it contained something extra good • such as sugar-cured hams, dried beef, cheese, etc., just what the starving prisoners were wishing. All eyes were turned THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. ^13 with bright anticipations upon the opening of this box, but instead of the hams, etc., rolling out, it contained nearly one thousand copies of the New Testament. It would be impossible to describe the sad disappointment of the prisoners, a cold-wave flag was apparently visible on every countenance. It was the physical man that was perishing for bread on Belle Isle, and not the spiritual. However, the pris- oners accepted their Testaments, with the wish that each had been a piece of meat as large. There was no danger of the rebels appropriating the contents of this box to their own use. As winter rolled on the prisoners became weaker and weaker, until death by starvation and exposure relieved thousands from suffering. It was a common occurrence to see poor fellows lie down and die in a few minutes. The following experience fairly represents what was constantly occurring : Three of the Rangers, P. A. Davis, Ruben Stypes, and the writer, slept together on the sand. We were more fortunate, perhaps, than many of the otiier prisoners, as we had two blankets for the three — one under and one over us. Stypes was rather delicate, and it was with some difficulty that he could eat what little corn bread he received. He slept in the middle, being better protected from the cold. He had been complaining for several days, and that evening, January 20, he cut the crust from his bread, gathered up a few splinters, toasted it, made a cup of coffee and enjoyed it. We all lay down at dark and endeavored to sleep. About 12 o'clock (midnight) Stypes got up and remarked how "bright and beauti- ful " the night was (being a moonlight night), and look- ing down, he said, " Boys, I have slept in the middle all winter, and am very much cramped up. One of you sleep in the middle and let me take the outside, where I can stretch out." Davis got in the middle, Stypes 214 HlS'fORV oK lay down, with his left hand folded the blanket back oil Davis, straightened himself out, gasped for breath three or four times, and expired ; actually starved to death. We could not take out the body and report the death until the next day, but slept as comfortably as was pos- sible on the same blanket with our dead comrade until morning, when all above seemed "bright and beau- tiful," let us hope, he saw the light breaking from the other shore. The next morning Joe Waters, P. A. Davis, and the writer, of the Rangers, and three members of tlie 3d Vermont Infantry, carried S types out in a blanket, giv- ing name, company and regiment, and piled him up with about 200 otliers waiting burial. The dead would often lie a week, or ten days, before burial. The weather was very cold, and the bodies would freeze stiff in a few minutes. Wood was issued to the prisoners for fuel but three times during winter, three sticks to ten men. There was an excuse of a hospital on the Island, where patients were taken for treatment, although when one entered its portals it was practically bidding adieu to all earthly hope. While it is true the supply of medicine in the Confederate domains was somewhat limited, yet there seemed to be ample to save life, if properly admin- istered. Every one of the Rangers who was taken to the hospital on the Island died, with the single exception of George Nogle. Presley A. Davis was taken there in Jan- uary 1864, and died in a few days. Thomas Dixon was taken there the last of January, 1864, and died February 6, 1864. JeflP. McCutcheon was shot by the rebel guard for being outside of the dead line. He was taken to the hospital and died from his wound, March 7, 1864. A. C. Hawk was taken to the hospital and died March 31, 1864. Henry Stewart was taken to Danville, Va., with other prisoners, and died January, 25, 1864. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 215 March i, J. A. Cox, Richard Virts, Joseph Magaha, James Dailey, and Henry Hoover were taken to Ander- sonville, Ga., where all of them died. Joseph Magaha died April 5, 1864. Richard Virts died May 23, 1864, James Dailey died June 17, 1864. Henry Hoover died June 30, 1864. J. A. Cox died July 14, 1864. A great many prisoners were sent to the Island about the 15th of January, 1864. Very few of them were pro- vided with shelter. They would walk to keep warm, until entirely exhausted, and all lie down in a huddle on the sand to keep from freezing. Every morning quite a number would be carried out to the dead lot, having perished during the night. While the suffering was so intense and the mortal- ity so great, the prison authorities would tell us of stupendous Confederate victories, point out the Con- federate flag, that was displayed everywhere, as the flag that would soon wave over this entire country, ,and then give us a very kind invitation to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government and enlist in its army, and have plenty to eat and be liberated. The plenty to eat part was tempting to the starving prisoners. Out of the 11,000 prisoners confined on the Island less than fifty availed themselves of this invitation. Be it sVid to the credit of the Rangers that every one of them spurned this invitation, and was emphatic in his determination to stand by the flag of his country, even if it cost him his life in a Southern pri.son. Men who would offer life upon the battle field for their country gave way under the weight of helpless imprisonment, brutal treatment, cold, filth and starva- tion. Many were reduced to the border of imbecility and delirium. Is it strange that the instinct of self- 3l6 HISTORY OF preservation should overmaster stern dnty ? We pity and almost excuse the shipwrecked mariner, who, crazed by thirst and hunger, slays and drinks the blood of his weaker brother. In a like gracious spirit, let there be charity and forgivenness for those who stopped short of heroic martyrdom in the hour of sore trial. The very fact that of the men who had stood by the Flag with such fidelity and courage, even so small a number consented to live at such a sacrifice, is the most melancholy proof that could be offered of the horrible suffering which they endured. Over five thou- sand, faithful unto death, sank down beneath the filth and ruin of that horrible pit. The few that clung to this delusion of a shadow of a hope by swearing allegiance to the Confederacy did so to get out of prison, and deserted at the first opportunity and went into the Federal lines. The prisoners were allowed to write home, provided the letters did not give information concerning the rebels. All letters were deposited in a box, unsealed, and examined before they were permitted to start on their mission northward. Probably not more than one letter out of a hundred was ever permitted to go. It was impossible to resist the suffering from hunger. One of the many revolting acts of starving humanity will be related, while others are too horrible to appear in print. The latter part of January, L,ieut. Haight, with his customary pomp and display, entered the prison on an inspecting tour, accompanied by hig dog. The prison- ers had longed for an opportunity to waylay this canine, and now the coveted hour had arrived. As Haight made his exit from the stockade, he missed his dog ; he called long and loud but his boon companion did not show up. Not even a bark was heard. Haight grew furious and threatened the prisoners with total annihilation if his X f j^ p •■4^ /; "v'/'^ Jackson O. Brashears, 65 Ind. Mt. Inf., fellow prisoner of the Rangers on Belle Island. THE I.OUD0UN RANGERS. 217 dog was not produced. Every man was marched out and searched. The process consumed an entire day. This investigation did not reveal even the " hairs on the dog's back " which are said to be very numerous. Haight knew the fate of his "purp" but wanted to find and punish the guilty parties. The tiuth is, some of the ravenous prisoners killed the dog and parceled out the meat to their chums, and he was eaten up before the search began. Haight got partial revenge by refusing the prisoners any rations for twenty-fonr hours. He never ventiired in the stockade again with a dog. The prisoners were divided into squads of 100 each, to facilitate the issuing of rations, etc. After January 31 1864, 100 prisoners would be taken out every morning and sent to Andersonville, Ga., although the prisoners did not know that was their destination, they supposing they were going to be exchanged, and sent North. Every morning, when a squad would be called for, Lieut. Haight would call the captain of the squad to identify his own men. He and Haight would take their position on the parapet beside the gate, and when any attempted to go out that did not belong to that hundred the captain would point them out to Haight, when down would come his big club and knock them back to starve a little more. The Rangers naturally put considerable stress on lib- erty, and willingly assumed the risk of running the gauntlet in order that they might get out before the squad they belonged to was called. On one occasion the writer endeavored to get out by passing himself off as belonging to the squad that was passing out, and had almost succeeded, when he was de- tected. Haight brought down his big club and knocked him into the dead-line ditch, that contained about eight inches of water with thin ice over it. He fell in this water,- 2l8 HISTORY OF and without any fire to dry his clothes, with the mercury about zero, he almost froze ; he lay for one week ap- parently at death's door, but finally rallied sufficiently to leave the Island with his squad, Monday, March 21, 1864. We were so weak that it took an hour and a half to march from Belle Isle to Richmond, three-fourths of a mile. Our squad, like others that preceded us, was doomed for Andersonville. We were to leave Rich- mond March 22 for that place. During the night of the 21st a dispatch was received from City Point, " Send one hundred Yankee prisoners to be exchanged for one hundred Confederate prisoners just arrived from the North." " Aad why sliould you fear that the future Has such disappoiatments in store ? Perchance the hand which guides us Will open some other door,'* Our squad being ready for immediate shipment, the orders tor Andersonville were revoked, and we were ordered to march to the boat early Tuesday morning, March 22, 1864, to embark for City Point. The news was first' broken to the prisoners a few minutes before the time of departure, and created un- bounded enthusiasm. Some cheered, while others sang patriotic airs. As we had received similar news on sev- eral occasions, all did not accept it ; finally the doors swung open, and we were ordered to march out, and as we did so the rebels gave each prisoner a small corn pone, about as large as the bottom of a small tin cup and one inch thick. As we came in sight of the boat that was to carry us down the river the boys gave their corn pones a toss down the hill into the James. ~ When all had been safely packed on the little steam- boat, William Allison, Joseph Waters, the writer, and several Others crowded into the engine room in their eagerness to get warm. What a delightful transition, to THii LOUDOUN RANGERS. 219 get thawed out after being frozen all winter. But, like most good things, it came at a sacrifice, as the thawing- out process made us very sick. We were put out on deck, much to our relief, where we soon froze up again. At 4 o'clock in the evening, we came in view of our steamboat, " City of New York," and the first object sighted was the American Flag, the Stars and Stripes. We wish we could convey to the reader the beauties of that dear old Flag as it appeared to the prisoners. Those physically able cheered the dear old emblem of liberty, a grand privilege that had been denied them for nearly seven months. Others tried their best to yell, but were ■ so overcome with joy that they could not speak, but wept like little children ; it floated majestically from the mast of the steamer, bidding defiance to its foes, it seemingly said, " Come, all ye oppressed of every clime, beneath my folds, and you shall be forever free." " Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream ! — 'Tis the Sta,r Spangled Banner, oh, long may it w?iv; O'er the laud of the free, and the home of the brave." The Rangers included in this exchange were James H. Beatty, Joseph Waters, W. H. Angelow, George Nogle, George Swope, and the writer. The strong and vigorous constitutions of Beatty and Waters enabled them, to some extent, to better resist the hardships of prison life than others, and, while both were greatly reduced in flesh, they gained rapidly and joined the command in April, 1864. Angelow and Nogle were both sick, and were sent to the hospital at Annapolis, Md., remaining for two months, returning to the company in May. George Swope died, a few days after his arrival at An- napolis, from the effects of prison exposure. The writer was a physical wreck from prison life, as both feet were badly frozen, and, having partially lost 220 HISTORY OF the use of one side, he was confined in the hospital at Annapolis, Md., for four months, returning to the com- pany in July, although it was over one year before he recovered. Jackson O. Brashear, Company D, 65th Indiana In-, fantry, whose picture is to be found in this book, was a prisoner on Belle Isle, and belonged to the same squad,, with the Rangers, exchanged at the same time, and was a patient in the hospital at Annapolis, Md., with them. The photograph was taken two weeks after he was exchanged, and published in Frank Leslie's Weekly^ June 18, 1864, and also printed in the Re- . port of the United States Sanitary Commission in the . summer of 1864. His emaciated condition is a fair average of the returned prisoners from Belle Isle and Andersonville. He is now a successful farmer in Indiana. • Of those of the Rangers taken prisoner near Water- ford, May 17, 1864— James H. Beatty, William Bull, Peter Dorherty, John Ambrose, and H. C. Fouch — Jame.s H. Beatty made his escape the day of capture, while Ambrose, Dorherty, Bull, and Fouch were taken to Richmond. Ambrose was exchanged in five months. Bull, Dorherty, and Fouch were taken to Andersonville, Ga., where Fouch died September 18, 1864. Bull and Dorherty remained there until, after the surrender of Gen. Lee, when the Confederates hastened to release the Union prisoners. A train load of nearly 800 was started for Vicksburo- Miss., with two of the Rangers, Bull and Dorherty, on board. When about 200 miles from Andersonville, by some unknown cause, there was a disastrous railroad accident, resulting in the killing and woundiuo- of nearly all on board. Peter Dorherty was killed. Bull' was badly bruised, but was taken on to Vicksburo-, where he, with over 2,000 paroled prisoners, were; The LOUDOUN rangers. 221 •placed on board the steamboat " Sultana," and started up the river for Cincinnati. At Memphis the boat unloaded a quantity of freight and took on a supply of coal and continued the journey. Six miles above Memphis, April 27, soon after midnight, -her boilers exploded with terrific force, and the vessel was burned to the water's edge and sank. There were 1,443 of the paroled prisoners scalded, blown up, or drowned, at once. Of those rescued 300 soon died of scalds and ex- posure, making the total loss of j)risoners over 1,750. Of 27 lady passengers only one was saved. William Bull, the only one of the Rangers on board, was blown the Lord only knows where. He was picked up the next morning about nine miles below the scene of the disaster, near the Arkansas shore ; he had crawled on a piece of board, a fragment of the vessel, and was endeavoring to reach the shore. He was in the water five hours when rescued, and was taken to the hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where by kind and devoted attention by the ladies of the United States Christian Commis- sion he was nursed back to life. When able to travel he was sent to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, and mus- tered out. On his arrival at Harpers Ferry he found the war over, the Rangers mustered out and busily en- gaged endeavoring to build up the waste places made desolate by the ravages of war. No one knew the exact cause of the disaster. It was charged that Charles Dale, a Confederate blockade run- ner, placed a torpedo in a litmp of coal and laid it on top of the pile, while the vessel was taking coal at Memphis. William Streeter, of St. Louis, Mo., claims Dale told him he did it on purpose to destroy the vessel. Of those taken prisoners October 14, 1864, at Adams- town, Md., John Coatesdied in prison, and is numbered among the unknown in the National Cemetery at Rich- 222 HISTORY OF mond. In February, 1865, Sergt. John W. Forsythe and Dan Burnett, Company B, and Sergt. J. N. John- son, of Company A, were exchanged. Sergt., now Rev., John W. Forsythe, of L,u Verne, Iowa, has published an exceedingly interesting pamph- let of 50 pages, entitled, " Guerrilla Warfare, and Life in Libby," in which he gives a thrilling account of some of the perilous experiences of the Rangers, to- gether with a minute and reliable account of the priva- tions and hardships of those taken prisoners at Adams- town and confined in Libby Prison. His story is founded on personal experience, and is worthy of perusal. Of those taken prisoners November 28 at Goresville, Peter Fry died January 27, 1865. The records show him to be buried in the National Cemetery at Rich- mond, in grave No. 109 1. The same records show him to have died in prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, and to be buried in the National Cemetery, at the latter place, in grave No. 1 164. The date, narne, company and regiment is the same in both places, the only difference being in number of the grave. Of course it is impossible to state in which place he is buried. The error probably occurred in keeping the record, or in getting it printed. The others that were taken ()risoner with him were exchanged in February, 1865. Those taken prisoners at Keyes Switch, April 6, 1865, were released in a few days. In Conclusion, The unparalleled severities of a four years' campaign have told upon the constitutional strength even of the fortunate soldier who marched to the music of the Union, and slept only beneath the folds of the Flag for which he fought ; but they who«; fickle fortune cast in THE LOfDOtTN RANGERS, 223 Southern prisons, where they lay for long dreary months, when gaunt famine stalked by noonday, and pestilence walked by night, returned — if they returned at all — but wrecks of their former selves. Wherever stretched the form of a Union prisoner, there rose the signal for cruelty and the cry of agony, and there, day by day, grew the skeleton graves of the nameless dead ; but braving and enduring all this, some thousands have returned to you. You will bear with me, and these noble men will pardon me, while, in conclusion, I speak one word for them. The survivors of a rebel prison pen, though few, have endured and suffered what you never can, and I hope your children never may. With less strength, and more of sad and bitter memories, he is with you, and whether he asks it or not, will deserve at your hands no ordinary share of kindly consideration. Jf he asks leave to toil, give it him before it be too late ; if he needs kindness and en- couragement, bestow them freely while you may ; if he seeks charity at your hands, remember that " the poor you have always with you," but him you have not al- ways, and withhold it not. If you find him making organized effort to provide for the widow and the orphan, remember that it grows out of the heart-sympath)- whicli clusters around the memories of the comrade who perished by his side. Finally, permit me to commend to the grateful con- sideration of the noble, generous people, alike the sol. dier who has given his strength, however small ; the prisoner who sacrificed his health ; the widow who has offered up her husband ; the mother whose heart bleeds for her only boy ; the orphan who knows only that its father went out to battle and conies no more forever ; and the lonely, distant grave of the martyr who sleeps alone in a strange soil, that liberty, freedom, and peace might come to ours and our children's children forever. THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 225 o o O Pi m o (4 z c o u o c a o o o cS C O ^ 3 ^ § X c a tL| 00 nJ rt - O > -a a. E r? o ^ 00 1- ^^ ^^ ca 1) w .^ •- 3 Cl . o o C 3 O O O -OT3 O T3 O c Ja a; > E cn 0^ ^ c^'O ^ !r .- •^ 5 ^ 3 -a J uioi o U u .5 o a, O D J ^O ^ o -a o T3 c o 'n u u •a c <: o t/) a o 13 O T3 J2 -a ;-. -a U o P C^ 226 HISTORY OF > C CO ^ 2=o2 cfi ^ y5 ^ IV ^ u ^ ■i o ^ ca - - a ja M CO ^ re o rt vo t/) T3 iM 1"^ Oj - ■a tuc iJ re c o ^ <^ U 00 re ■-■ U oo" -a r C re g> .t:-o g 00 -tT re ^ t; " i: "o " ^ \o '^ ^ ■* c & o CO , « ^ O (U T3 a 3 1) n < O O -a ID o o T3 -O O O T3 -a o o o o xi-a _ p^ " tn . " 1) CO -y t^ -C " TJ fc-j UoQ- §^ ^ " o ™" re ^ ^ >^ 3 «*" g o o -a -a o o ■a T3 o re > : : c o he o ^^ V 9 S T3 J3 . C (U w o ^ Q, 1) re c "^ u k/ 0) M u c 0) o C/2 M t/) o o QQ he M mm T3 -a tuo t« he re dJ c z •a ^ P* ii 00 „ a ^ g ^r-> n! 00 -a<; x( r c nj 2> gcfC^ tuO XI u OJ H-1 (N 1 , VO tfl OO '-' ^ T( cs n, (1) V (1) 1-, rt en •0 00 3 l-H ? M > C o > '2 11 ■ O •o -^ in T3 > o l-J o Xl i o •a > o 00 o V a 3 r< N M VO VO VO 00 00 cx> f-( t-H M Ti- fo w' bi) >, >^ ^-3 -3 00 ^O O vO 00 00 00 O : M M o " o " "^ 00 00 O M M ^ a. 3 Jr 00 "" o c ■ 3 : o -a ro VO 00 . o 00 HI o u X o o : CI i-. o u'B-B OJ < — I c W 4 .^ ,13 ?j fe- ^ ■ " S P lu en - P .2 ii — ' g d = ^ -. Wi ^- S^. papQ 3'C PPPh QQ P DP „ Q ■* n N M 01 OOONOi-iMrO-^lO CO ro 00 CD ON CO ^ ^ 228 HISTORY OS' a 3 o u n rt o '^3 C o T) -1-) £:i i/ ,__, (U ^ Xi Ui nJ G r, • ■-• o -a "O WD Q 5 c -■ m tt^ 3 S c I— > o o . 030 c . 0) ■ — <^ ^ a c •a E^ 5 5 > 03 5 3"- 3TD rt «> a " . § « 2:1 ■ c.S b^ a; h5 bo a; 3 O y^ Ml C X) 0) > o o 1, : o £■> o-H °^ o o S o P3 o 13 o T3 o > c = M 1-1 > >> 0) O o 00 00 ^' o U T3 C U.) VO ^ vO CO 00 00 o biC 4J OJ 3 O Q<0 00 CO . O o vO ^O yD 00 00 00 o O o "^ o 3 3 O -a & 4-1 c W . (LI >^ . — ^ I- U3 . »— ^ U rH > n! a! C O -^ >> in C §1 n! 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" c iS •a > n • C C X3 C — »^ t< I—, •a c < c c CO GU JO 4J • u o c 'o T3 (U pq ' a O > o =» 351 tut ij 0) - -fc- . — ^ o MO ^ t^^ ■2 o c rt "a c ■•- 00 0!^ " S o n CO en -5 J3 ^ ' — > t- - -a ^•-§ 5^ Q o 5 > ^ C ^ O 00 ^^ iS o Is O O iJOh •4-1 > o ►J o O Pi V S '- < (-1 d ii" o > o o o Cu ' T3 •a ■X 00 O N N . 3 VD vO 00 00 O o< 00 N O O tva Ti c 3 vo vO vO CO 00 00 O AS 00 O M 1) a 3 (U V in •«-* O u J3 J5 u o 3 3 O O o H x; o 3 o - 0) : o : o .CQ '-' s o o tuO :;2 at o « ^ ^ -c ^ 6c biC W tn) 3333 0000 u KK WK K ffiW w^ « oiE p:; a > OJ u a, Ho o o PQ o Q o o QQ 0000 QQQP o Q o o QQ o Q o " vo vO tvi rO ^ 10 VO r-^00 ov vO vO VO VO vO vO vO vO t^ 230 HISTORY OF ri N O i> ts' " f 3 > 3 aj vt w N 0! 3 rt vD j= g>oo 0^ > O +-> o JJ ;m 'O-S 1. o ri (J :i < 1—. -.- c ''O -^ O S •> - o bo Get. 053 en rd JO ^ . J 00 Q -- J 00 J> H a U " S> - -Q (u - r^ . >- c "* -co Q "S S ■a ■" O y3 "« T3 00 li lU " *_i 00 en cs " ;s o -a Oi oj r ra T3 o c C OJ c en (n m : ^ : : ^ M ■ M : 8ii ; jy >' 3 CI c 3 O c/: a J3 1) b* n! 0) ^ = '^ .a a d Pi; 1) r3 O •Oh-; b;C OJ c rela ers, Hen O O >> 3 o o QO o O o p 000 Q Q P 000 PPP r^oo 0^ O 00 00 00 00 «l 4-1 c > > : a > .s§; : PhiJ (1< a J : P-i J Dhi-1 rO M W P t ro M (N : M ■* !N CO W ^ ^ vO VC vO VO VO : VO vO VO VO VO CO CO 00 oc 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 l-l f-t M »- ^ fi . M w M h-l t-i W l-H M u T CD : 00 ■^ t- 10 US ^ O O OJ - ^^ ' — ' n) ' — ' c ■* rt ^ Qf^ • ■a s" "^S c tN .2 . <«- i-i C -^ l-t a- n: 'o ^ S H^ « s -C CO T3 ■^ Q i5 Q rt *_. 0) 'a 0.^ r/) u > C XI u d ^ 1 1-1 ^ J3 T3 OJ -0 c 00 F C V T3 < en ■0 VO c ^ ■4-> > , M y3 TD T3 "O 4-» CU c > = !■-= ^i Ph 1 PhkJo: 1 a 1 ^ V CO M ro 01 •^(NrO nro eorooi ^D VO ys VO vo vo y: vo ^ *o ^ ^ 00 00 00 00 00 00 OC CO « 00 00 00 t-l HH >H kH '-''-'►- H »-t 1- M M M 10 lO 10 ^ O"oc r <> NO 0" P) M M (N M M M ^ " " " c ) d>^ c c -a 1 — .1 — 1 cc t— 1 5 ►^< 1 o a^ a^ c^ C\ O 0\ CT\ O CTv O O O O O 23' HISTORY OF H X '^ o^: o c - s , . O V. OkH 1- " C u. 0) -r, ^ Ji - C -a S -a (-H 5 Q CI o Oi C CO 5 3 XI o O 00 HP M ^^^ ^4 " 4-. "* X -a ■O o"^ (U u c "° =^ 3 _• ^• C j:: O 2 ^ " V > o h4 o -a !U "^ TI "^ (U aJ 0) o • S t O > o o 1) a — ' U T3 0) > o 00 c 3 o -a ro rO CO CO fO vO ^ O ^ "O 00 00 CO 00 00 ^ -^ ro i-i 1-1 t^ .^ H H ^ ■ o c c 3 n ^ CO 00 00 o " o c 3 rO 00 o ro N OO 00 w a! u 3 O c/) n! E ID o (/2 O C 1^ M J3 ■" cnHE-'H> TO UP2| >> J3 in ■ O J3 « 11 bo O en J' . oj bo 1) a! D S uj 0) > o Q o o o o o PPPQP o o pp o o pp o p o o o o pppp PL, ID t^CO ON O M o o o M I-. CM CO vO t-^00 ON O 1- W M 0( THE LOUDOUN RANGERS. 233 ■* ^ o 1- M i- N M u 6 6 6 6 6 u "So >- >, rt ^^5 ^ i- ^ CJ nl > rt rt .6^^ ^ C M ^ rt "5 J3 J3 O -t-J £/l -t-J 4-» M CSO " "TO 2 r a S o U e V B a V e2 ^* vO 00 O tJ- 10 10 o d d d d d d Ph !>. >> ^ r^ « js ™ ™ R — 16 CO a! ^ ^ 2-S E & g S K lis K ;? ^ iz; Pi M 1-1 N 00 M 234 HISTORY OF THE I.OUDOUN RANGERS. Having been unsuccessful in getting a copy of the muster roll of Company B from the War Department, the present roll is reproduced from memory, and there may be omissions. Captain — James W. Grubb.* First Lieutenant — Charles M. Atwell.* Second Lieutenant — Augustus C. Rhodes. First Sergeant — George H. Hickman. Sergeants — Fenton D. Paxton. John W. Forsythe. Thomas Dewire. Charles Stewart. Corporals — John Chamblin. Randolph Nichols.* Hiram Latham. Noble Dean. Phillip Pritchard.* Thomas Coates.* Privates — George Allen. Jacob Allen. J. C. Ayton. James Ault. John Arkison. Abraham Atkins. G. W. Bachus. George Ball. G. W. Bentz. Edward Butt. Daniel Burnett. J. F. Cantwell. John Cason. John Canall. C. Creswell. Henry Cole. Edward Dean. Jacob Dixon. Thomas Dixon.* John Dillon. James Delaney. Henry Diit;an. James Foreman. William Forsythe. W. J. Gore. J. W. Harrison. Thomas Harrison. James W. Hawk. John W. Hawk.* William Harduat. Henry Haines.* John Kidwell.* Mark Kiverler. Benjamin Matthews. William Marby. George Monday. Thorhas Morrisey. John Mock. James McKinney.* Franklin Null. William Nunberger. John Orrison. Harry Peters. Charles Rice. N. B. Riley. G. W. Rippeon. Ewell Rose. Joseph Ryton. John Scarlett. John Sponceller. Mathias Spong. R. H. Wallace. James Wilson. * Dead.