USA > West Virginia > Hampshire County > History of Hampshire County, West Virginia : from its earliest settlement to the present > Part 41
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
son's island, expecting to take the federals in the flank. While executing this movement Robert J. Tilden of Cap- tain Sheetz's company, had his arm broken. The federals gave ground, and the retreat and pursuit were continued through Mill creek gap. It was a running fight at long range. Colonel Cantwell took the road over Middle ridge for New Creek. Two or three times the rear guard made a stand and held the confederates in check. In one of those skirmishes Lieutenant Blue's horse was wounded and he was left on foot. He had been riding the horse from which Tilden had fallen when wounded. Captain Sheetz of Com- pany F, undertook to lead a flanking party for the purpose of surrounding the federals near Headsville, on Patterson creek. But it resulted only in harm to his own men. After following a mountain road some distance, he fired, by mis- take, upon his own men, mortally wounding one of them. The federals were pursued to the top of Knobly mountain, within a few miles of New Creek, now Keyser.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
GENERAL KELLEY'S CAMPAIGN.
The most important battle fought at Romney during the war was on October 27, 1861, between the confederate forces occupying the town and the union forces under General B. F. Kelley. General Lew Wallace had occupied Romney in June of the same year, expecting that it would not be again occupied by the confederates in strong force. But no sooner had he retired than the confederates took possession of the town. Colonel Cantwell with a union force crossed from New Creek in September to dislodge Colonel McDonald, the confederate officer in command at the town; but that expedition ended in a magnificent horse race from Romney to New Creek, the yankees getting into New Creek about four jumps ahead of the rebels. This state of affairs was not satisfactory to the government at Washington. As a town, Romney was not of enough im- portance to call for much exertion on the part of either side to hold it. But as a strategic point it was valuable. If the federals expected to keep the Baltimore and Ohio rail- road open, which they were determined to do, it was dan- gerous to leave a confederate force ensconced at Romney, whence, in a few hours, they could cut the railroad, and cripple large operations elsewhere; for that railroad was of vast importance to the federal government. These were the considerations which induced General Kelley to move in October against Romney with a force deemed suf- ficient to overcome any resistance likely to be met. The warm reception given Colonel Cantwell caused Kelley to advance with caution.
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
On October 22, 1861, General Scott ordered General Kelley to concentrate his forces at New Creek and attack and capture Romney. In obedience to this order he left New Creek, now Keyser, early on the morning of October 27. The distance to Romney was about twenty-four miles. The confederates proposed to meet him. They planted a twelve pounder riffe cannon and a mountain howitzer in Indian Mound cemetery, ready to fire as the head of the federal column should emerge from Mill creek gap. But they did not idly wait for the federals to appear. A strong party was posted in the gap and the fight began there about four o'clock in the afternoon. This confederate outpost soon gave way and the soldiers retreated toward Romney, the federals following closely till they came out into the open country below the mouth of Mill creek. The confederate artillery opened fire; and Kelley unlimbered three guns, and placing them in the pike below the mouth of Mill creek gap, returned the fire of the confederates. Kelley's army did not pause, but proceeded to Romney. The infantry crossed the bridge, and the cavalry forded the river and charged up the road. The confederates abandoned their cannon and retreated toward Winchester. General Kelley captured two can- non; three wagon loads of new rifles; a considerable quantity of tents and other stores; two hundred horses; and sixty prisoners. Colonel E. M. Armstrong was among the prisoners. The loss was not heavy in killed and wounded on either side, but the exact number cannot be ascertained. Four days after that, General Kelley received from Assistant Adjutant General Townsend at Washington, the following telegram, dated October 30: "Your late movement upon and signal victory at Rom- ney do you great honor in the opinion of the president and of Lieutenant General Scott. You shall be reinforced as soon as practicable. In the meantime, if necessary, call for any troops at Cumberland or New Creek."
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GENERAL KELLEY'S CAMPAIGN.
General Kelley remained in Romney till January 1, 1862, organizing and drilling troops. He was succeeded at Romney by General Lander. The federals retreated from Romney a few days later at the approach of Stonewall Jackson. When General Kelley entered Romney October 27 he issued the following proclamation: "To the people of Hampshire county and the upper Potomac: My object in addressing you is to give you assurance that I have come among you, not for the purpose of destroying you, but to protect all your rights socially and politically. All persons who have taken up arms against the government of the United States are obliged to lay them down, and return to their homes, and if they will take the oath of allegiance, and conduct themselves as peaceable citizens they will be protected in all their rights under the fag which has so long and so well protected them. You have lived long happy, socially and politically, but if you attempt to carry on a general warfare against my troops by attacking my wagons, shooting my guards or pickets, you will be con- sidered as enemies and treated accordingly here in your own country."
The Wire Bridge Fight .- A skirmish occurred in the latter part of October, 1861, at the wire bridge, seven miles below Romney, between Hampshire militia, under Colonel Alexander Monroe on one side, and several com- panies of union troops on the other. The union force formed the left column of General Kelley's army in its ex- pedition against Romney. While the main division marched from New Creek by way of Mill creek gap, the left column proceeded by way of Springfield, with the in- tention of passing up the river to the objective point. Colonel Monroe's militia at that time was guarding the road leading up the river to Romney. The main force, with two pieces of artillery, was camped at Buffalo creek, about three miles belo,y the town, while Colonel Monroe was in personal command of a smaller company at the wire
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bridge. He placed his men in position to rake the bridge with their fire in case the federals should attempt to pass over it. As an additional hindrance to their progress, he removed several planks from the middle of the bridge. When the union troops arrived and reached the opening in the bridge, they were fired upon. One was killed and was left lying on the bridge, and others were wounded. There was a stampede. The federals fled, leaving the militia iu possession of the bridge, and leaving thirty-five hats and caps on the bridge. In the meantime cannonading was heard at Romney, which announced that General Kelley was taking the town. The militia which had been posted to guard the road up the river saw that its services were useless there any longer, and that it was liable to an attack in the rear by the federal forces in Romney; and, there- fore, a retreat was ordered. Colonel Monroe fell back from the wire bridge, crossed the mountains and reached Blue's gap on the Winchester road. The forces at Buffalo did likewise, hauling their two pieces of artillery up the moun- tain at the head of Buffalo creek that night, and by that route reached Blue's gap in safety.
When the federal forces approached Springfield, two miles from the wire bridge, on their march to that place, many citizens of the town concealed themselves in their houses. A minister of the gospel who occupied a pulpit in the town, was panic-stricken when he saw the blue uni- forms coming, and with a wild yell, "Whoop! I can't stand that!" mounted the first horse he could find and fled, and never came back. Perhaps, in his new field of labor, if he ever found a new field, he preached his first sermon from the text, "The wicked flee when none pursue."
Blue's Gap Captured .- Although General Kelley had occupied Romney October 27, 1861, he did not advance to Blue's gap, fifteen miles east, for two months. A con- federate force held the gap. It was General Kelley's pur- pose to protect the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and not to
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waste his time and incur expense in useless expeditions up and down the back country where nothing was to be gained. The time had not yet arrived for an advance from Romney to Winchester, and the federal general was not disposed to push in that direction until the time came. He saw no reason why he should attack the few men at Blue's gap. If he should occupy the place it would necessitate keeping a strong force there to hold it, unless he should abandon it and return to Romney. This would be a use- less campaign.
But, as the winter advanced, and the small parties of confederates continued to annoy the outposts and waylay scouting parties, it became a military necessity to drive the confederates from Blue's gap. Captain Sheetz was in command there, with a few hundred men, and had fortified the pass with two small pieces of artillery-the same guns that had been stationed at Buffalo to guard the Hanging Rocks gap at the time of General Kelley's capture of Rom- ney. Fortifications, not very extensive, but naturally strong, were built in a position to command the gap. Then, when intelligence was received that an attack was to be made, Captain Sheetz moved three miles up the road to Pleasant Dale to meet the enemy. About daybreak the federals came in sight, and Captain Sheetz fell back toward Blue's gap, firing occasionally upon the advancing troops. The bridge across North river was four hundred yards in front of the gap. Having crossed this, it was set on fire by Captain Sheetz, who withdrew toward his fortifications, which he expected the militia to occupy and defend. But the federals came more rapidly than had been expected, and reached the fortifications before the rebel militia could get there, and all hope of successfully defending the pass was lost. The militia retreated toward Winchester, or scattered through the woods and mountains in all direc- tions. Captain Sheetz was compelled to retreat, but with- drew his men in good order until he had gone a mile be-
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yond the pass, where the country was more open. There he was charged, and was driven rapidly back. Pursuit was not long continued. The cannon abandoned by the militia fell into the hands of General Kelley's army. The troops returned to Romney. This expedition took place early in January, 1862. General Lander was in immediate command at the time. When he fell back from Blue's gap he burned between thirty and forty residences and outbuildings on each side of the road, between that point and Romney. He defended bis course on the ground that it was a military measure rendered necessary because the residents of that part of the country aided and encouraged the confederates in attacking the union outposts.
Frenchburg Burned .- The small group of houses called Frenchburg, six miles cast of Romney, on the Win- chester road, was burned by federal soldiers late in 1361 on the pretext that the inhabitants were giving aid to rebel bushwhackers. The specific grounds for the charge were these: Sergeant John C. Leps with seven. men left the con- federate camp at Blue's gap. and concealing his force in a thicket near Frenchburg, fired upon a detachment of union cavalry, and killed and wounded several men, con pe ling the survivors to retreat. This greatly incensed the fed- eral officers, who refused to recognize bushwhacking as a legitimate method of warfare. Warning was sent out that if the act were repeated, punishment would be inflicted upon the citizens of the district in which the bushwback- ing was done. Captain Sheetz with a small party set out from Blue's gap a few days after and repaired to the vicin- ity of Frenchburg, where there was a strong federal picket post. He climed a bill near the road and attacked four soldiers who were passing by, wounding one and captur- ing three. Captain Sheetz then returned to camp at Blue's gap. The result was, orders were given for the burning of the houses at Frenchburg, and the little village was wiped out.
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GENERAL KELLEY'S CAMPAIGN.
Capture of un Officer's Horse .- During the early part of the winter of 1861-2, General Kelley with several thousand soldiers was stationed in and near Romney. There was little to do, except to keep a wary eye on Stone- wall Jackson at Winchester, and to send out large scouting parties to look after the rebels under Captain Sheetz and others who roamed at will along North river. There was at that time a youth, sixteen or seventeen years old, named Elisha Sbingleton, son of John Shingleton, living a few miles from Romney. This boy was desirous of joining the rebel army. He might have become an infantry sol- dier at any time, but he wanted to be a cavalryman, and that was not so easy to be done. The Southern Confed- eracy did not furnish horses for its cavalry; but each sol- dier must provide one for himself. Young Shingleton had no horse, and saw no prospect of procuring one by the or- dinary methods of bargain and sale. But, as he had set his heart on joining the cavalry he was not disposed to sub- mit to being checkmated by so small a thing as the want of a horse. He made up his mind that he would have one. He spied around the outskirts of Romney, and observed that the small boys of the town were in the habit of riding the officers' horses to water at the brook which the pike crosses at the foot of the hill below the cemetery. A deep pool at the base of a large rock was the favorite drinking place for the horses. Just before day young Shingleton concealed himself among some bushes and vines which hung in a dense canopy over the rock, and waited for bis chance. Presently a small lad, riding a splendid horse which belonged to a union officer, came down the pike from the town, rode into the pool and the horse put down his head and began to drink. Shingleton reached out and caught the bridle and ordered the lad to get off the horse, which he did in a hurry, dropping in the water. Shingle- ton mounted the horse and disappeared up the hill in the woods. The boy ran bawling back to town and reported
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his loss. The yankees galloped up and down the roads for miles around, trying to capture the daring thief; but they returned without success. Meanwhile Shingleton made his way through the woods and along unfrequented paths to the mountains a few miles distant, where he hid the horse in a thicket and kept him several days, carrying hay and corn to him at night from neighboring fields. When the excitement had died down he took the horse through the mountains to the confederate lines, and was soon a superbly equipped cavalryman.
CHAPTER XLIX,
SPYING FOR JACKSON.
When it became known, in the fall of 1861, that General Kelley had fortified Romney, and was preparing to occupy it permanently, Stonewall Jackson, who was at Winches- ter, began to lay plans to recapture the town. In order to carry out these plans it was necessary to obtain exact information regarding the forces at Romney, the position of the fortifications, and the best avenues of approach. General Jackson requested the commanding officer at Blue's gap to obtain this information, if possible. IIe thereupon selected Lieutenant John Blue, Major Isaac Parsons and William Inskeep, and instructed them to secure all the desired information possible by such method as they might think best. They were acquainted with every acre of the country around Romney. They pro- cured a good spyglass, and early one November morning, 1861, took their post on Mill creek mountain, on the opposite side of the river from Romney, about one and a half miles distant. From that position they had full view of the town, all the surrounding country, the fortifications, the barracks, and everything of a military nature. Isaac Par- sons was skillful at drawing, and he and William Inskeep climbed into a tree, made themselves as comfortable as possible, and with the aid of the spyglass, proceeded to make a map of the military camp, with all the converging roads, and the neighboring hills. Lieutenant Blue stood guard at the foot of the tree, on the lookout for objects nearer at hand. It was a warm day, although in Novem- ber, and it was nearly sunset when the map was finished,
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and the men were ready to come down from the tree. About that time the soldiers in Romney were called out on dress parade, and the spies had excellent opportunity of estimating their number, and they remained in the tree a short time longer for that purpose.
In the meantime Mr. Blue's ear had detected sounds of approaching footsteps, on the mountain side, below them. He called the attention of his companions to the noise, and they descended from the tree, put on their coats, took up their guns, and were about to follow Mr. Blue, who had gone up the mountain and was about forty yards above them, when two federal soldiers made a sharp turn round a clump of trees, and called to the spies to surrender. The soldiers did not see Mr. Blue, mor did they know of his presence. "You are our prisoners," exclaimed the soldiers as they jumped behind trees to protect themselves from the muskets of the spies. "I am not so sure of it; I guess you are our prisoners," replied Mr. Parsons. "Not a bit of it," returned one of the yankees; "throw up your guns and surrender." "You throw down your guns and surrender," said Parsons. It was an even match. . All four of the men were behind trees, about forty yards apart. After standing awhile, each side trying to persuade the other to surrender, one of the yankees called out: "Hello, Reb!" "Hello, Yank," was the reply. "Suppose we shake hands and call it square. We don't want to hurt you fellows, and I guess you are not thirsting for blood." Mr. Parsons answered that he was not very blood-thirsty and was willing to let bygones be bygones, and was ready to have peace. "Who are you, anyhow?" inquired one of the yankees. . "Citizens out hunting." "Well, there is no use to fight over it," answered the federal, "but that mus- ket you have looks like a rebel's. How about it?" "The musket is all right, and if you want to shake hands with us, be about it." "Leave your gun and stepout, and I will leave mine and step out," suggested the yankee. Both did
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so; Parsons stepping out first, then one of the federals. Then Inskeep stepped out unarmed, and called on the re- maining yankee to do likewise. But the treacherous child of the frozen north sprang out with his musket leveled, and called out: "Now surrender. I have the drop on you!" "Drop that gun," came a command from the hill above. Lieutenant Blue had stepped from behind a tree with his gun leveled at the yankees. The table was turned. The yankee dropped his gun and began to beg. He said he was only joking and had no intention of shooting any body. "I am not joking," replied Mr. Blue, "and if you want to save your hide, leave your gun where it is and strike a trot for Romney and don't dare look back until you get out of sight." The yankee did not stand on the order of going, but took to his heels. The other yankee was told to leave his gun and follow his comrade. He did so.
The spies went to the house of David Fox and stayed all night, leaving at daybreak next morning. They hid in a clump of pines on a point some distance above Hanging Rocks. By the aid of their glass they could watch the movements of the federals in Romney and vicinity. Numer- ous parties were sent across the river to search Mill creek mountain, supposing that the spies were still lurking there. But, of course, nothing was found of them on that moun- tain. The next night the spies made their way to Little Capon, where they had left their horses, and thence pro- ceeded to Blue's gap. The map was sent to General Jackson.
Lieutenant John Blue's Desperate Escape .- It was afterwards agcertained that the two federal soldiers who were driven to camp by the spies were Lieutenant Cole and Lieutenant Freman. It so happened that they were soon aftewards taken prisoner by Captain Sheetz's company and were carried to Capon Bridge. They there saw and recognized Lieutenant Blue, and learned his name. Either by exchange or other means they returned to the
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federal camp at Romney, and were there in the spring of 1862, after the confederates under General Loring had left the county. They had informed the officers that Lieuten- ant Blue was one of the spies who had been seen on the mountain, and it thereafter became an object of special im- portance to effect his capture. It was not deemed difficult to do this, as his father, Garrett I. Blue. lived a few miles below Romney, and it was reported that Lieutenant Blue occasionally visited his father. The house was watched. The lieutenant had no idea that any special effort would be made to discover and capture him; so, about ten o'clock at night, late in March or early in April, 1862. he stealthily entered his father's house. Three hours afterwards he was captured and was taken to Romney under guard, and was confined in a room up-stairs, nearly opposite the court house. As he entered the room he saw a two-pound iron weight on the mantle, and put it in his pocket, not with any particular object in view, but with a vague idea that it might be useful in breaking a door-lock if he had an oppor- tunity. He remained in the room about a week, under guard, but suffered no hardships. His friends were per- mitted to carry him food, and to visit him, and he was tol- erably well satisfied. But one day Colonel Downey came in and began questioning him about his business in that part of the country while his comrades in arms were in a distant place. Mr. Blue declined to answer, and the colonel became enraged, threatening to run him through with his sword. He accused Blue of being a spy, and said he had proof of it, and would send him to Wheeling for trial, and that would be the last of him.
The shutters of the windows from that time were closed. No friends were permitted to visit him or send him any- thing. His guard was doubled. He was fed on bread and water, and very little of that. He remained there till Eas- ter Sanday. He had been told to prepare for the trip to Wheeling next day. His father had visited him, and had
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warned him against attempting to escape, as he would scarcely be able to do so, and the attempt might cost him his life. But he had made up his mind to escape if he could, for he did want to go Wheeling to be tried as a spy.
When the guard came in for the night, ten of them, all armed, the prospect of escape was not bright. They pre- pared to spend the night in the room, as the air was cold outside. About midnight all lay down to sleep but two, one corporal and the other a soldier who sat with his back against the door. Blue lay down during the early part of the night, but toward morning, complaining of being cold, he walked across the floor. The corporal was sitting by the stand, resting his head on his arm, apparently asleep. All the others were snoring lustily, except the soldier with his back against the door. He was wide awake. Lieuten- ant Blue waited for his time to come; but day was break- ing and his last hope of escape seemed to be passing. There was only one chance left, and that was a desperate one. As he passed the soldier at the door he struck him on the head with the iron weight which he had carried in his pocket. His purpose was to stun the soldier, seize his musket, bayonet any others who might awake, spring out at the door and trust luck to escape by flight. The soldier sank to the floor without a groan. No one awoke. Blue drew him aside, picked up a musket, a blue overcoat and a cap; put the cap on, threw the coat over his shoulders, opened the door and stepped out. The key was in the lock, outside. He turned the key, passed down stairs and found broad daylight outside. His first impulse was to run, but the street was full of soldiers, and to run would attract notice and lead to his capture. He walked carelessly along, turned into an alley, and reached the foot of the hill east of the old cemetery. Then, being out of sight of the soldiers, he took to his heels. He gained the top of the hill, when a dozen guns were fired, giving the alarm. Pausing a moment among some bushes where he was out of sight, he watched
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