USA > West Virginia > Hampshire County > History of Hampshire County, West Virginia : from its earliest settlement to the present > Part 43
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STONEWALL JACKSON IN ROMNEY.
Courtney Garvin, G. W. Haines, Benjamin Heare, Benja- min Hott, S. J. Kump, W. B. Pepper, W. Pounall, J. W. Stump, Joseph Timberlake, G. Timberlake, William Hen- gleshee, S. H. Williams, Richard Poland, Joseph Pepper.
McMackin's Militia .- A company of militia, about eighty in number, was organized early in the war under Thomas McMackin as captain, Joseph Berry, lieutenant, and Conrad Wilbert, second lieutenant. No roll of the company exists, but among the members were Robert No- land, Henry C. Swisher, Adam Kaylor, William Ginevan, Peter Stump, Jacob Stump, John Stump, William Hass, Hugh Cowgill, James Saville, William Blaze, John Largent, William Sherwood, Luther Burkett, Kennison Bonham, George S. Arnold, Charles French, James I. Taylor, Thom- as Kaylor, Andrew Kaylor. This company was delegated to guard the district along North river, and was occupied with that work during the summer of 1861 and the early part of 1802. After about one year of service the company went to Winchester, where it disbanded. Some of the men joined other companies and some returned to their homes.
ยท Sentinel's Mistake .- Rising several hundred feet above the channel of North river is a rock jutting out from the summit of Ice mountain. McMackin's militia compa- ny's camp was near the river at the base of the mountain. It was the custom to place a sentinel on that pinnacle, which is called Raven Rock, at daybreak and keep him there all day. It was his duty to watch the surrounding country for the approach of enemies. From that elevated station the region for miles around lies in full view; and a sentinel with a good glass could easily discover troops ap- proaching and could give the alarm in time for the militia in the camp below to prepare for action. The duty of standing guard on the pinnacle usually devolved upon H. L. Swisher; but on a certain day, which the militia had oc- casion long to remember, an inexperienced man was placed
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on the rocky watch tower, while the experienced sentinel, accompanie 1 by William Sherwood, went hunting. The new man had not been long on his elevated post when he saw an unusual object rising over an eminence where one the country roads crossed a ridge in the direction of Springfield. He had not long to wait before he satisfied him- self that yankee cavalry was approaching. Down from the rocks be went to give the alarm in the camp below where the rebels were whiling away the time, unconscious of their danger. The startling intelligence produced the greatest consternation. The militia had been waiting a long time for a chance to fight the yankees, but they did not care to rush into the jaws of death by meeting the ad- vancing cavalry, which, as the sentinel declared, "made the road blue for miles." They accordingly rushed the other way. They broke camp double quick, abandoning what they could not carry away, and up the road they went on a run, crossed the mountains and continued their retreat till they reached Sandy Ridge, several miles distant. Major Devers, who resides at the foot of Ice mountain, finally suc- ceed in rallying them, and they made a stand. But the yankees never put in an appearance, and a battle was averted. The yankees came suddenly upon William Sherwood and Henry Swisher, who were absent when the retreat began, and took the former prisoner, but the latter made his escape. Great was the mortification of the con- federate militia when they learned that the federal cavalry which had "made the road blue for miles," consisted of only seven men. But these seven men had accomplished wonders. They had driven eighty militia and had burned a number of houses about North river mills, and then re- tired unpursued.
CHAPTER LI.
ENLISTING COMPANIES.
Below will be found a list of the officers and men in Com- pany I, Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, in the confederate service. Nearly all the men were from Hampshire county: D. E. Beall, captain; Patrick McCarty, first lieu- tenant; Jacob Worden, second lieutenant; John Penning- ton, third lieutenant; John Horn, orderly sergeant; Joseph Godlove, second sergeant; Levy Crawford, third sergeant; William Wilson, fourth sergeant; Jonathan Tharp, cor- poral; John Sisler, second corporal; Benjamin Wilson, third corporal; Jacob Schafer, fourth corporal. Privates- David Godlove, Isaac Godlove, John A. Godlove, Abraham Ditawic, John Ditawic, Benjamin Ditawic, George Swisher, Benjamin Swisher, Simon Swisher, William Hishman, Philip Hishman, John Hishman, Nicholas Hishman, Noah Tunkhouser, James H. Tunkhouser, John Cline, Joseph Hetzel, John Wilson, Thomas B. Wilson, Tilberry Orn- doff, John W. Orndoff, Jacob Harris, David Harris, John Harris, William B. Cleggett, James Cleggett, Benjamin Liggett, Baker Liggett, Adam Tharp, James Tharp, George Rhodeheffer, Isaac Shoemaker, Jacob Orndorff, Hezekiah Williams, John Williams, Perry Williams, Jacob Williams, John Williams, Albert Halterman, Ambrose Halterman, Jackson Halterman, Morgan Halterman, Jos- eph Siple, George Siple, Watson Stover, Sylvester Stover, William Armstrong, Gibson Armstrong, Edward Arm- strong, Elias Cokenhour, Jacob Cokenhour, D. H. Knee, Cypress Tishwaters, Anthony Reid, Patrick McCormick, William Sisler, Charles M. Schnell, Jacob Rudolph, Charles
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Rosebrock, John Grady, Abraham Wilkins, James Mc- Mahon, John Lawrence, James Roach, Arthur Wells, Ma- lachi Hussey, William Varner, John Rankins, Perry Far- row, James Michaels, Jacob Michaels, John Rynwood, Abraham Barry, John Jone-, William Finley, Jolin T. Har- roll, Jacob Conrod, John Tyler, Benjamin Mckeever, Sason Frye, William B. Eggleson, Jacob Ludwich, Joseph Snyder, George W. Stubblefield, Simeon Sandaker, Joseph Ham- mon.
Captain Mathew Gineran's Company .- Com- pany C, Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, confederate, was organized by Captain Mathew Ginevan, and the majority of the men were from the Levels and Little Capon. The roll of the company, as complete as it can be made out at the present time, is as follows: Mathew Ginevan, captain; S. B. Patterson, first lieutenant; D. K. Higby, second lieuten- ant; Luther Ginevan, third lieutenant; William Delaplain, first sergeant; A. T. Pugh, second sergeant; Frank Pow- nall, third sergeant. Privates-Valentine Gillespie, George Bowman, James Flora, Thomas Youst, Peter Youst, Peter Barnes, S. F. Hardy, A. R. Eli, Ezra Eli, Silas Shanholtzer, Minor Shanholtzer, Martin Shanholtzer, Benjamin Shan- holtzer, John Robinson, R. T. Robinson, R. J. Householder, J. T. Pownall, F. Odnalt, Joseph McAtee, Willey McKee, Lewis Emmett, Samuel McKee, Isaac Pepper, John Ruck- man, B. J. Powell, Thomas Messick, James Cheshire, Fred- erick Manck, John O. Saville, George Saville, William Thompson, R. J. Thompson, S. E. Pugh, S. J. Pugh, J. J. Pugh, P. C. Haines, Samuel Baker. Captain Ginevan's company saw active service from the first. In the battle of Gettysburg he was severely wounded, and it is thought by some that he never fully recovered. He died at Pied- mont. David Ginevan was the miller at Ginevan mill, on Little Capon, two miles from the mouth; and when the company was made up he was excused from service in the army, according to law, that he might remain and grind 40
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the people's grain. Lieutenant Luther Ginevan was a very strong man, active and courageous. Once, when his brother, Captain Ginevan, was surrounded by four yankees, who endeavored to take him prisoner, Luther ran in with his sword and compelled all four of them to beat a hasty re- treat.
A Fighting Horse .- Luther Ginevan succeeded his brother as captain of the company. He had a remarkable horse, which he rode throughout the war. It soon learned to look upon a blue coat as an enemy, and it endeavored to do its share of fighting. This was particularly the case when, as happened on two or three occasions, the rider was dismounted and the federals tried to capture the horse. The animal bit, kicked and struck them and would not be taken, but fought its way back to the rebel lines and reached its owner. Captain Luther Ginevan brought the horse home with him at the close of the war, and it was looked upon as long as it lived as a war-scarred veteran. Luther Ginevan was killed twenty years after the close of the war by being thrown from a wagon.
Captain Lovet's Company .- This was Company E, Twenty-third Virginia Cavalry. It was organized in Hampshire county, and the following is the roll, so far as it can be made out from the memory of survivors: Cap- tain, J. Mort Lovet; first lieutenant, Beverly Lockard; second lieutenant, Oscar Bywaters; third lieutenant, Wal- ter Largent; first sergeant, Joseph Oliver, killed at Charles- town, 1863. Privates-Toney Hayden, killed at Darkville, 1864; John Staller, killed at Bunker Hill, 1864; James Brath- waight, wounded at Berry's ferry, 1863; Samuel Swartz, wounded in 1864; J. W. Short, wounded in 1863; Walter Nixon, John Nixon, Harrison Brill, Frederick Spaid, Asa Mckeever, Dorsey Reed, George Pugh, Jonathan Pugh, George Elick, Hugh Pense, George Sheetz, Nicholas Goff, Berry Brine, William Newbanks, John Laire, David Laire,
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James Baker, Andre Baker, killed in 1864; John Baker, Tip Lockhard, Algerne Lockard, Daniel Miller.
Captain Lovet was badly wounded in 1862, and never re- covered, although he lived a few years. In 1863 he was taken prisoner, and did not gain his freedom until the close of the war. Soon after returning home he died from the , effect of his wound and from hard treatment while in prison.
Captain Sheets's Company .- Following is the roll of Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry: Captains, George F. Sheetz, killed at Brickston station, May 23, 1862; Isaac Kuykendall, captured while on recruiting service in Hamp- shire county, February 19, 1864; first lieutenant, Angus W. McDonald, resigned; second lieutenant, George H. Baker; first sergeant, John C. Leps; second sergeant, J. H. Cunningham, captured at Moorefield, December 3, 1862; third sergeant, Anthony Cain; fourth sergeant, Charles W. Smoot; fifth sergeants, G. F. Cunningham, captured at Moorefield, December 3, 1862; George Mathias; second corporal, D. W. Dawson, captured at Culpeper court house, September 13, 1863; third corporals, James D. Pollack, W. W. Houseworth; third and fourth corporal, Hiram Allen; first and second sergeant, Johnson John. These all enlist- ed in 1861. The officers who enlisted in 1862 were: First and second lieutenant and fourth sergeant, James T. Parker, captured while on detached service, February 21, 1864; second lieutenant and second sergeant, C. H. Van- diver, taken prisoner, April 19, 1862, and wounded, June 27, 1864; first sergeant, A. C. Harness; first corporal, James A. Parrill.
The following privates enlisted in 1861: Elijah Allen, John S. Arnold, Eugene Alexander, Samuel Berry, James A. Bane, Levi M. Baker, James Bonney, M. B. Y. Bowers, J. S. P. Bowers, Jacob A. Baker, captured at Moorefield, De- cember 3, 1862; Henry F. Baker, John W. Baker, Thomas Chaney, Jesse Cupp, captured at Culpeper court house,
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September 13, 1863; J. H. C. Cunningham, William H. Ca- hill, wounded, April 9, 1862, arm broken; Joseph A. Cahill, George F. Cunningham, B. F. Clark, Reuben S. Davis, D. W. Dawson, Robert Dousthill, C. B. Davis, Robert Ed- wards, William D. Ewing, George W. Everett, Samuel C. Engle, John B. Fay, James Gill, Thomas Goldborough, captured, December 25, 1863; Charles A. C. Gates, Jacob Gassman, William Grayson, C. H. Gates, A. C. Harness, Joseph Honmon, W. W. Houseworth, Samuel A. High, John F. High, W. B. Harrison, W. H. Harmon, taken pris- oner; T. A. Hollenback, James Hiett, Malcolm G. Harmi- son, Thomas Harrison, Thomas M. Healey, Samuel I. Heltzel, wounded, July 3, 1863; Jacob B. Heironimus, Jona- than Harrison, Isaac E. Harrison, James S. Hutton, J. S. Harlan, James Inskeep, died, May 24, 1862; William V. Inskeep, wounded at Staunton, May 9, 1862; Elias L. Irv- ing, John S. Inskeep, captured in Hampshire; Isaac H. Johnson, died, June 13, 1862; John Johnson, Robert John- ston, wounded at Charlestown, October 6, 1862; J. W. Kuy- kendall, captured, January 15, 1862; John T. Kelley, cap- tured in Maryland, July 9, 1863; Patrick Kelley, wounded and captured, July 11, 1862; Joseph Kechley, captured at Culpeper court house, September 11, 1863; George A. Kechley, captured in Maryland, July 9, 1863; James F. Lease, John W. Lease, taken prisoner; George W. Lease, taken prisoner; William W. Leps, Isaac Liller, William L. Lamar, James C. Liggett, William Lyons, Joshua M. Lovett, Benjamin Milleson, Joseph L. Moore, Smith T. McKee, Harry C. Millen, George Mathias, B. F. McCauley, Michael I. Mortz, Samuel Myers, Thomas O'Neal, Jonathan Offutt, James O'Brien, Daniel Power, William H. Parrie, James A. Parrie, James H. Parrie, John T. Pearce, John C. Par- ran, Silas R. Pancake, John W. Pugh, James N. Pugh, R. C. Price, James H. Rines, wounded at Upperville, June 21, 1863; John D. Rines, John F. Stover, Washington M. Skel- ton, Amos Shillingburg, James D. Short, Isaac Smit
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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Henry I. Shriver, captured, January 24, 1862; John H. Shriver, John Shaw, John M. Seymour, Frederick W. Sheetz, William Smith, C. H. Sisk, captured at Culpeper court house, September 13, 1863; Robert J. Tilden, arm broken in fight at Romney, September 25, 1861; James H. Taylor, wounded near Charlestown, October 6, 1362; Bur- bridge C. Trenum, William W. Throckmorton, captured in Maryland, July 9, 1863; James H. Vance, Charles W. Vanmeter, captured in Maryland, July 9, 1863; David P. Vanmeter, captured in Maryland, July 9, 1863, R. B. Van- meter, Isaac Vanmeter, John W. Vanhorn, Charles F. Vest, captured in Hampshire county, February 21, 1864; J. W. Vawter, Martin F. Wright, Jacob Worden, Robert W. Welch, Lewis Welch, James Worden, captured, Nc- 1, 1862; William Worden, Aaron Welton, Patrick Digman, taken prisoner, November 1, 1862, and again in Hardy county, February 21, 1854; Thomas I. McCord, taken prisoner in Pennsylvania, July 6, 1863; J. D. Pollock, W. L. Parsons, George W. Shoemaker, captured at Moore- field, December 3, 1862; John Uullum, taken prisoner in Pennsylvania, July 6, 1863; D. G. Vanmeter, wounded, July 3, 1863; Joseph V. Williams, James S. Welton, captured at Culpeper court house, September 13, 1863; Charles I. Bowers, William I. Coyner, captured at Moorefield, October 1, 1863; Maurice Healey, David Jones, captured at Cul- peper court house, September 13, 1863; James M. Maslin, J. Wesley Pugh, Rufus Taylor, taken prisoner at Culpeper court hourse, September 13, 1863; Edwin P. Vanmeter, captured at Culpeper court house, September 13, 1863; James A. Zell, captured at the same time; Robert R. Zell, William H. Maslin, L. H. Davis, E. C. Rinehart, R. V. Sherrard, John Tvalor, Hilton Vanmeter, James W. Wood.
Cuptuin Kuykendall Captured .- While on picket duty near Charlestown, Jefferson county, the fed- erals being in possession of Harper's Ferry, Captain Isaac Kuykendall was taken prisoner. A squad of a dozen
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or more confederate cavalry encountered a force too strong, and set out upon a retreat, closely pursued. At the top of a hill Captain Kuykendall saw that he would be overtaken, and ordered a charge, hoping thereby to cause the pur- sters to halt and give him and his men a chance to get away. He wheeled his horse and started upon the charge, not observing until too late that his men were not follow- ing him. He went down the road alone, right toward the yankees, and would willingly have turned back if he could; but before he was able to check his horse, a bullet killed the animal, and he fell, throwing the rider and bruising his face on the macadamized road. He sprang to his feet, fired once with his pistol at the advancing federals, and then took to hiis heels up the road, while bullets from the yankee carbines made the dust fly about his feet. It grew too interesting for him in the highway, and he sprang over a fence and started for a clump of trees some distance away. One of his men, who had failed to follow him on the charge, had ridden back and called to him to jump on the horse behind the saddle and both could escape. Kuyken- dall ran to the fence to do so, but observing that the horse was too small to carry two, he said to the man, "Make your escape. I will do the best I can." The man gal- loped off.
Captain Kuykendall started again for the timber, but the chance of escape was past. The yankees called on him to surrender, and, seeing no other course open, he did so, and walked slowly back to the fence. Half a dozen of them reached for his watch, and, in spite of the pain of his bruised face and the unpleasant sensation of being a pris- oner, he laughed at the silly looks which came over the faces of the yankees as they examined the watch which they had so unceremoniously taken from him. When he fell from the horse, the jar broke the works of his watch loose, they fell out and he left them in the road. The
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covetous yankees, therefore, found themselves in posses- sion of an empty case.
His face was bleeding profusely, but it was not hurt as badly as appearances indicated. The bruises were not deep. "You'd better leave the rebels and join my com- pany," were the first words addressed to him by the fed- eral captain when he came up. "I would rather be left dead in the road than to do it," was Kuykendall's reply. He was taken to Harper's Ferry, where he was treated with the greatest kindness by the officers, one of whom shared his room with the prisoner. The brave fight he had made before surrendering had attracted the attention and won the favor of the officers. They supplied him with money with which to buy clothing, of which he was badly in need. He was sent to Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, and after a few days he was exchanged. In speaking of his captivity, he said: "I found that all the good men were not on our side. There were men among the yankees who were as whole-souled and brave as could be found any- where." .
Captain Kuykendall was taken prisoner a second time in 1864, and was exchanged only a few weeks before Lee's surrender. He was in Hampshire on furlough, with John Inskeep, and they were surrounded and captured while at Michael Blue's house, near Springfield.
Captain Sauls Wounded .- While the Hampshire troops were stationed at Blue's gap, in 1861, a body of United States cavalry occupied Springfield. Captain Sheetz, of Company F, ascertained that the federals were in motion toward North river mills, and made an attack on them. The yankees fell back toward Springfield and were pursued. Captain Sauls, in command of the Union cav- alry, was shot through the thigh, fell from his horse and was taken prisoner. He asked if Isaac Kuykendall was among the confederate force, and being answered in the affirmative, asked to see him. When Captain Kuykendall
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came to him, Captain Sauls requested that a sled be ob- tained and he be taken to some house where he could be cared for till his men could send and get him. This re- quest was granted, and the wounded captain was taken care of.
At that time Captain Kuykendall's father lived in Springfield, and being a well-known sympathizer with the south, he was subjected to no small annoyance from the union troops. When news reached Springfield that the union force had been attacked and the captain wounded and a prisoner, the federal troops in the town were furious, and declared they would burn Mr. Kuykendall's house in revenge; but before they carried their threat into execu- tion they received word from their wounded captain, who mentioned the kindness shown him by Isaac Kuykendall. Because of this kindness on the part of the son, the father's property was saved; another proof that a kindly act sel- dom falls on barren soil.
A Dangerous Ambuscade .- Near Pargatsville in 1863, a fight occurred between parts of several companies of confederates on one side and the Ringgold cavalry on the other. The confederates were under the command of Captain Isaac Kuydendall of Company F. A portion of McNeill's company took part, and there were soldiers from other counties, Captain Ware from Virginia being among them. The confederates were in the vicinity of Moorefield when about thirty union cavalry appeared near Old Fields and halted when they saw the confederates. Colonel Har- ness ordered Captain Kuykendall to go in pursuit, and he at once did so with parts of several companies. McNeill joined in the pursuit after it had commenced. The feder- als began to move off when they saw the enemy approach- ing, and passed up the road toward Pargatsville. This road led to the head of Mill creek and down that stream to the lower country, and it was naturally supposed that the
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scouting party was shaping its course for Keyser or Cum- berland.
Before the federals had been pursued far, Captain Kuy- kendall noticed something mysterious in their movements. They did not appear trying to get away, but kept just out of reach of their pursuers. When the confederates moved quickly, the federals increased their speed; when the former slackened, the latter did likewise. It was apparent that they were courting pursuit, and the captain suspected that their purpose was to lead him into an ambuscade. For this reason he advanced with great caution. At length some of the men grew impatient and clamored to be led to the charge. By this time McNeill had arrived and some of the men wanted him to lead. But Kuydendall remained in the front, and a general rush to overtake the yankees ensued. No order of march was observed. Up the road, pell mell, the confederates went, and the federals increased their speed. It was just as the cooler heads expected. In a short time the rebels were going back as fast as they had come. Turning a point of a hill, beneath an old field, a long line of blue burst in sight. It was an ambuscade. A strong force of federals poured a volley from the hill and threw the confederates into confusion. So great was the difference of numbers that Captain Kaykendall saw he had no show. The whole force saw the same, and they turned and fled. Fortunately for the confederates, the union fire went over their heads. The order of a few minutes before was reversed. The confederates, instead of being the pursuers, were the pursued. Several were killed, but the slaughter was not so great as might have been expected. Near the head of Mill creek a road led up the hill, and some of the men, by mistake, took that road. This mistake probabably saved many of the confederates, for their pur- suers were afraid to pass that road, believing that a trap had been set for them. Only a few passed; and two de- termined cavalrymen, with daring which became fool-
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hardiness, pressed hard upon the rear of the retreating confederates after the main body of the union forces had stopped. As these two cavalrymen approached, Captain Kuykendali shot at one of them, who then stopped; but it could not be ascertained that he was struck. The other galloped on, and being mounted on a powerful horse, came up with Jesse Cupp, of Company F, and struck at him with his saber; but Cupp avoided the blow, and the soldier passed on. As he did so, Cupp struck bim across the back with his saber and Captain Kuykendall shot at him with a revolver. The union soldier wheeled his horse, left the road and made his escape. Whether he was dan- gerously wounded could not be ascertained. Isaac T. Brady, of Romney, was wounded in that fight.
General Averell Baffled .- On February 1, 1864, Geneal Rosser, with a strong force, visited Patterson creek to buy cattle for the confederacy. He expected to meet with resistance, and therefore came prepared to fight. But he had not calculated on fighting Averell; and as the sequence showed, he had a narrow escape. Had Averell succeeded in meeting him, there would have been an encounter of more consequence than a skirmish. Gen- eral Rosser passed down Patterson creek within eight miles of Keyser, where there was a union force, and ad- vanced within six miles of Cumberland. He kept a wary eye on both of those points, but did not believe that a suffi- cient force could be sent from either of them to endanger his position. He left a force at Burlington to prevent the federals from crossing Knobly mountain from New creek, and sent another force of seventy men, under Captain Isaac Kuykendall, to Mill creek gap, three miles above Romney, to hold that pass against any force that might come from the south or east. Thus protected on both flanks, General Rosser proceeded to gather all the available stock on Pat- terson creek and Mill creek.
Shortly after the confederates took possession of the
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Mill creek gap, General Averell, with a strong force of cavalry, passed through Romney, having came from Win- chester to cut Rosser off, and attempted to enter the gap. Confederate pickets had been stationed on the rocks over- looking the pass, and with long-range guns they fired at the front of the union column when it came in sight. The pass is narrow, and a small force, well posted, could hold it against a much stronger one. Averell did not know how strong the force was which opposed him, and he was ex- ceedingly cautious how he advanced. No sooner would he attempt to go through the gap than he was fired upon, and he as often fell back. In the meantime, a federal force crossed Knobly mountain from New creek, and passing down by way of Burlington met the Confederate force posted there, and the fight began. Several times the fed- erals advanced and as often they were driven back; but they gradually worked their way down, gaining more ground than they lost, and toward evening had pushed the confederates almost down to Moorefield junction, within four or five miles of Mill creek gap. Believing that he could not resist the federal advance from New creek much longer, the confederate offier at Moorefield junction sent word to Captain Kuykendall, at Mill creek gap, and told him to save himself if he could. Not doubting that he was about to be cut off, Captain Kuykendall retreated by an obscure road up Mill creek, leaving the gap open for Averell. The confederates at Moorefield junction made a final rally and drove the federals back in the direction of New creek, and removed danger of an attack from that quarter. Averell did not know that Mill creek gap had been abandoned, and he made no attempt to pass through that night. Rosser was thus given the opportunity to escape up Mill creek with his cattle, and he made his way with all speed back to Virginia.
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