USA > West Virginia > Jefferson County > Military operations in Jefferson County, Virginia (and West Va.) 1861-1865 > Part 3
USA > West Virginia > Jefferson County > Military operations in Jefferson County, Virginia (and West Va.) 1861-1865 > Part 3
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My horses were by this time much jaded, and some hardly able to keep up; still, determined not to abandon the enterprise, I struck across the fields, hoping to cut them off before they could reach Charles Town. In this I did not succeed; but three of my men ran into their rear guard just as they were entering the place. One of them, Charles Forman, was captured. I dismounted half my men, put them in position, and tried to draw out the enemy, but they had their own plan in view, and refused to follow. This made me rather suspicious, so putting twelve men un- der Captain Blackford as a rear guard, I started for Sum- mit Point and camp.
I had reached the "White House, owned by Mr. Mor- row, two miles from Summit Point, had halted to let the men dismount and get water from the large spring about fifty yards off, and was the only mounted man left in the road. I had ridden up to the yard fence, and was talking to the ladies, when I heard a voice exclaim, "Here they are boys by God, we've got them now?" At the same instant a bullet whistled through a lilac bush between the ladies and myself. I wheeled around and saw the head of a cavalry column on the rocky hill above, and between me and Sum- mit Point.
Here was a perilous position. Seeing only the first section of fours, I knew not how many were behind them. I could not retreat, and therefore determined to make the
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best fight possible under the circumstances. I ordered ten of my men who had carbines to get behind the ruins of an old stone stable. and fight them to the last. Seeing my horses without their riders. the others thought we were apprized of their coming, and had prepared an ambuscade; and though Captain Somers, whom I recognized, begged. implored, and cursed them, they would not charge, but stood still on the hill. popping away at us with their carbines.
One of my men -Ford, from Baltimore-came up with a rifle and putting his hand on my thigh, asked what he should do. I told him to get behind the stone wall, and take a good aim every time he fired. "all right, Major." Just as he spoke the word a ball pierced his head, killing him instantly.
At that moment Captain Somers, who I must say was a brave man, spurred his horse down the hill, and engaged me with his pistol, firing wildly, for I saw he was much ex- cited. I reserved my fire till he came within twenty paces, steadied my horse with the bit, took a long sure ain, and Somers fell from his horse. The ball entered the side of his nose, and came out back of his head.
By this time nine of my men had mounted, and, as the sharpooters had been doing good work, I thought I could risk a charge, but it was unnecessary to give the order, for I heard Read or Bosley say, "come, boys it's a shame to leave the major there by himself:" and by the time I had returned the pistol and drawn my sabre, the boys were at my side, so on we went.
When we gained the hill top. I saw, to my amazement, that there were about sixty before me, but, as there was a good post and rail fence on either side, they could show no more front than my ten men. To whip the foremost was to whip all. As I passed by the stone stable I ordered the rest to mount and follow. Captain Somers was lying across the road. I was obliged to jump my horse over his dead body; four others lying near wore either dead or wounded.
Settling myself in the saddle, I dashed in among the blue jackets, cutting and thrusting right and left, and parry- ing a blow when necessary. They were from Michigan and Maryland. and for a while fought well. Observing an
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officer fighting like a Turk and cheering his men on, I made for him. He was a man of my own size, wore a very heavy beard, and looked, I thought very savage as he yelled out, "come on you damned rebel, I'll soon fix your flint." This promised good sport. I closed with him, making a power- ful front cut, which he parried, and at the same instant made a right eut at my neck. By bringing my sabre down in time, my side caught the blow. Now I had the advan- tage. Quick as a flash I cut him across the cheek, inflict- ing a large gash, and he fell to the ground. I gave him in charge of one of my men, and then followed after my first ten, who had pushed the column back two hundred yards while the lieutenant and I were busy with our affair. The latter soon after escaped by jumping a stone wall and run- ning into a thick woods. We soon got them on the run, nor did we give them time to stop and reform until they had passed through and beyond Summit Point.
We had taken eighteen prisoners, and were unable to pursue them farther until my men had come up, for the federals had formed and turned upon the two or three men who were still in pursuit, but by the time they had pushed these back again to Summit Point I had dismounted ten or fifteen men, who easily checked them. We charged again, took five more prisoners, and the rest made their escape.
After collecting my prisoners and men, I left by a private route for the Upper Valley, with twenty three pris- oners and twenty nine horses, leaving four of their dead and three wounded on the field. My loss was one man kill- ed, three wounded, and one taken prisoner. I reached camp safely with every thing I had captured.
It seems the Unionist went immediately to Charles Town and gave information of what he had seen, and Som- ers followed me all the way round. A sad affair it turned out for him, but "such are the fortunes of war". Captain Somers was highly esteemed by his commanding officers, as shown by a long article, highly complimentaoy to him, that appeared a few days after. The same paper also al- leged that I had murdered him! Indeed! Then not a few were murdered on both sides.
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MARKER NUMBER FOURTEEN Repulse of Federals by Imboden at Rippon- The Retreat.
On the 18th of October, 1863 General Imboden after capturing Charles Town, retreated along the Berryville pike. He was hotly pursued by a large force of the enemy, and at Rippon was compelled to form a line of battle to pro- tect his captures.
He had with him as prisoners the Ninth Maryland In- fantry, eight or nine hundred.
The enemy advanced and commenced a serious attack. They were after a sharp engagement, repulsed by General Imboden and his command, and retreeated toward Charles Town. There were a number of killed and wounded on each side in this action.
Imboden then continued his retreat and made good his escape with his captures.
MARKER NUMBER FIFTEEN Slaughter and Capture of Blazer's Men at Myerstown.
Richards started on November 17, 1864, with 100 Rang- ers to look for Blazer. Most of his men were especially anxious to set eyes on the Northerner. They were not picked men, however, but just plain. ordinary, every-day guerillas.
When Richards reached Castleman's Ferry he heard that Blazer was on a raid looking for Mosby, having fully made up his mind to finish the contract about which Sheri- dan had wired Augur nearly three months before. We lo- cated him in camp near Kabletown, in Jefferson county, West Virginia. Richards prefering a daylight fight, camp- ed near him. In the morning our men were so anxious for a settlement with Blazer's command that they did not wait for breakfast, but at sunrise galloped into Kabletown, only to find that Blazer had left but a few moments before. "look- ing for them."
It didn't take very long to find the blue column, which
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presently appeared across a field. Richards turned his men from the road to draw Blazer on, but Blazer was busy taking down a fence and dismounting his cavalry, so as to use his Spencers at long range. Richards instantly di- vided his command and started with half his men, as though retreating. Blazer bit and ordered a charge. When his mnen got clear of the woods and into the open, where there was no furniture in the way of our little game of tag, Rich- ards turned on him and our two divisions charged simul- taneously.
Blazer's men used their Spencers until we got close up to them, when they dropped their rifles and drew revolvers. Richards' attack was very much in the nature of a dynamite explosion at close range, and while there is no doubt that Blazer counted on a fight and really wanted one, he had mnade no preparations for a massacre. His "picked 100 men" broke before our onslaught, defying all their com- manders efforts to rally them, and the flight became a panic and a rout.
Captain Blazer was overtaken by "Syd" Furguson, who rode one of the best mares in our command. Blazer was knocked from his horse with the butt of a pistol and picked up blind and bleeding from the ground. He came to the scratch cheerfully even in defeat, and took his medicine like a man. His loss was more than 20 men killed, many more wounded, most of them mortally, and about 30 of his command were taken prisoners. General Stevenson dis- patched on November 19, "two of Captain Blazer's men came in this morning-Privates Harris and Johnson. They report that Mosby attacked Blazer near Kabletown yester- day about 11 o'clock. They say the entire command, with the exception of themselves, was either captured or killed."
MARKER NUMBER SIXTEEN Engagement at Myers Ford, Sunday, Sept. 5, 1864-Blazer's and Mosby's Men.
Early Sunday morning, Sept. 5, 1864, Col. John S. Mosby, with companies A and B, of his command, broke camp in Loudoun county, near Hillsboro, and started for the Shenandoah Valley to reconnoiter in the vicinity of
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Charles Town. They passed through the Blue Ridge at Lewis' Gap. On reaching the river at Myers Ford, Mosby with six of his men crossed the river to ascertain the strength of the enemy in and about Charles Town, leaving the remainder of the rangers in camp at the ford under Lieutenant Joseph Nelson. The men unsaddled their horses, and made themselves comfortable until they should have a report from Col. Mosby.
Capt. Richard Blazer, of the 91st Ohio Infantry, tem- porarily in command of a company of picked men armed with long range seven shooters, pistols and sabers, the men being designated in the War Records. as Independent Scouts, on the morning of the same day, going from the direction of Charles Town, in search for Mosby's men, crossed the river at Backus' ford, above Shannondale, and proceeded over the mountain. They found the deserted camp of Mosby's men near Hillsboro, where they were in- formed that Mosby had started with his men to the Valley. By a forced march, Blazer's men followed the route taken by Mosby's command, and surprised the camp at Myers ford. The men in camp being totally unprepared for an attack, scattered when the attack was made in all direc- tions, the most of them having no time to saddle and mount their horses. Blazer's report of the engagement that en- sued states that one commissioned officer and four privates of the Confederate force were killed; one officer and six privates captured, and four wounded. In a later report he made the statement that 13 Confederates were killed, six wounded, five captured. Col. Mosby's report showed that he lost one man killed, three wounded and three captured, while of Blazer's command, one man was killed, three wounded and three were captured. Among the wounded Confederates was Liout. Joseph Nelson, who was tempor- arily in command. After the fight Mosby's command ro- treated into Loudoun county, and Blazer's withdrew to the west side of the river.
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MARKER NUMBER SEVENTEEN General Bradley T. Johnson Repulses The Enemy Near Kabletown.
In the latter part of August, 1864, General Bradley T. Johnson, with his brigade of cavalry and a force of infan- try, moved to Kabletown and encountered a large force of infantry of the enemy. An engagement followed, in which, after a good deal of severe fighting, a charge was made by Johnson, and the enemy, were driven down the Shenandoah river. The result of this engagement was considerable killed and wounded.
MARKER NUMBER EIGHTEEN Charles Town The Scene of Many En- gagements.
After Gen. William E. Jones had left New Market on his West Virginia raid in May, 1863, Lieutenant G. B. Phill- pott and Captain R. P. Chew gathered together about 45 men of Company "Q", and crossing the mountain, went down the Luray Valley through Front Royal, crossing the Shenandoah river at Myers Ford about 11 o'clock at night, May 15th.
They pursued their way to Tate's woods, about three quarters of a mile from Charles Town. They dismounted here and tied their horses, and marched behind the house of Andrew Hunter, down the back street. Thence in front of Hawks' Factory to George and turning moved in the direction of the Court House. Phillpott and Chew reached the old cattle scales where a sentinel challenged them and raised his gun. They both fired on him and he fled into the Court House yard and fell.
Summers' Company was quartered in the Court House and the Carter House. They numbered about ninety men. A lieutenant and ten men stationed in the parlor of the Carter House opened fire upon us as soon as Phillpott and Chew fired upon the sentry. They kept up a constant fussilade.
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It had been arranged that Lieutenant J. W. Carter of Chew's Battery should attack and capture the soldiers in the Carter House. He was assigned six men for this pur- pose. When the Company reached the corner of the Court House yard, Carter with his men moved swiftly up the walk in front of the Court House, and crossing the street oppo- site the Carter House threw open the hall door and entered the parlor.
Striking the lieutenant over the head with the butt of his pistol he demanded a surrender. The guard threw down their arms and were taken prisoners.
In the meantime Phillpott and Chew, with the remain- ing nen, had entered the Court House and captured, with- out trouble, the balance of the company of Capt. Summers.
Summers, who happened to be out at the time of the attack, hid in the wood pile of Major Hawks, whose house was nearby.
The horses in the hotel stable were captured, and the men were mounted with the prisoners behind them.
Summers company numbered about ninety men, sixty of whom were captured with their arms, and about seventy five horses.
Returning through Tate's woods the prisoners were mounted on the broken down horses, and at daylight the whole party recrossed the river at Myers' Ford.
This capture was made without a single man being killed or wounded on either side. The Federals seemed dazed by the night attack and offered but feeble resistence.
On October 18, 1863, Gen. John D. Imboden marched to the vicinity of Charles Town for the purpose of captur- ing the enemy, who were posted there in large force. The 9th Maryland Regiment of Infantry and Capt, Summer's Cavalry Company were quartered, the first in the Court House, and the latter in the Jail.
Imboden formed a line of battle on the Ranson farm west of the town, and extending his line to the east to the Kabletown road. He located a battery near the house of Robert Brown but found, after firing a few shots, he could not reach the Court House. He then extended his line across the Harpers Ferry road to the farm of James M.
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Ranson, and placing his gun on the hill north of town fired several shots through the Court House.
The enemy immediately evacuated the Court House and attempted a retreat towards Harpers Ferry but were intercepted by the Confederates and the entire command captured, excepting Summers' company which effected its escape towards Leetown.
He then commenced to retreat by the pike to Berry- ville. He was pursued by a large force of the enemy and had a number of engagements between that point and Rip- pon. Here he formed in line to check the advance of the enemy and a serious engagement took place in which a number of men on both sides were killed and wounded.
The enemy discontinued their pursuit at that point and Imboden retreated unmolested with his prisoners and cap- tures.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT OF BAYLOR'S COM- PANY AT CHARLES TOWN, NOVEMBER 29, 1864. By Captain George Baylor.
On the night of the 29th of November, 1864, with 30 men of Company B, we attacked the camp of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Charles Town. Passing through the enemy's picket line, through a hollow just east of town, under cover of a fog such as usually hangs on autumn nights over the little valleys near the river and unobserved by the sentry on the adjacent hills, we reached in safety the north side of the town and the rear of the enemy's camp, and rode quietly to a point near the block house, about twenty yards from the camp. Here the men dis- mounted, leaving the horses in charge of the fourth man in each file of fours, and noiselessly gained the block house.
Steathily moving on, the sleeping camp was entered, and the occupants awoke to find themselves prisoners. There was sudden confusion and scampering among the enemy. Some twenty of their number, lodged in a stone house nearby, opened fire on us. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, we rushed upon the house, and, seizing the doors and windows, poured several volleys into the build- ing. Just as George Crayton, my brother Robert W. Bay-
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lor, Jr. (a boy of seventeen) and myself entered the door, several shots were fired by the inmates, one mortally injur- ing my brother and another severely injuring Crayton. After a few minutes the cry of surrender came from the group huddled together in the building, and the firing ceased. My brother and Crayton were removed to the house of Dr. Mason, who had been for years our family physician, and where I knew they would be well cared for. My brother died in a few hours, but Crayton rallied for a while and died soon after the close of the war. The loss of these two gallant soldiers was deeply deplored by their comrades, and especially by myself. In this engagement we killed and wounded 11 of the enemy, captured 27 pris- oners and 37 horses and equipments.
It seems a little strange in the light of recent publica- tion of the War Records that success attended us in this attack, for we find that as early as November 23d, the day after the attack at Keyes' Ford, General Sheridan dispatch- ed General Stevenson at Harpers Ferry as follows:
KERNSTOWN, VA., NOVEMBER 23, 1864.
General: It is reported that Major Congdon, of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, reports the enemy in force at or near Charles Town. Find out if he has made this un- truthful report. If the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry can- not keep that country clear of guerillas, I will take the shoulder straps off every officer belonging to the regiment and dismount the regiment in disgrace.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General.
And on the 28th of the same month he wires the com- manding officer at Charles Town:
KERNSTOWN, VA., NOVEMBER 28. 1864.
Commanding Officer, Charlestown, Va.
Lookout for Mosby tonight.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General.
And Captain Paine, Commanding the Twelfth Penn- sylvania on the night of the attack in his report, says:
I have the honor to report that in accordance with in- formation of yesterday, our reserve post was attacked by the rebels last night between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock,
killing two men, wounding one, and capturing five of our men and 19 horses. The enemy lost in killed, one man (a young Baylor) and three wounded. They were about 200 strong, and attacked the post from different directions, dismounted. They were commanded by a Major. Lieuten- ant Baylor was also with them, as his name was frequently mentioned by them at the time of the attack.
NATHANIEL PAYNE, Captain Commanding. LIEUTENANT S. F. ADAMS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Harpers Ferry, W. Va.
The eyes of the Captain on that night evidently had large magnifying powers when viewing our little band of 30 men, and corresponding minimizing powers when re- counting his loss on that occasion. He was afraid of Gen- eral Sheridan's threat.
After the fight at Charles Town, we retired to the neighborhood of Milldale, and got rid of our prisoners and booty. The enemy, it seems, took a scout around, as usual after a fight, and reported as follows:
Headquarters Second Cavalry Division,
December 1, 1864.
Major William Russell, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant General Cavalry:
Major: The reconnaissance sent out yesterday under Major T. Gibson, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, has re- turned, having thoroughly scouted the country between Milldale and Summit Point to near Charles Town. No enemy was seen. Mosby was reported to have been in Berryville on the 29th. Baylor, who commanded the party of rebels which fought the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Charles Town, was killed, with one man. The party dispersed after the fight.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. B. TIBBITTS,
Brevet Brigadier General Commanding.
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MARKER NUMBER NINETEEN General Winder's Repulse of Federals at Cooke's Hill.
After defeating Banks at Winchester, Winder with the Stonewall Brigade and some Artillery was ordered to Charles Town. The enemy had formed a line of battle on Potato Hill in Charles Town.
General Winder planted his artillery near Cooke's house, and deploying his infantry commenced an attack at once. The enemy soon gave way and retreated in great confusion through the town.
The Market House and Railroad Station had been des- troyed by the enemy the day before.
General Winder pursued to the vicinity of Harpers Ferry, but was ordered back on the 30th, and made his wonderful march to Strasburg.
On the 7th of September 1862, Baylor's Company took a position near Charles Town on Cooke's Hill, and remained there until the morning of the 13th.
The four companies of the First New York Cavalry at- tacked it, and a very sharp encounter took place in which Lieutenant Rouss and Cary Seldon were wounded.
MARKER NUMBER TWENTY Engagement Between Early and Sheridan at Packett's Farm.
On August 21st, 1864, Gen. Early marched from the vicinity of Bunker Hill toward Charles Town, driving the Federal Cavalry before him until he reached Cameron's Station on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, where lie encoun- tered the infantry. He engaged them about nine o'clock in the morning, and drove them toward Charles Town. The Federals threw up fortifications in front of his line and pre- pared to resist his advance. The cavalry under Vaughn, Johnson and Jackson advanced by way of Leetown and joined Early in front of Charles Town. McCausland march- ed by way of Summit Point and Fitz Lee by way of Berry. ville and engaged the enemy on that road. Early planted
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his cannon on the hill around the house of John R. Flagg, and formed his line of battle north and south of this point, while Sheridan formed his line a short distance east, the center being around the house of John B. Packett. Severe skirmishing and cannonading took place at this point, and quite a number of Federals were killed and wounded in and around Mr. Packett's house. The house was occupied at the time by Mr. Packett and his family and quite a number of visitors, among them several of the Misses Washington, whose home was about two miles distant. The Federals declined to allow them to leave until the shelling became too serious, with Lieutenant H. G. Nickols, they made their escape, under fire, across the fields towards the Fed- eral lines and in the direction of Charles Town. Fortunate- ly they all escaped without injury. The house of Mr. Pack- ett to this day bears the evidence of the cannonading and musketry firing, a number of shells being lodged in the walls. It was expected a large engagement would take place here but the Federals, although largely outnumbering Early's army, declined to attack. On the night of the 21st, Sheridan withdrew and retired to Harpers Ferry, pursued by Early's army. While Sheridan occupied Charles Town he had his famous conference with Gen. Grant at the house of Thos. Rutherford and the destruction of the resources of the Shenandoah Valley was agreed upon.
MARKER NUMBER TWENTY-ONE Artillery Duel at Old Fair Grounds Near Charles Town.
After the battle of Sharpsburg, McClellan remained north of the Potomac for about thirty days, when he cros- sed below Harpers Ferry with his artillery on October 16, 1863. To screen that movement he sent Hancock with a large force of infantry, cavalry and artillery to make a re- connaissance in the direction of Charles Town. Our caval- ry under the command of General T. T. Munford retired before this force until they reached a point about half a mile below Charles Town, known as the Old Fair Grounds. Here a section of Chew's Battery under Lieutenant J. W.
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Carter and two guns of the Richmond Howitsers, third company under Captain B. H. Smith were placed in position, and opened on the enemy, who had planted their batteries on the hill about three quarters of a mile below, known as Butler's Hill.
A severe engagement between the artillery on either side took place at this point, although the enemy were greatly superior in number and guns. The Confederate guns soon got the range and inflicted serious damage upon the enemy. The resistance on their part was so bold and determined that the Federals were delayed for several hours, and after the retirement of the guns they occupied Charles Town until the next day when they retired to Harpers Ferry.
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