Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/982

916 headquarters at Newtown, Va., in the dark, he leaped from his horse, dashed through a house, and, with random shots flying about, gained the woods and made his escape. Another daring escape he made near Culpeper Court House, Va., soon afterward. While acting as No. 1, with a gun that was pouring canister into Custer's advancing cavalry, a shell exploded near him, a fragment knocking the rammer out of his hand and the concussion rendering him unconscious for some time. When he regained consciousness, General Custer's brigade was about him and the cannon was captured. But he mounted a fleet horse, stuck spurs, and escaped the bullets singing about him as he bade them adieu. This loss of a gun, the only one that Chew's battery ever yielded, was redeemed soon afterward at New Creek, W. Va., by the capture of three brass howitzers. Fort Kelley, at that point, an important military post on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, was well supplied with troops and arms, and was attacked by General Rosser's command of two cavalry brigades. Lieut. Tuck Carter, with seven select mounted men of Chew's battery, including Mr. Haas, was put in the advance to make prompt use of any captured guns. As they reached the fort at dawn they saw the howitzers being loaded by the enemy, and they charged, fighting with pistols and sabers, and seized the guns, accomplishing what General Rosser pronounced one of the most daring feats he had witnessed during the war. When the great conflict was finally over, this intrepid soldier found employment at Richmond as a printer. A year later he had a position with the famous Democrat, published at La Crosse, Wis., by "Brick" Pomeroy, and two years later, when Pomeroy established a daily paper at New York, Mr. Haas became day foreman of the New York Democrat. In 1873 he established, with a partner, the "Baltimorean," the first illustrated journal published at Baltimore, which became the leading weekly in Maryland, and possessed a powerful influence for State and National reforms. He, as co-editor and proprietor, conducted this paper for eighteen years. Subsequently he entered the government printing office, where, by rapid promotion, he became manager of the navy department printing division, and, later, the interior department printing division. In December, 1869, he was raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason in Astor lodge, No. 603, A. F. & A. M., New York city. He is chaplain of the G. P. O. council, No. 211, National Union, Washington, D. C. He is one of the pioneer members of Alpha council, No. 192, Royal Arcanum, Baltimore, Md., and a member of the St. Andrews' Brotherhood. He is devoted to his home, and indulges but one recreation—hunting. Being an expert wing shot, he probably killed more game when a young man than any other hunter in Shenandoah county, Va. In November, 1870, I. C. Haas married Miss Rose Daniels, an accomplished daughter of William B. Daniels, of Duffield's, W. Va. Four children were born to this union: Lizzie Hoffman, Carlton Daniels, Rose Lucretia and Edwin Booth Haas. The eldest son, Dr. Carlton D. Haas, is a surgeon in the U. S. army. The younger, Edwin B., is preparing himself for the legal profession. The family are members of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal church at Washington, D. C. Mr. Haas' varied career, briefly noted, and upright character have rendered him a wide and lasting acquaintance with many notable people.