Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/431

 430 Southern Historical Society Papers,

sabre, which would have passed entirely through my body but for the fact that, in his ignorance of the proper use of the weapon, he had failed to make the half- turn of the wrist necessary to give the sabre smooth entrance between the ribs. I also saw at this moment an- other soldier taking aim at me with a revolver. There was only one chance left me. I called for protection as a free mason, and Captain Henry C. Lee, the Acting Adjutant-General of the enemy's force, at once came to my assistance, ordered a soldier to take me to the rear and see that my wounds were dressed. I suppose the soldiers who were determined to kill me, were friends of the men I had just wounded ; but I had no opportunity for information on that point.

That night I was placed in an ambulance with Captain Moss, who told me that he was wounded by me. I found him to be a brother mason who did everything in his power for my comfort. I was taken to a Confederate hospital at Charlottesville, where, under, the skilful treatment of J. S. Davis, M. D., then as now, one of the Professors of the University of Virginia; my wounds soon healed and a life- long friendship was established. I finally reached Libby Prison, and was there selected as a hostage for a Confederate sentenced to be hung for recruiting inside the Union lines in East Tennessee, but after forty-seven days confinement in a cell arrangements were made for the exchange of hostages, and February 5th, 1865, 1 was sent by flag of truce boat down the James into Union lines.

Since the war, I have several times visited Richmond, where I have had the pleasure of meeting Captains Lee, Moss and many other brave soldiers, once our foes, but evermore to be our friends. Yours truly,

GEO. N. BLISS, Late Captain Company C, First Rhode Island Cavalry.

An Incident of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign Capture of a Flag by Maryland Confederates.

Compiled from original data by S. Z. AMMEN.

During the retreat toward Winchester of the portion of Bank's army driven from Front Royal by a detachment of Jackson's ad- vancing forces, consisting principally of the First Maryland Infantry and Wheat's Louisiana Battalion, on May 23d, 1862, there occurred in front of the stone house of Mr. Joshua A. McKay, on the Win-