Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/248

 242 Southern Historical Society Papers.

from me in this great respect, that he never returned to his duty, his name will not be mentioned ; for all the privates, with the exception of one, that fell under the influence of this lieutenant, returned to their command. This lieutenant and his friend subsequently went inside the enemy's lines and took the oath.

One evening about sundown, when the regiment returned from grazing their horses, the men that were going, instead of unsaddling and preparing for the night as the others, quietly mounted their horses, fell in outside of the camp, and marched off in the night. We reached the pickets on the extreme left of the army about mid- night, and upon being stopped, the officer commanding stated that we were on a special scout, and the statement being satisfactory, we went on our way rejoicing. So well had the affair been managed, that neither regimental nor company officers knew of our absence till morning roll-call. We passed through Rappahannock, Warren and Clarke counties and camped near the Charlestown and Berryville turnpike. At that time Charlestown was held by some infantry and Captain Somers's company of cavalry, and it was our purpose to cap- ture some of his command. The very first day fortune seemed to favor us, for six cavalrymen came out of Charlestown, and after pro- ceeding three miles, turned in to Mrs. Fromer's on the Berryville turnpike. They had been watched, and at the overseer's house were attacked, and without any casualties on either side were secured. There was some firing, and while the Yankees were trying to escape I and our boys were firing at them, a negro woman ran out and cried at the top of her voice: " Gemmun, Missus says you must stop fightin' in dis yard!"

It was our intention to attack some detached picket post or scout- ing party, but for several days we could learn of no opportunity, and despairing of success, moved to the neighborhood of Smithfield, seven miles from Charlestown. In the meantime, the commanding officer at Martinsburg had heard of our presence, and had sent Cap- tain Jones, oi the First New York cavalry, with about one hundred and fifty men to break up and drive us out of the country.

One bright morning, the pickets on the hill saw a straggling caval- ryman passing through Smithfield. Two men were sent out and captured him. Upon questii)ning him, he told us of Captain Jones and his command; at the time it was not believed, but in less than an hour it was found t(j be too true. The men had hardly got in wit the Yankee, before Ca{)tain Blackford, an independent officer, an about half a dozen of his men whf) had been flushed by Jones, rod