Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/249

 An Independent Scout. 243

into our camp and informed us that the Yankees were right at hand. By some means we were under the impression that there were about sixty of the enemy, and as we numbered nearly forty, were well mounted, well armed, and picked men, it was determined to fight, and that as soon as we could find the enemy. I never saw a com- mand in better spirits, and, as far as I could see, in the following ac- tion every man did his duty.

For the reader to understand the action, the position of Smith- field must be described. Smithfield is built in a hollow, the road from Shepherdstown to Summit Point running through the centre of the town, and forming the main street. The road from Charles- town comes into the main street at right angles about the centre of the town. This road runs over a high hill, the summit of which is distant about six hundred yards from the main street. We were camped near the Charlestown road, and striking that road about a mile from Smithfield, took up our march for the town. When we reached the top of the hill a party of the enemy was coming out from the town. They rapidly formed on the left of the road in an old field, and we as rapidly got ready for action. Before we fired a shot we could see the bullets of the enemy knocking up the dust in the road, and a stronger proof of their demoralization, before all were formed, some ran away. Before we got to them all ran, and Captain Jones, finding that he would be left alone, was forced to flee. George Craton, of our company, immediately followed him, and I, seeing that he was an officer, for his shoulder-straps were plainly visible, followed Craton. The fellow was brave, for, turning in his saddle, he fired at his pursuers till he emptied his pistols. He was cut off from his men, and attempted to make his escape across the lots back of the town. He was driven at last to a rail-fence, staked and ridered, which his mare could not jump. When we reached the fence he was a few steps beyond it on foot, and upon our ap- proach turned and deliberately snapped one. of his pistols at us. Craton, in reply, unstrung a Sharp's rifle, for we had both emptied our pistols, with characteristic coolness leveled it, and the cap snap- ped. Up to this time not a word had been said, but upon Craton' s fumbling in his pocket for another cap, Jones approached and said — these are his exact words : — " Well, boys, you have got me, but you would not have got me if the damned cowardly hounds had stuck up to me."

Directly Ned Bonham and John Terrill rode up to us, and we all staid there for some little lime thinking that the action was over,