Elwood's stories of the old Ringgold Cavalry, 1847-1865 : the first three year cavalry of the Civil War : with introduction by the Rev. H.H. Ryland

Author's Preface

This book was written at the suggestion of Captain James P Hart. The work of collecting data was begun some years before his death in 1908. After the manuscript was prepared, in large part, he came here from Washington and met with a committee, and the whole work was gone over very carefully and found to be in full accord with his views as well as the views of the rest of the committee.

It has been the aim of the author to produce an authentic record free from all exaggeration, and to produce as complete a roster of the officers and men as possible. The task has been a difficult one. The author feels that his work is imperfect. There will, no doubt, be errors found. He has had to depend, in a very large measure, for many of the facts on letters, articles and the diaries of his comrades. The pay rolls have been carefully gone over, and every effort has been made to verify all dates and to report all facts correctly. It has been delayed on account oi the health of the author. At last it is given to the public. If errors are found please overlook them, and commend that which is worthy of commendation. The writer regrets that so much has been left unsaid. There are many facts that should have been mentioned, and would have been given a place, had some one only called them to mind. There are others which should have had honorable mention, but their deeds have been forgotten, or there was no one to place them on record. There is much that has been left unsaid. The unwritten history of the war is greater than that which is written.

iv AUTHOR'S PREFACE

The author wants to thank Lieutenant George S. Gass, David Hart, Adam Wiekerham, Louis Arthurs, Boyd Hedge, Hopkins Moffitt, Joseph F Barnett, James T. Parshall, the family of Captain John Keys, Elliott F AA'eaver, Wm. M. Hart, and also a number of Confederates, Captain Jesse M. McNeill, John B. Fay, Charlie Vandiver, J. W Mark wood, John H. Cunningham and many others for assistance rendered. He desires also to extend his thanks to D. C. Heath & Company, Boston, Mass., and The American Book Company, New York, for permission so kindly given to reproduce from their school histories many of the cuts used in this book.

He is especially indebted to Rev. H. H. Ryland, the pastor of the Coal Center and Roscoe Presbyterian churches, for his assistance in getting the manuscript ready for publication.

John W Elwood.

Coal Center, Pa., August 1, 1914.

Introduction

The author of this book, Sergeant John W Elwood, is a story teller. But few men, if any, can surpass him in this art. At all gatherings of the ''boys in blue," he is the center of a crowd of interested listeners, for he is never without a good story to tell and he always tells it well. It is his narration of his experiences during the dark days from .1 861 to 1865 that people especially delight to listen to.

In this book he places on record his story of the experiences of the Old Ringgold Cavalry I realize, and I believe that every member of the Ringgold cavalry now living will realize, that John AY Elwood can not write down a story as well as he can tell it to a group of old soldiers. "When he comes to writing out the incident there are little touches that he omits. Like many another man he can not write down anything as well as he can tell it. Great story tellers are not always great writers. I very much fear that, to the old soldier, Elwood in print will not come up to Elwood around the "camp fire." The presence and voice of the speaker adds much to ones interest in the story

The writer urged Mr. Elwood that he place on record more of the amusing incidents that took place in the camp and on the many long marches, as he can narrate hundreds of these; but he felt that " Elwood 's Stories" should be stories of what the Old Ringgold Cavalry did to help save the Union. Some time later he may give the world, "Elwood's Camp Fire Stories." If he ever does it will be an interesting volume as well as highly entertaining.

vi INTRODUCTION

I regard "Elwood's Stories of the Old Ringgold Cavalry" as one of the very best books of the kind published. He is to be commended for weaving into his story of the cavalry a brief account of all the chief events of the war. By the reading of this book any one can gain a good idea of the Civil War. The book is one that should be read by every teacher and by all the advanced pupils of our public schools. It is a book that should be in every library and in every home. Xo ordinary library is complete without it. The reading of the book will entertain as well as instruct the reader. I am confident that many a person who begins the book will not want to lay it down till he has finished it.

H. H. Ryland.

Roscoe, Pa., August 1, 1914.

Chapter I

Early History The Organization — Name — Fort Sumter Fired On — Call for Men — Captain Keys Sees Governor Curtin — First Bloodshed — Second Visit to Curtin — Appeal to Simon Cameron — Fighting in West Virginia — Excitement at Beallsville — Adam Wickerham.

CHAPTER II Ox to Grafton

Leaving Home — At Carmichaels — Crossing the State Line — "Maple*' Syrup — Night at Morgantown — War Scare (?) — Reach Grafton — First Cavalry — First Night in Camp — No Rations.

CHAPTER III In Camp at Grafton Mustered In — Our Only Weapons — Officers — Capturing Confederate Mail — Loading Our Guns- — First Night Out — On Duty All Night — The Cow Bells — Keeping Awake on Picket — Shooting My First Man — Blackburn Routs Confederates — Dinner on Mountain — Wounded Man's Story — Keys Almost Shot — After Garnett's Army — Horses Appraised — Stony Point — Our Chaplain.

Chapter IV

At New Creek News from Bull Run — "Stonewall" Jackson — Call for More Men — The Confederacy — Belief of the South — Officers Elected — Guarding the Railroad — Our Duties at New Creek — Fort Necessity— First West Virginia Cavalry — Bushwhackers — Ludwick Killed — A Chicken Dinner — Cold Stream Company — "The Old Log Church" — Wagon Train Captured — War in Missouri.

CHAPTER V Advance on Romney

Federal Authority Restored — Romney, Strategic Point — Its Newspaper — Ringgolds in Advance — Mechanicsburg Gap — viii CONTENTS

Forces Divided— Hanging Rocks— Pelted with Stones— Keys Saves the Day — Sleeping on Our Arms — Ringgolds Charge — Romney Taken — Printing Press Destroyed — Return to New Creek.

CHAPTER VI Capture op Romney

Arrival of 4th Ohio — A Feast — Early Start — Burlington — Charged with Shot-Guns — The Log Barn — Moffitt's Charge — At the White House— Keys' Brilliant Charge — Howitzer Captured — Moffitt's Capture— A Barrel of "Nerve Builder"— Ball's Bluff- Plan of War.

CHAPTER VII In Camp at Romney

Camp Keys an Outpost — "Stonewall" at Winchester — His Plans — Buckingham and Bane Captured — Moffitt Wounded — Bushwhacking — Move on Blue's Gap — A Confederate Lady Friend — The Blockade — Price of Cotton — Blockade Runners — Privateering — The "Trent" Affair.

CHAPTER VIII Attack on Blue's Gap

Union Forces — The Railroad — Importance of Move on Blue's Gap — Size of Command — Forces at Blue's Gap — A Complete Rout.

CHAPTER IX Under General Lander

"Stonewall" Enraged — Lander in Command — Leave Romney — At Patterson Creek — Pontooning Creek — Opinion of Lander — Our Worst Camp — Bloomery Furnace — At Paw Paw — Exposure — Orders to Burn Romney — Bloomery Gap — Annisansell Arrested— J. E. Abell's Injury — Death of Lander.

CHAPTER X Battle of Kernstown

Reach Winchester — McClellan's Elation — "Stonewall's" Movements — Shields Wounded — Keys Locating Enemy — An important Capture — A Sunday Battle — The Death Blow — Banks in Pursuit — Jackson Severely Checked — Strikes Kenly — Bank's Re-

CONTENTS ix

treat — Reaches Potomac — Bank's Loss — Washington Alarmed — Shields Compliments Ringgolds — A Noted Capture — Ordered to Cumberland.

CHAPTER XI Ot'r Longest March

Encounter Ashby — A. B. Grant as Spy — Farewell to Shields — Visit Romney — Why Welcome — Out of Food — All Aboard for Parkersburg — The Stolen Ale — Songs by the Way — Kelley Angry — Our Capture of Parkersburg — A Woman Spy — A Bloodless Charge — Establishing Civil Law — Bushwhacked Near Spencer — Forts Henry and Donaldson — Battle of Shiloh — The "Merrimac" and "Monitor."

CHAPTER XII Ix Camp at Beverly

Among Guerrillas — Scout to Elkwater — Major Stewart Captured— Hedge's Story — A Dark Ride — A Woman Soldier — Snyder Boys Killed — At Clarksburg — Surprise Confederate Company — Given a Rest — McClellan Marches on Richmond — Lee Invades Maryland — Capture of New Orleans.

CHAPTER XIII At Xew Creek Again

A Hard Journey — An Exposed Point — Surprising Stuart's Cavalry — A Large Capture — Attack Imboden — A. B. Richardson Shot— Major Stewart Escapes — Charge on Moorefield — Weaver's Experience — Another Move on Richmond — Fighting in Kentucky.

CHAPTER XIV At Romney Again

Keys Sent to Winchester — Place Abandoned — Carrying a Dispatch — Keys Leaves Winchester — Attacked by Confederates — Key's Letter to His Wife — Capture of Hay Train — Purgitsville Will Fight — "Tip" Wickerham — Gass and Boyd Hedge — Life of Writer Saved — Myers Captured — John B. Fay — Helping Make a New State — The Reese Episode — Buying Cattle — Slavery — The Emancipation Proclamation — Negro Enlistments.

x CONTENTS

CHAPTER XV Why Not at Gettysburg

Location of Lee — Size of Each Army — Object of Invasion of North — Kelley at South Mountain — The Dreadful Conflict — Hart's Scout — Kelley Crosses Potomac — Vicksburg Surrenders — The Mississippi Opened.

CHAPTER XVI At Clear Spring

David Hart's Story — Boyd Hedge Captured— Hart Locating Enemy — Shelled at Cumberland — Find Kelley — Capture of Stuart's Adjutant General — Scout to Clear Spring — Wickerham Locating Enemy — David Hart Shot — Myers and Devers Rescued — At Blucher's Hotel — At Home — Kelley's Compliment — Capture of Hampton Legion.

CHAPTER XVII The Story op General Kelley

Character of Kelley — Saves Pittsburgh — First Engagement of War— First Soldier to Fall— A Story Kept Secret— Kelley Disappointed at South Mountain — A Council of War — Plot to Capture Kelley's Whole Army — Woman Foils Plan — Little Nat's Part.

Chapter XVIII

Death of Captain Keys — Buckingham Captured — Lafferty and Bane — 872 Miles — Getting Supplies — Some Scouts — McDowell's Raid — Thoburn Cut Off— Getting Down the Mountain — Frozen Feet — Averell's Report.

CHAPTER XIX The Ringgolds Re-enlist

Three years of Service — Changes — The Draft — Riot in New York City — Conscription in the South — Asked to Re-enlist — A Promise Broken — A Month's Furlough — Captain Hart Mobbed — Return to Cumberland — Gold — "Greenbacks" — Depreciated Currency for Pay.

CONTENTS xi

CHAPTER XX The Lost River Raid

After McNeill— Flour Barrel Capture — Toll Gate Hill — Scout to Petersburg — Charge on Imboden — A Ride for Life — Wagon Train Captured — Our Prisoners Taken — Robinson and Kinder Prisoners.

Chapter XXI

The Outlook — Grant Lieutenant-General — New Plans for War — Ringgolds to Winchester — Cavalry Divided — Sigel Routed — Woodstock — Myers' Charge — Piedmont or New Hope — Death of Emery Hall — Jones Killed — Joined by Crooks and Averell — Lexington — Military School Burned — Lee Reinforced — A Dash for Liberty — Sweet Sulphur Springs — At Charleston and Parkersburg — Grant Moves on Richmond — The Wilderness — Spotsylvania Courthouse — Cold Harbor — Begins Siege — Sherman's Advance— Taxes — High Prices in Richmond.

CHAPTER XXII Timber Ridge

Bridge Destroyed — Visit Greenland Gap — Weatherford's — McNeill and Harness — Kelley Hears Hart is Cut Off — Forces Ambushed — "Blucher" Arrives.

Chapter XXIII

Starts for Washington — Night Marching — Short Rations — Two Prisoners Taken — Attacked at Winchester — Fall Back to Martinsburg — Gun on Maryland Heights — The Writer Wounded — Battle of Monocacy — Burying the Dead — Early Reaches Washington City — Meet Boys Who Were on the Hunter Raid — John S. Mosby — Ashby's Gap — Snicker's Ferry.

CHAPTER XXIV Hart's Famous Charge

"Only a Corporal's Guard" — A Desperate Undertaking — Words of Captain Allen — Fatal Stone Fence — A Miraculous Escape— Moffltt Saves Hart — Battle of Kernstown — The Retreat — Ringgolds in Front — Death of Mulligan.

xii CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXV Along the Upper Potomac

Cross into Maryland — On Way to Averell — Chambersburg Burned — Join Averell — At Romney — Attack McCausland — Cause of His Defeat — McNeill Leaves McCausland — Prisoners to New Creek— Plenty of Figbting — At Cumberland — Rumors of Fighting.

Chapter XXVI

Sheridan's Forces — Moves to Winchester — Early Reinforced — Spoiling for Action — Battle Begins — Torbert's Cavalry — Wright and Emory — Ramseur — Crook's Charge — Losses — Early at Fishers Hill — A Strange Projectile — A Barefoot Cavalryman — Early Felt Secure — The Charge and Rout- — Early Flees — Sheridan Follows Retreating Army — -The Work of Destruction.

CHAPTER XXVII Cedar Creek

Sheridan at Washington — Position of Forces — Midnight Start of Early— Routs 8th Corps — 19th Corps Routed — Sheridan at Winchester — His Ride — Rallies Men — The old Ringgold Forgotten— Early's Bitter Address — Sheridan's Losses — Story of Parshall.

Chapter XXXI

A History — Ulysses S. Grant — L. George Grant — Andrew B. Grant — Robert Q. Grant — Lieutenant W. Rea Furlong.

APPENDIX Our Seventy-two Engagements — Generals We Served Under..

LIST OF PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

A. Lincoln Frontispiece

Fort Sumter Before the Bombardment 1

Battle of Philippi 21

Beallsville, Pa 25

Lieut. John Holland 29

J. W Elwood 33

Grafton Cemetery 37

Henry Mitchell 41

Public School, Keyser 45

Hanging Rocks 53

Main Street, Romney 59

South Main Street, Romney 65

Louis Arthurs 67

T. C. Buckingham 71

Camp of the 4th Brigade 75

Court House, Romney 84

Joseph E. Abell 89

"Stonewall" Jackson 91

John Crouch 95

Adam Wickerham 105

Geo. W. Bumgarner 109

Chauncey R. Dever 113

Robert E. Lee 118

A. B. Richardson 125

Major H. A. Myers 135

W T. Wickerham 138

Geo. \V. Brevard 139

Serg't I. T. Dawson 145

The Gettysburg National Military Park 148

Geo. S. Gass 153

David Hart 156

John M. Myers , 158

Captain John Keys 172

W W. Averell 176

T. M. T. McKennan 180 svi LIST OF PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

C. L. Kinder 189

Aaron Waters 190

U. S. Grant 194

J. F. Barnett 196

Isaac T. Crouch 200

Frank Fitzsimmons 207

Harpers Ferry 211

James P. Hart 218

Hopkins Moffltt 223

Hugh B. Hedge 227

The Petersburg Crater 233

Phil H. Sheridan 238

S. B. Richardson 243

Henry A. Huston 247

George E. Parshall ■. 255

Captain J. C. McNeill, C. S. A 266

F. M. White 268

Wm. Parshall 285

Daniel Rohrer 287

Mark F. Eaygye 294

John McK. Smith 302

U. S. Grant 306

L. George Grant 308

Andrew B. Grant 310

Robert Q. Grant 313

Lieut. W. Rea Furlong, U. S. A 315

Chapter I Early History

The organization of the Ringgold cavalry, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, took place July -i, 1847, at Parkinson s Ferry, now Monongahela. The company was organized by Captain Samuel Morgan, and was mustered into service by Colonel -Tames Lee, the brigade inspector

Fort Sumter befobe the Bombardment of the district. The command was named Ringgold in honor of Major Ringgold, who served with distinction in the Mexican war. Later on Henry Wilson succeeded Captain Morgan. The next captain was B. F Bentley. At the outbreak of the civil war Dr. John Keys of Beallsville had charm- of the company

On April li\ 1861, the news Hashed all over the North that Fort Sumter had been tired on. The shock came like a clap of thunder. All "Washington county was stirred as never before in its history The people from the country nocked to the towns and villages to hear the latest news. The impending conflict was the one topic of conversation everywhere. Men discussed the deed that had been committed, but few realized what the consequences would be.

Many were ready to sacrifice all they possessed to stay the awful storm. But it was all in vain. The time had come when all else but war had failed. Neither the North nor the South had any true conception of the results of the oncoming struggle.

Three days after the fall of Fort Sumter Mr. Lincoln sent out a call for seventy-five thousand men to serve for three months in the overthrow of the secession movement. It was at this point that Captain Keys of the Ringgold cavalry came to the front. He was anxious to do all that he could save the Union. He was a physician as well as a surgeon, and had a large practice. He left his home at once and hurried to Harrisburg. Here he met the governor of the state, the Hon. A. G. Curtin, and offered his company of cavalry for the purpose of helping to defend the country. He was informed that Mr. Lincoln was not wishing any cavalry. It will be remembered, that early in the war the government was not favorable to cavalry. As the war progressed the cavalry arm of the service became an absolute necessity for scouting, picket duty, train guards and for carrying the mails.

It is hardly necessary to state that the loyal people of Beallsville were much displeased because the governor would not accept their company of cavalry They began :at once to raise a company of infantry In the meantime, the news from the front became more alarming. On the 19th of April the first regiments of volunteers were fired upon by the citizens as they were passing through Baltimore, and three men were killed. This has been spoken of as the first bloodshed of the war. About the same time word came to Washington county telling that the Confederate soldiers had captured the United States armory at Harpers Ferry. Then came the startling news that the Navy Yard at Norfolk had been taken. Virginia was being filled with volunteers and troops from the South. Washington city was in danger of being taken. The greatest excitement reigned throughout the whole country On

EARLY HISTORY 19

the 3rd of May the president issued a call for eighty-three thousand men to serve for three years or during the war. Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott was made commander-in-chief. The loyal North responded nobly to the call for men.

A second time Captain John Keys went to Harrisburg to see Governor A. G. Curtin, but was again turned away. TSut he was not a man to become easily discouraged. He resolved to make an attempt higher up. He came home and wrote a letter to the secretary of war, Simon Cameron, telling him of his body of cavalry and of his desire to enter the service. A third time he failed. But still he did not give up. He resolved to try once more.

The boyhood home of Captain Keys was near the old National Road not far from Searights. When he was a small lad the father of Simon Cameron was a contractor on the road, and had a contract not far from his home. William Keys, his father, became acquainted with Mr. Cameron, being also a contractor, and often invited Mr. Cameron to his home. Here he learned to know little John Keys, and took a great fancy to him. One day lie told him, that, when he urew to be a man. if there was anything he or his family could do for him, he was to make that fact known. John Keys had never forgotten this promise. A second time lie wrote to the secretarv of war, telling him what he wanted, and urging that he accept the Rin.ugold cavalry He told the secretary of his acquaintance with his father many years before, and of the promise that he had made to him. In a few days a letter came addressed to John Keys, telling him that his regiment had been accepted and that they were to report at Orafton, West Virginia, to be mustered in. This letter came June IS, 1861. It was a letter much prized by the energetic captain, and was preserved by the family for years. It was read and reread until it was almost worn out.

Already West Virginia had become the scene of important military operations. In the latter part of May,

1861, there was a threatened advance of Confederate forces. Union troops were rushed forward to repel them. General T. A. Morris moved forward from Parkersburg to Grafton with a force of Ohio and Indiana troops. On the 27th of May, Colonel B. F Kelley left Wheeling with the First Virginia infantry. He was followed by other troops. By May 31st there were seven or eight thousand men at Grafton under General Morris. The Confederate forces retreated to Philippi where they made a stand under Colonel Porterfield. General Morris made an advance on Philippi on June 2nd, and after a brief engagement, the Federal forces were successful. The Confederates retreated to the mountains. It was here that Colonel B. F. Kelley was seriously Avounded while leading his forces, composed of three-months' men, which afterward became three-year veterans. Colonel Kelley, though shot through the body, afterward recovered, and was known as one of the honored and brave generals of the state. Colonel Kelley was the first Union soldier, who had received a commission from Abraham Lincoln, to fall in the war.

It will be remembered that the loyal people of Western Virginia had prevailed upon President Lincoln to appoint Francis Pierpont to act as governor of Virginia until there could be an election. He was at once installed and proved himself a man worthy of the public trust. He was a far-seeing LTnion man, and was one of the first men to foresee the urgent need of cavalry in the mountain districts of West Virginia. He saw that it was impossible to get along without such companies. The cavalry boys all had a warm friend in Francis H. Pierpont.

The news that the Einggold cavalry was to go to the front created no small stir in the neighborhood of Beallsville ; indeed this fact was the talk of the country for miles around As soon as Captain Keys got the word that his command was to go to the front he called all the members of the company together to see whether all could go. Some of the members had large families to care for, and they

EARLY HISTORY

Pi

O H

E*

Eh

PQ

Eh ffi

&H

Ph P.

Ph

o

H

Eh

<^ ffl felt that it would not be right for them to go. Hand bills were printed advertising for any number of good young men to go to the front. Some members of the company paid as high as $500 and others as high as $1,000 for a substitute. The ranks were soon filled with young men from the very best families of Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, and the Ringgold cavalry was in readiness to go to the scenes of war at Grafton.

Of the original company, composed of over fifty men, less than a dozen went to the front. As we write nearly fifty-three years have passed since these brave boys left for the war. Of the seventy men who left Beallsville, so far as the writer knows, only nineteen are still living. Of the company as it was organizd in 1847, there is but one man living, Mr. Adam Wickerham of Carroll township. The greater number of these boys have gone "to their long home. ' '

Chapter II On To Grafton

The day that the Ringgold cavalry left for the seat of war at Grafton, West Virginia, was one long remembered by the people of Washington county. People came for miles around the country By the time we were ready to start there were fully seven thousand present to say •'good bye.'' It was a great event in the history of thecounty. And why not? This county was sending out the first body of cavalry that went into service in the war of the rebellion. It was a time of sadness. Fathers and mothers were there to say "good bye'' to their son whom they had but the slightest hopes of ever seeing again. Brothers and sisters were there to say ''good bye" to a brother from whom many were parting for the last time. And sweethearts were there to say "farewell" to lovers, in not a few instances, for the last time. Many tears were shed. It was a parting scene that none of those boys ever have forgotten. A rousing address was delivered from the steps of the Beallsville hotel.

About ten o'clock the last "farewells" were spoken and the line of march was taken up for Grafton. The first night was spent at Carmichaels. Here Thomas Nutt and David Huston joined our company. The good people of the town knew that we were coming, and their homes were thrown open for our entertainment. It was here that some of our boys spent their last night with friends who had come this far with them or who had come here to bid them "good bye."

On the morning of the 23rd, about ten o'clock, we set out for Morgantown. We were all fully mounted. We crossed the state line about half way to Morgantown. Here was a small store, the owner of which had stretched a United States flag' across the road from one state to the other. Here Captain Keys halted his company, and made one of those stirring speeches for which he had always been noted. He told of what was before us, the dangers, the privations of camp life, and the battles that we expected to fight and he pointed to the flag which we were going out to save from being trampled in the dust. Here we were about to enter the state of Virginia which had withdrawn from the Union. You cannot imagine the depth of the emotions that surged through our hearts that afternoon. The captain proposed that we give three cheers for the Union. We did so. I have heard the same men cheer in the wild charge in front of the foe, but I have never heard anything like the three rousing cheers that we gave for the Union when we were entering the enemy's country for the first time.

All along the way we were kindly treated by the good loyal people who had made preparations for our coming. When we came to Dunkard creek we were met by Robert Maple who gave us a very cordial reception. He was carrying two wooden buckets and a large gourd. Both buckets were filled with whisky. Te asked Captain Keys to allow him to treat his men. He said that he was too old to go to war, but he would do the next best thing, treat those who were going. Captain Keys halted his company and Mr. Maple began issuing rations by the gourd full, saying that he was not going to take any of it back to the house. Some of the whisky was left over as all the boys did not belong to the class who drank intoxicants. One of our number wanted to take some along with him. He had nothing else to carry it in so he asked that it be poured into his hat. This was done. This incident was the source of much merriment as some of the rest of the boys tried to get possession of that hat. But, as he had a good horse, he was able to get away from them. The boys always refered to this incident as the time they were treated to "Maple" syrup.

Arriving at Morgantown about five o'clock we found

ON TO GRAFTON

Z

a

H

CD

J that the loyal people had prepared for our coming, and we were received with wide-open arms in that good old town on the upper Monongahela. This was one time that we did not have the least bit of trouble to prove that we were soldiers. The people came forward and took us to their homes. It fell to the lot of the writer and Michael H. Core to spend the night with the Rev. Henry N. Biggs, the pastor of the Presbyterian church. This was the last clean bed that we slept in until we came home three yearslater. We were never treated better than we were in Morgantown.

While in Morgantown an amusing incident happened The town had a regular war scare. The people were on the lookout for the Confederate soldiers. Before dispersing for the night Captain Keys gave orders that, if there was any alarm of the enemy's approach during the night, some one, at all hazards, should go to the court- house and ring the bell, so that the people of the town might be aroused as well as the members of the Ringgold cavalry. Some of our boys were out that night for a good time: the fact is that they had not entirely recovered from the treat of "Maple" syrup along the way. It is to be feared that they found something more that may have been as helpful in reviving their drooping spirits; anyhow they conceived the idea that it would be an interesting thing to see how long it would require for the cavalry to fall into line in case of an alarm. Arch Hill, L. George Grant and a few others went to the court house about two o'clock and rang the bell. In a few minutes the streets of that quiet little town were filled with people. The members of the Ringgold cavalry were on hands ready to fight had there been any enemy to encounter. It was some time before we discovered that we had been made the victims of a huge joke. We went back to bed rejoicing that the foe had not come. The panic was long remembered by the people of the town as well as by our boys.