Robt. W. Baylor. ; BULL RUN TO BULL RUN; OR, FOUR YEARS /:. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. CONTAINING A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE CAREER AND ADVENTURES OF The Baylor Light Horse, Company B, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A., WITH LEAVES FROM MY SCRAP-BOOK. By GEORGE B^VYLOR. Rise, too, ye shapes and shadows of the past, Rise from your long-forgotten graves at last Let us behold your faces, let us hear The words you uttered in those days of fear. Revisit your familiar haunts again— The scenes of triumph, and the scenes of pain— And leave the foot-prints of yfeur bleeding feet Once more upon the pavements of the street. — Loiig/rllow. / 'V RICH.MO?*I>I U. I''. JdllNWON Rl'IILISIIINti C'o.MI'A.N'^ IIIOK. cKe<i THE NEW YORKi f'UBUCLIBRARYl 416578 COPYRIGHTED, GEORGE BAYLOR. ISOO. DEDICATION. \ To THE Memory of the Noble Dead AND TO The Survivors of the "Baylor Light Horse, Company B, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A. PREFACE. Having long and earnestly desired that some one more competent would write the biilliant career of the Baylor Light Horse during the Civil War, but finding the work still unperformed, I have been induced in my humble way to undertake the task, trusting my effort may serve to revive, if not perpetuate, the story of its heroism and devotion to the " Lost Cause." In doing so, I have endeavored to portray its deeds of daring and adventure with truth, justice, and impartiality to friend and foe. The Records of the Civil War, as well as con- temporaneous writings and the history of the times, have been freely used to present fairly the adversary's account and version of the events narrated. With a just pride in the leadership of so gallant a band of soldiers, with high appreciation of the cheerful and ready manner in which so many dangers were shared, and with a grateful sense of the uniform kindness and courtesy extended me at all times, this work, imperfect as I know it to be, is humbly commended to the favorable reception of my comrades and friends. — CONTENTS. rage. Chapter I. —Outbreak of War—Joined Ashby's Company—Ride to Harper's Ferry—Changed from Cavalry to Infantry and En- listed in the Botts Greys—Camp Lee—Ordinance of Seces- sion—Skirmish on July 2d—Confronted Patterson at Darkes- ville—Retired to Winchester—March to Manassas—Battle of Manassas 15 Chapter II.—Camp Harman—Death of Lawrence—Lee Berry- Jackson's Address—Return to the Valley—Flank into Win- chester—The " Dam Trip "—March to Berkeley Springs Firing on Hancock—Move to Romney—Return to Winches- ter — Banks's Advance—Battle of Kernstown 26 Chapter III.—Baylor Light Horse Organized—Character of Men—Captain Baylor Wounded at McGaheysville—Battle of McDowell—Battles of Front Royal and Winchester—Capture of Sir Percy Wyndham—Death of Ashby—Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic—Jackson Moves to Front of Rich- mond—Dash into Front Royal—Return of Darrell's Sword... 37 Chapter IV.—Capture of a Train on the W. & P. R. R.—Smith- field Taken—Retreat of Company B—Lieutenant Milling Dis- missed 55 Chapter V.—Winchester Evacuated—Capture of Picket near Keyes's Ford—Fight at Darkesville—Capture of Harper's Ferry—Battle of Sharpsburg—Company B's Camp Surprised by Cole's Cavalry—My Horse Killed—Fight With Geary at Charlestown—Fight Near Lucas's Gate—Capture of Captain Baylor and W. L. Wilson 67 Chapter VI. —A Little Escapade in Lower Valley—Fight at Smithfield —Capture Near Porter's Factory—Taken Through Charlestown a Prisoner—Lieutenant Hill—Harper's Ferry Guard-House—Baltimore and Fort McHenry 82 Chapter VII.—Prisoner at Fort McHenry—Attempt to Escape Put in Cell on Right of Sally-Port—Sent to Fort Delaware Meet my Father—Life at This Fort—My Father's Diary Amusements in Prison Life 91 Chapter VIII.—J. Ogden Murray. Gemmil, and Purvis—My Father's Diary Continued—My Father's Case and Corre- spondence 104 —— lo Contents. CiiAi'iKit IX. — Leave Fort Delaware—Kindness of Officers, Men, and Sympathizers—Back to Fort McHenry—Escape of W. B. Compton—Execution of Leopold—Taken to Fort Monroe Meeting with Colonel Thomas G. Baylor—His Kind Offices City Point and Freeman Again—Uncle Tom—Richmond Back with Command—Correspondence Concerning the case of my Father 119 Chapter X.—Jones's West Virginia liaid—Moorefield and Peters- burg—Greenland Gap—Oakland—Cranberry Summit—Mor- gantown — Fairmount — Bridgeport — Oiltown — Phillippi Weston—Back to Valley—Join Stuart at Culpeper—Brandy Station Fight 136 Chapter XI.—Forward Movement—Middleburg—Upperville O'Ferrall Wounded—Company B Posted at Harper's Ferry Attack on Picket Force in Bolivar—Meet the First Connecti- cut Cavalry—Trip to Harper's Ferry and Capture of Sutlers Fight at Culpeper—Lomax and "Gentlemen"—In the Enemy's Rear and Safe Escape—Jack Shop Engagement—Ranson, Manning and ("ookus 148 Chapter XII.—Bristoe Campaign Begun—Attempt to Capture Signal Corps—Charge at Stonehouse Mountain—Brandy Station—In Rear of the Enemy at Jeffersonton—Charge at Warrenton Springs—Capture of Prisoners on Road to War- renton—Auburn—Manassas—Bristoe—Buckland Races—Orn- doff and Crane—Company B Furloughed for Gallantry 162 Chapter XIII.—Rosser Commands Our Brigade—Attack on Meade's Wagon-Train—Fight at Parker's Store—Death of Richard Baylor—Raid in Rear of Meade's Army—Rev. George H. Zimmerman and Dr. Williams do not Relish a Joke Raid to Moorefield and Vicinity—Fis?ht on New Creek Grade Sam Wright Killed—George Baylor Wounded—Return to Valley—Plays Part of Ancient Hobson—Dr. Burton's Keg of — " Whiskey " Laurel Brigade —Opie and Keyser 180 Chapter XIV.—Grant Commands Army of Potomac—First Day's Fight in Wilderness—Loss in Company B—On Staff Duty Lieutenant Washington Wounded—Returned to Command Second Day's Fight—Lose and Recapture My Hat—Capture of Fifth Army Corps Hospital—Death of Stuart—Hawes Shop Fight 199 Chapter XV.—Ashland Fight—Death of Locke—Trevillian Colonel Alger—Engagement at Charles City Courthouse Slightly Wounded—Colonel Massie Wounded—Hampton's Re- port—Gregg's Report 214 Chapter XVI.—Fight at Sappony Church—Wilson Routed Bony Killed—Large Captures—Mason and Manning and Green Watermelon—Fight Near Reams Station —F. J. Manning Wounded—Engagement at Reams Station—Hancock Routed —— Contents. it ViXite. Coleman Wounded—Pursuit—Castleman Wounded—Cattle F aid. Capture 2,486 Head of Beef Cattle—Dick Timberlake Killed—Ike Strider Wounded 230 Chapter XVII.—Return to Shenandoah Valley—Sheridan's Burn- ing and Devastation—Fight at Mill Creek—Strider and Lack- land Take Charge of Sheep—Tom's Brook Fight—Company B's Charge—Ike Anderson Wounded—Early's Opinion of Lomax—Surprise at Petticoat Gap—Cedar Creek Battle Tom Timberlake Wounded—Sheridan's and Early's Forces Compared—Phil Terrill Killed 248 CHArxER XVIII.—Night Attack at Alstadt's Farm—Narrow Es- cape from Capture—Fight at Charlestown—Robert W. Baylor, Jr., Killed—George Crayton Wounded—Encounter at Mill- dale—Rouss's Account 261 Chaptek XIX.—Sharpsbuig Bank Venture—Capture of Mules Sheridan and Stevenson Friendly—Desertions—Sheridan Asks Permission to Handle AVest Virginia Officers—Custer and Torbert Start for Lynchburg and are Foiled—Wounding of Mosby 273 Chapter XX.—Capture of Mules at Summit Point—Henderson, Mason, and Self Dine with Mr. Butcher—Encounter with Jesse Scouts—Christmas, 1864, Spent with Friends—An Inci- dent of Camp on Rapidan—Lincoln Always Human 285 Ctiaptki! XXI.—Ordered to Swope's Depot—Return to Lower Valley—Raid on Stores in Sheperdstown—Capture of Train on Baltimore and Ohio Railroad—Poor Guild—Ruffians and Villains—Claymont—Washington and Alexander—Sheridan Joins Grant—Merritt's Report—General Grant Compared with She)idan 294 Chapter XXII.—Hancock in Command at Winchester—Take off Pickets Around Charlestown—Doug Mason Wounded—Com- pany H Organized—Novelty of Election—Capture of Loudoun Rangers—Frank Helm Wounded—Origin of "Mosby's Men" Mosby's Confederacy—How the Men Lived—Chaplain—My Home 308 Chapter XXIII.—Companies D and H go on Raid in Fairfax Betrayed—Fight at Arundels—Return to Mosby's Confede- racy—News of Lee's Surrender—Bull Run to Bull Run—Jack- son, Stuart, and Lee—Mosby Meets Chapman at Millwood Truce Ended—Mosby's Farewell—Surrender of Chapman Mosby and His Men Granted Terms of Lee's Army—Parole Blue Ridge Mountain 322 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Baylor, Robt. W Frontispiece. Aisquith, Edw. M 17 Anderson, Isaac 23 Baylor, Richard C 29 Baylor, George 35 Baylor, Robt. W., Jr 41 Beall, Henry D 47 Bell, Daniel F 51 Berry, Charles J 57 Conklyn, James C 63 Conklyn, Chas. C 69 Crane, Charles L 75 Crane, Joseph 81 Coleman, John 87 Chamberlain, Lucien 93 Cookus, Robert 99 Creaton, George 105 Craighill, Robert T Ill Easterday, Jos. H 117 Easterday, John 123 English, Warren D 129 Frazier, Wm. C 135 Fry, Jos. D 141 Gallaher. James Nelson 147 Gallaher, Jno. Shannon 153 Grantham, Jno. S 159 Henderson, C. E 165 Howell, John 171 Hutchinson, Julian 177 Lackland, E. Morton and Wright. Samuel 183 Lewis, John 189 Lewis, Elisha 195 Locke, Wm 201 Manning, C. J 207 Manning. Wm. P 215 Manning, Frank J 221 Mason, Wm. S 227 McCluer, Jno 233 Rouss, Charles Broadway 239 Ranson, Tho. D 245 Ranson, B. B 251 /^ Illustiations. I'UK<-. Redman, Thomas 257 Stridor. Isaac H 263 SadliT. 1,. L. and Aisquilli, A. H 269 Timberlake, Seth M 275 Trussell, Charles 281 Tearney. Leonldas 287 Thomson, Wm. S 293 Timberlake. Richard 299 Timberlake, S. D 305 Trussell.