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From the
New York Times, Tuesday May 3, 1864
From the
Army
A Fight with Mosby's Guerillas
The Star
says: "The cavalry expedition sent out from Vienna last Thursday,
under command of Col. Lowell, returned to that place yesterday, after
visiting Leesburg, Rectortown, and Upperville, Near Upperville a portion
of Mosby's guerilla band was encountered, when a sharp fight ensued,
which resulted in the loss to the Rebels of two killed and four wounded,
and twenty-three taken prisoners.
Colonel
Lowell lost three men killed and four wounded. Col. Lowell
returned safely to Vienna with the twenty-three prisoners captured from
Mosby, and also three blockade runners, twenty-five horses, and a large
quantity of wool, tobacco, and other contraband picked up on the
route." |
From a
letter to Captain Henry O. Clagett, a member of the Virginia State
legislature, from Leesburg area resident Thomas Washington Edwards.
April 30, 1864
My Dear Henry,
I have but a few minutes to write you a note
and cannot give the news in any detail. On the 28th at 3 in the
afternoon the Town was surrounded by Colonels Lowell's cavalry unit from
Vienna. There were about 18 Confederate soldiers in town, some of
them drinking at Pickett's. Among the latter was Jonathan DeButts1
who was so drunk he hardly knew what he was about. He commenced a
regular duel with a Yankee upon the street. He is said to be a
good shot when sober, upon this occasion he did no damage, but received
a ball in his shoulder which glanced down to the elbow where it was
extracted.
Some attempted to escape by way of Swann's, one
of them a genteel young man from Baltimore by the name of Flack, in
charge of the detail sent by Mosby to haul corn from Grundell's.
He was on a slow horse and could not get out of the way, and was shot
through the head, killing him instantly. He was buried yesterday
at the cemetery. The ladies covered his grave with flowers.2
The Yankee's next went to Grundell's,
burned the barn, the stone one, containing about 200 bushels of corn and
farming implements, etc. and also a quantity of hay. They carried
off 11 persons, a mule, and 3 of Grundell's horses. They went to
Silk House Spring, and I learned when they reached there they had 23
prisoners and many horses. They also captured 3 wagons loaded with
corn and a six-horse wagon belonging to Mr. Calvert loaded with
bacon. I have not time to comment.
Mrs. Donnely called on me to see if I could do
anything for her husband and son who they say were arrested by Mosby's
command and taken to Richmond upon a charge of harboring horses.
The old woman seems so much affected by their detention, particularly as
her son has been in service since the war commenced, I told her I would
write to you and send the inclosed (sic) certificate which she procured,
and tends to inculpate him so far as the (?)horse is concerned.
Please look up the Conscript Officer. She has heard that he is in
irons and wants you to look him up and try to procure his release.
Thomas Washington Edward
of Fruitlands, Leesburg, Va.3 |
