On Wednesday week
Capt. Baylor's company of cavalry, under the command of
Lieut. Rouse, was ordered from camp, at
Harrisonburg, to
Mount Jackson, in Shenandoah county, for the purpose of performing picket duty at that point.
Leaving a sufficient picket force for the post under be command of a Sergeant, the balance of the company, thirty men, under
Lieut. Rouse and
Baylor, proceeded down the
Valley road.
Thursday night they stayed at
Woodstock, and at noon the nent day they left that place and went down as far as
Newtown, eight miles from
Winchester, which they reached about 10 o'clock. They traveled all that night, and encamped near the line of
Jefferson and
Clarke counties, between
Summit Point and
Wadesville.
At each of these points — the distance between which is only four rifles — there was a Federal force of from seventy-five to one hundred.
Their object was the capture of the passenger train on the Winchester and Potomac Railroad, and were eminently successful.
On Saturday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, they ventured to the railroad, and in a few minutes the sound of the engine was heard.
A quick disposition was made of the forces, and obstructions were at once placed on the trace to bring the train to a halt.
When the train had reached within one hundred yards of the obstructions the command was given to halt, but the frightened engineer took no heed of the command.
A fire was then opened upon the train from some dozen or more revolvers, and very soon the obstructions were reached and the train brought to a stand still.
The cars were at once entered, and the
Yankee soldiers on board, eight in number, on their way to join their companies in
Winchester, were secured.
The agent of Adams Express Company, who attempted to effect his escape was shot at and badly wounded in the thigh.
The express car was opened, and baskets of champagne and boxes of delicious fruits found, and partaken of by our troops.
The express safe was opened, and
United States money, to the amount of some four thousand dollars, consigned to a Federal payman in
Winchester, was extracted, with a number of other valuable articles.
The U. S. mail was also secured, containing, amongst other documents, official dispatches from
General Pope to
Brig. Gen. White, at
Winchester.
These dispatches have been forwarded to
Gen. Jackson.
Fires were then built in the two passenger cars, and firewood piled on to facilitate the burning.
A full head of steam was put on the engine, and the machine started in the direction of
Winchester.
The prisoners captured on the train were placed under
Lieut. Roland and thirteen men, whilst the remaining seventeen, under
Lieut. Rouse and
Baylor, proceeded to
Smithfield, in Jefferson county, 15 miles below
Winchester.
Within half a mile of the town they captured the
Yankee pickets, who mistook our forces for a scouting party of their own men. On questioning these pickets it was as certained that the force in town consisted of fourteen men. A charge was ordered, and the
Yankees taken completely by surprise, and surrendered without firing a shot.
The spoils at this point were 17 hornes, (some of them very fine ones,) 20
Colt's navy revolvers, five Sharp's sarbines, in fine condition, 18 Yankee saddles, bridles, and trappings, and a large number of gum overcoats, blankets, &c.
