A gallant Exploit.
A correspondent of the Petersburg
Express, writing from Burntville,
Brunswick county, June 30th, gives the following account of the capture of a Lieutenant and thirty-one privates of the
Yankee cavalry, by a Confederate officer and six citizens, armed with shot guns only:
‘
On the evening of Wednesday, the 22d instant, a party of Yankee cavalry, numbering thirty-two men, passed through the neighborhood of
Red Oak, in
Brunswick, and stopped at
Mrs Nancy Mason's. Here they found
Captain G D
White, of the
Boydton cavalry, who has been at home on furlough in consequence of a dangerous wound, received while gallantly leading his men in the right at
Gettysburg.
Capt White was on a visit to
Mrs Mason, who is his grandmother.
’
The
Yankees called
Captain White from the house, and threatened to take him along with them as their prisoner; but not having a spare horse, the
Lieutenant in command (a scamp named
Brooks, and a renegade from
Halifax county, Va.,) gave him a verbal parole, which
Captain White said he would not regard, and which he did not, as the sequel will show.
This party of roving Yankees, camped that night a few miles from
Mrs Mason's, and early next morning
Capt White collected six of the neighbors and went in pursuit of the marauders.
He followed them some distance unperceived, and finally they halted at
Mr James Elmore's to feed their horses, as well as themselves.
While the
Yankees were awaiting a breakfast which they had ordered
Mr Elmore to cook,
Capt White was in sight, maturing his plans for their surprise and capture.
He stationed his company of six mounted men several hundred yards off in a lane, at the further slope of an eminence, and in such a manner as to present the appearance of a front rank of cavalry force.
They were two abreast, and really looked as appearances would seem to indicate.
Capt White then made a circuit so as to avoid being seen by the enemy, and dashing boldly up to the party defiantly ordered a surrender, or he would cut them to pieces in a moment, at the same time pointing to the head of what seemed to be a squadron of cavalry.--Overwhelmed with surprise and panic stricken, the
Valliant Brooks asked for time to consult his men.
Capt White replied that there was no time for parley.
He would not grant a moment, but that they must stack arms in the road, and march immediately up to the
Dixie boys, or the
Dixie boys would march to them.
Lieut Brooks immediately compiled, and stacking arms marched up to
Capt White's
formidable body of cavalry.--Upon finding that they had surrendered to six citizens, armed only with double-barrel shot guns, their mortification was great, but it was too late to retrieve their misfortune.
They were so far from their arms that
Capt White and his men, being mounted, could have killed half of them before they could have fallen back many paces, and then have speedily dispatched the balance by first gaining access to their carbines and pistols.
The situation of affairs was seen at a glance.--They had been outgeneraled, and the only after native was to submit.
The commanding officer shed tears, (I hope they were tears of bitter repentance for the invasion of his native State,) and the ireful
Yankees threatened vengeance to
Capt White and his little squad if they were ever liberated.
But no one fears their threats.
They are ere this all safely shipped to
Georgia, where I hope they will have time allowed them for further repentance.
This successful little affair happened most opportunely for the brave
Captain White, who had so far recovered from his wound that he had determined again to return to the army.
For several weeks he has been endeavoring to purchase horses, but could not find suitable ones.
Now, however, since the
Yankees have kindly supplied him with as fine horses as any in the
State, we may soon expect to hear more of the gallant exploits of this deserving young officer.
He and the six Dixie boys, who shared with him the honors of this most extraordinary capture, deserve the thanks of the
State, and especially of this section.
But for this timely arrest the thirty- two vandals would have inflicted incalculable damage upon many of the unarmed people of
Brunswick, and perhaps of
Lunenburg and other counties.
