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I wanted to pass this interesting little story on for other troopers to enjoy. This takes place during a quick engagement between Strasburg and Winchester Feb of '63. The short version is that two companies of the 1st MD Cav who were on picket duty at Strasburg decided to go capture the pickets around Winchester. They left at night and took the Cedar Creek Rode and capture the pickets at the intersection of the Cedar Creek Road and Valley Pike. They turned back to Strasburg on the Valley Pike and picked up all the pickets heading back to Strasburg. When they go back to Strasburg, they realized that the Federals had sent the 1st NY and 13th PA after them. Gen. Jones sends the 11th VA under Lt.Col. Funston and the 7th VA under Col. Dulany to support Major Brown and the 1st MD. They ended up chasing the Federals back to Cedar Creek. The following story is from W.W. Goldsborough book The Maryland Line in The Confederate Army. It was written after the war and is considered a great reference for the various commands in the CS army. Anyway, this is a good story.
"A little incident that is worth narrating transpired during the flight of the Federal cavalry. Charley Hutton, of Company A, First Maryland, was captured in the morning when Captain Bond was surprised, and, unarmed, was riding with his captors when Lieutenant-Colonel Funsten made his attack. In the rout which ensued, Hutton determined to make his escape. Awaiting a favorable opportunity, he sprang from his horse and dashed into a thicket and ran for his life; but at every step he could plainly hear the sound of horse's hoofs behind him. But not a sound escaped the pursuing enemy. Faster and Faster ran Hutton, but the relentless enemy still pursued. He was afraid to look behind him, and was in momentary expectation of hearing the crack of a pistol and feeling the shook of a bullet as it entered his body. But no command to "Halt!" was given, nor was there a sound of pistol shot. At last, exhausted and unable to go farther, he turned to surrender to his pursuer, when what was his surprise and joy to find that it was his own faithful horse that had followed him and given him such a scare."
I always liked this story and thought I would share it with fellow troopers. I have heard some other amazing stories of horses during the war and what they would do. If anybody has any other first person accounts, it would be great to hear.
"A little incident that is worth narrating transpired during the flight of the Federal cavalry. Charley Hutton, of Company A, First Maryland, was captured in the morning when Captain Bond was surprised, and, unarmed, was riding with his captors when Lieutenant-Colonel Funsten made his attack. In the rout which ensued, Hutton determined to make his escape. Awaiting a favorable opportunity, he sprang from his horse and dashed into a thicket and ran for his life; but at every step he could plainly hear the sound of horse's hoofs behind him. But not a sound escaped the pursuing enemy. Faster and Faster ran Hutton, but the relentless enemy still pursued. He was afraid to look behind him, and was in momentary expectation of hearing the crack of a pistol and feeling the shook of a bullet as it entered his body. But no command to "Halt!" was given, nor was there a sound of pistol shot. At last, exhausted and unable to go farther, he turned to surrender to his pursuer, when what was his surprise and joy to find that it was his own faithful horse that had followed him and given him such a scare."
I always liked this story and thought I would share it with fellow troopers. I have heard some other amazing stories of horses during the war and what they would do. If anybody has any other first person accounts, it would be great to hear.
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