famishing boys. Baskets of champagne, boxes of delicious peaches, apples, pears, oranges, lemons, etc., were discovered, and "pitched into." Never did men partake of good things with better appetites. The boys drank to the health of everybody in general, and their sweethearts in particular, and jollity and good cheer reigned supreme. One individual of my acquaintance, very near to me, having surfeited himself on champagne, compelled the alarmed engineer to tap a ten-gallon keg of cider, hold it up for him, and then with a gusto he drank to the health of "Jeff. Davis, the Southern Confederacy, and my sweetheart only a few miles off." But we had not made the dash simply for the purpose of securing eatables and drinkables. Something else was to be done. The express safe was opened, and United States money, to the amount of $4,000, consigned to some Federal paymaster at Winchester, was extracted, together with a number of other valuable articles. The United States mail was also secured, containing, amongst other documents, official dispatches from General Pope to Brigadier-General White, commanding at Winchester. These dispatches have been forwarded to General Jackson, and will doubtless prove of great value to the old hero. A number of letters to different parties came into our possession, many of which will be valuable as soon as our troops regain entire possession of the Valley. All the valuables having been secured, nothing was left to be done at this point but to destroy the cars. Fires were built in the two passenger cars and one express car, and the pine piled on to facilitate the burning. And here a sigh involuntarily escaped from some of us. To see the old "low-back cars," upon which many of us had made pleasant journeys, consigned to the devouring element, brought up in memory's train remembrances of “Lang Syne," and thoughts of mothers and sisters near came rushing over us, for the old train had been the medium of many happy hours and pleasant communications between us and home. I felt the force of these reflections sensibly, but duty

dictated that all the damage possible should be done our ruthless invaders. The old cars burned magnificently, and the fiery tongue of the flames seemed almost to lick the lower clouds. Good-bye, old Winchester train, you survive now only in memory-your uncouth but always pleasant form is now consigned to the past.

A full head of steam was put on the engine, and with the furnace heated "ten times hotter than it was wont to be," the old machine was started in the direction of Winchester. No tales could be told, for she was entirely unoccupied. The progress of the engine up the track, as far as could be seen, was rich indeed. The old thing went thundering along, and the unevenness of the track caused " der machine" to tumble up and down in a promiscuous manner. How far she went, and what was thought of her progress, I do not pretend to say. The engineer declared it was a ruined institution, and that the trip would exhaust all the vitality the old thing had remaining in her. Farewell, old friend! you have been blowing a long while, but your career is now ended. The uses to which you have been of late months put have been too base, and your fate is a fitting one for your sinning. You are now beyond the hand of Federal resurrection, or rather reconstruction, as the Yankees will have it. The telegraph pole was now ascended, the wire disengaged from the pole, and destroyed for a distance of more than 200 yards. At the time of cutting the wire a message was being sent over the line. A "stop" was certainly put to that proceeding-a stay in the execution of some villainous design. And now we determined to leave this point, but not to beat a retreat towards the upper Valley yet. Lieutenant Roland, with 13 men, took charge of the prisoners, and started back by the route we came, whilst the 17 remaining men, under Lieutenants Rouss and Baylor, determined to penetrate farther into the enemy's country. The track was crossed, and "for Smithfield" was the rallying cry. Smithfield is in the county of Jefferson, six miles from Charlestown, 14 from Winches

ter, and five miles in the direction of the Potomac from the point where the track was crossed. Approaching the town in a slow trot, we had arrived within about a half-mile of the place, when the blue uniforms of the Yankee pickets were discovered. Our gait was unchecked, and the pickets seemed not at all disturbed, thinking, of course, we were a scouting party of their men. They did not discover their error until we had approached within 20 yards of them. The command to charge was given, and in an instant the three pickets were ours, together with their horses, equipments, etc., they not having had time to fire a shot at us. On questioning them, it was found that the force in town was 14. The charge was ordered, and thundering into the town went the boys. The Yankees were taken completely by surprise, only one man having time to mount his horse, and he being speedily overtaken. They failed to fire a shot, and we had the extreme satisfaction of knowing that 17 rebel cavalry had surprised and captured 17 Yankees of the same branch of the service without having had a shot fired at them. The spoils at this point were 17 horses, some of them very fine ones; 20 revolvers, Colt's army and navy pattern, of the finest quality, nearly new; 5 Sharpe's carbines, in splendid condition; 18 Yankee saddles, bridles, and other trappings, such as were just necessary to make our company the bestequipped one in the regiment; also, a large number of gum overcoats, blankets, etc.

And now the time had arrived for us to commence our retreat, if such it might be called, as we were all loaded down with Yankee prisoners and plunder. I will not be indiscreet enough to tell what hole we creeped out of, for it might be. stopped up should I do so. I will state, however, for the benefit of the " Feds," that we were not far from Winchester, and at midnight saw the camp-fires on Shultz's Hill, from which we were distant only three miles! We camped for one hour, at daybreak, only five miles from old Winchester, towards which place many of us directed longing eyes and

anxious thoughts. But we hope to be there soon and will not occupy ourselves with useless repining. The retreat was conducted with great discretion and we arrived safely in camp with our booty on Monday morning, having travelled. about 175 miles in three days and been in our saddles two nights.

It is inferred that the boldness of our dash caused a fluttering amongst the Yankees along the line of the road. It is fair to presume that General White became considerably whiter and that old Wool presented a more sheepish appearance than ever.

I have thus hastily, Mr. Editor, given you a few incidents of the trip. The roughness with which they are thrown together and detailed must be forgiven. I am tired and exhausted, and will endeavor to do better next time.

When Company B makes another raid down the Valley

I will try and be on hand to furnish you an account of their doings. I am truly, yours,

H. D. B.

P. S. been received to the the greatest consternation in Winchester. Preparations were at once made to evacuate the town, and a cavalry force of 200 men was sent out in search of the audacious rebels. Berryville, Wade's, and Summit Point were visited by the cavalry, with the hope of finding our boys. But the birds had flown, and General White failed to trace the direction they had taken. The engine, after performing a variety of antics, came to a dead halt three miles from Winchester, and expired from sheer exhaustion. H. D. B.

Since the above was written information has effect that the raid on the train caused

The enemy's account of this affair will be found in the following telegrams and reports:

Hon. P. H. WATSON,

BALTIMORE, August 24, 1862.

Assistant Secretary of War:

We have advices that yesterday at 4 P. M. a squadron of the enemy's cavalry stopped the passenger train between