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their clothing soon stiffened in ice. But personal discomfort was not to be thought of in a
time like this. One by one the men dropped, victims to the well-directed fire; but onward
pressed the column, and soon ranged itself around the house, where for a moment was a
respite of safety, as under its walls the fire from the windows could not be depressed so as to
be effective. Then came the ringing blows of the axe as door and window were assailed and
battered. Those carrying fire had soon kindled a blaze under the house, on which was
thrown the straw and kindlings.

No shots were fired by the assaulting column, except by those immediately at the doors
and windows, as no enemy was to be seen, and the stout logs which protected them could not
be penetrated. Soon the fire from the house was renewed, and the falling of our men at once
disclosed that the chinking between the logs was being pushed out, and from the ground
floor of the church its defenders were dealing death and destruction. The writer was standing
to the right of the door, with back as close to the walls as he could get, when he was
literally pushed out of the way and halt turned around by the projecting muzzle of a musket
from between the logs. The force of the blow, perhaps, saved him from the effect of the
discharge, which immediately followed, but in a moment he received a severe wound from
another quarter. The blows on the door were now telling, and it slowly gave way. At its
first opening, in sprang that gallant soldier, Sergeant-Major Johnson, who, finding himself
shut up with the enemy in their citadel, and alone, did not hesitate, but loudly demanded
them to surrender. The work of the fire was now beginning to show, and one corner of the
building was lighted up in a blaze. Again and again fell the heavy blows from the axe on the
door, until it gave way, an-d our men crowded in, when the cry of surrender rose up from all
quarters of the house. My personal recollections cease at this point, and when consciousness
again asserted itself, I found kind and loving friends were bearing me back, but the last sight
that I recall was in the very height of the scene, when the cries of " Surrender ! " were
ringing in my ears, and the light of the blazing fire, together with the brilliancy of the moon,
made clear the ground surrounding the church, which was white with the forms of our brave
boys who had fallen.

This detention at Greenland Gap was unfortunate, as it prevented General
Jones from capturing a train in which were most of the officers of General
Mulligan's command.

Arriving at the Xorthxvest Grade General Jones divided his command, and
Colonel A. W. Harmon. of the Twelfth Virginia, was sent with his regiment, the
First Maryland and McNeill's Partisan Rangers, to burn the bridge at Oakland,
and to march thence by way of Kingwood on Morgantown. The remainder of
the force moved on Rowelsburg.

Colonel Harmon's force reached Oakland next day, and the First Maryland
Cavalry took part in the charge on the place, in which forty prisoners were
captured. That night Colonel Harmon encamped on Cheat River, and next day