210

time there had been considerable friction between Generals McCausland and
Johnson, and when the former made this preposterous demand upon a people who
had been notoriously loyal to the Southern cause, this friction became intensified,
and General Johnson denounced McCausland's demand in no mild language. In
this he was sustained by Colonel Harry Gilmor, and for a time there threatened a
revolt. General McCausland insisted, however, that if the money was not forth-
coming within a given time he would burn the town, upon which, upon consulta-
tion with Colonel Gilmor, General Johnson ordered that officer to move his two
battalions into Hancock and protect the people at all hazards. Here was a direct
issue between two general officers, and it might have ended in bloodshed had not
Averill put in an appearance and vigorously attacked McCausland's outposts. To
repel this attack, and hold the enemy in chock while the main body of the troops
moved off, Colonel Gilmor with the two Maryland battalions was assigned. This
duty he performed in his usual gallant style, and his little command constituted the
roar guard in the retreat toward Cumberland, the vicinity of which was reached,
after a forced night march, in the forenoon of the following day.

At Cumberland General Kelly was found with a large force strongly
entrenched, with Kelly in his front and Averill in his rear, McCausland very
wisely decided to move on, which he did after making a slight demonstration upon
the enemy's outposts.

After a night march McCausland's command reached Oldtown, Gilmor's two
battalions in the advance, where a considerable body of the enemy was found
occupying a strong position in a block house, and also having an iron-clad battery
attached to an engine on the railroad. This block house commanded the ford by
which McCausland was to reach the Virginia side of the river, and as no time was
to be lost it was imperative that this place should be reduced. An attack was
accordingly made, but it was repulsed with considerable loss. Things were
growing desperate when under a galling fire Lieutenant McNulty, of the Baltimore
Light Artillery, brought one of his pieces into play, with his best gunner, McEhvee,
to sight it. The tirst shell went through the boiler of the engine and the second
entered the porthole of the iron-clad, which was tilled with troops, and exploding
created a panic, and the battery was deserted. But it was impossible to bring the
artillery to bear upon the block house, and an attack was ordered, which was
repulsed. In this desperate strait someone suggested that a flag of truce be sent
to the block house, and a demand made for its surrender. Captain Booth, with
McCatill and Kid, two of Johnson's scouts, carried the flag and this demand. Great
was the surprise of all when this demand was complied with.

It is not necessary to follow the movements of McCausland any farther, as
General Early describes that up to the disastrous surprise of Johnson's Brigade at
Moorefield. Of course, McCausland endeavored to throw the responsibility upon