On one occasion a courier went into Ewell’s headquarters to make some report, in the course of which he replied to one of the General’s questions with the remark, "I passed Taylor’s Brigade," upon which Taylor, who was present, exclaimed, “How dare you speak in that manner! I am General Taylor, sir;” but Gen. Ewell, with a glance of his fierce eye, remarked, “This is my courier, sir,” and went on with his questions.
Taylor was undoubtedly a splendid officer, but he was proud as Lucifer, and therefore unpopular.
Gen. Elzey also commanded a brigade in the Division at that time, and was rather popular with his couriers; but they were very fond of the good-natured Gen. Trimble, and it was never any trouble to get men to report to him for courier duty, provided Major Snodgrass was supplied, as the Quartermaster’s department was first choice always.
Gen. Ewell also had a small cavalry brigade, composed of the 2d and 6th Virginia regiments, and commanded by Col. Munford, who had been promoted to the colonelcy of the 2d regiment at the reorganization of the army in April.
It was sometimes necessary to send couriers with Major Wheat, of the celebrated “Tiger Battalion,” of Louisiana, who was very often on detached service in the Luray Valley, and was also a very popular man with White’s people. While camping at this place, some of the boys determined to visit their homes, and accordingly four of them deserted and made their way back to Loudoun and Fairfax.
About the middle of May the first heavy misfortune that befel the company occurred.
Gen. Ewell was always anxious to get the news from Banks’ army in the Shenandoah Valley, and Capt. White was always ready to exchange camp life for the privilege of scouting. So taking with him his first Lieutenant, and Capt. Brown of the 16th Mississippi Infantry, with a small detail of his men, he left camp in the afternoon, and crossing the river at Miller’s Bridge, they climbed the Massanutten mountains. It was quite dark when the party reached the top, and the night was cold, making the bivouac very uncomfortable, for without blankets or overcoats, they had nothing but the rocky brow of the Massanutten for a bed; and to crown everything, they had brought nothing to eat—for, until arriving on the mountain top, it had not been the intention of the party to wait for daylight to do their scouting—so with fasting and freezing the weary night wore away, but from their observatory the scouts looked down upon the camp fires of the Federal army, and the position of each regiment was clearly discerned.
When daylight came, which it did with a clear and bracing air to the men on the mountains—while yet the valley country was shrouded in mist and fog that fled from the day as the sun advanced, and rolling its huge masses up the gloomy mountain wall broke away and hid itself to wait again for the night to come down—the scouts bethought them of breakfast, as supper had occupied their waking hours during the darkness, and the Captain sent them all back to camp except Capt. Brown, Lieut. Myers and Serg’t Boyd Barrett, (recently transferred from Co. K, 6th Va. Cav., to White’s Company,) who, leaving their horses, descended the mountain on foot, intending to try their fortune among the Yankee foragers.
Near the foot of the mountain the party halted at a cabin and asked for something to eat, which, after some difficulty and a good deal of rather impatient waiting, was finally obtained; and along with the rations the Captain—by representing to the king of the wigwam that himself and comrades were Yankees—received some interesting information about the enemy, which he dispatched by Barrett to Gen. Ewell.
The scouting party—now reduced to three—walked cautiously out into the open valley country and soon found themselves inside of the enemy’s lines.