General Jones did not move any further up the Valley, but marched back towards Winchester and encamped near Kernstown.

Here it was that the same Capt. Webster, who had been with Means’ men in Loudoun, and whom White had paroled at Waterford, in August, came out to the camp of the battalion, in company with Charley Cooper, who rode with him from Upperville without taking from him his arms. Webster gave himself up to Myers, who happened to be in command of the camp at that time, and to whom he told his plans and purposes, and explained the feasibility of capturing Means and all his party, so very clearly, that Myers fell very much in love with the scheme, and was sure that Major White would embrace the apparently certain opportunity to break up the Loudoun Rangers for the war.

Webster’s proposition commenced with explaining that Means had driven him from his company, and also had caused him to be arrested and confined in the Old Capitol prison in Washington, from which he had escaped and now only lived to revenge his wrongs by being instrumental in putting Means in the power of White’s men, who be was sure would not permit him to live.

He proposed to be tied on a horse, placed in charge of as strong a guard as Maj. White should deem necessary, the guards to be instructed to kill him if he made one step that did not please them; and for White to take his battalion, and with Webster thus bound and guarded for a guide, go to Means’ camp and capture it. Or, if not willing to go with him, to leave him at Gen. Jones’ headquarters and then move the battalion by his directions, with the absolute certainty that he would be hung or shot if the expedition failed, under his instructions, to get Means and all his men.

Capt. Myers thought Webster’s life was sufficient pledge of his sincerity in the matter, and in imagination already saw the pet scheme of the whole battalion fully executed, being certain that White would gladly avail himself of the opportunity thus opened for it. But, alas for human calculations! when the Major arrived in camp he not only refused to speak to Webster at all, but instantly ordered him to be securely tied with ropes, hand and foot, and placed under strong guard, at the same time bitterly censuring his subordinate for holding conversation with him instead of tying him as soon as he came in camp, and declared his belief that Webster had only come there for the purpose of killing him. At the same time he ordered Cooper to be confined in the general guard house, where he remained in confinement until February, when he was acquitted by a Brigade Court-martial.

About dark, some of the officers visited Webster and found him suffering severely from the manner in which he was tied, the ropes having cut into his flesh, and they applied to the Major, asking to have him relieved, but were refused. They then made the following request in writing:

“Camp 35th Va Cavalry, Dec. —, 1862.

“Major—We have seen the prisoner, Capt. Webster, tied in such a manner that his hands are blackened from it, and we respectfully propose, that if you will permit, we will untie him and guard him ourselves.

“We are perfectly willing to hang or shoot him, if you say so, but desire to see him treated with humanity while a prisoner.