The Major then turned his attention to Means’ gang, and to make sure of them, if they were over the river at all, went down into town after dark, but the “rangers” were not around, and after frightening the intensely tory citizens of Waterford half out of their wits, the battalion marched to Beans’ mill and encamped for the night.
The next morning, very unexpectedly, but greatly to the discomfort of the people there, the Major moved his column back to Waterford, and very much to his own surprise, as himself and Dr. Wootten were riding a considerable distance ahead of the command, met Means’ people in full force advancing to meet the battalion, not intending to find it of course, but they did so nevertheless, and the result was a horse race, in which the rangers, on their fresh, fast nags, made such extra time that only two of them were captured.
From this point the battalion crossed the Potomac, and struck out for Poolsville, Md., reaching that town about 8 o’clock, P. M., and finding the Federals there entirely oblivious to danger, knowing, as they did, of Slocum’s march through Loudoun, and besides, they felt perfectly safe anyhow, because the old Potomac rolled its watery barrier between themselves and the fighting boys of Dixie, and they felt so easy, that no guards were posted at all, and many of them were at church (it was Sunday night) listening to a sermon from the Rev. Mr. —— ——.
As may well be imagined, there was great commotion in the congregation at the sudden apparition of the Confederates, but from the pulpit the preacher proclaimed to the people that they had gentlemen to deal with, and urged them to be quiet, which assurance and advice served to quell, in a great measure, the fears that, with the rebels, would come destruction and death to town and inhabitants. The portion of the reverend gentleman’s audience who wore the uniform of Uncle Sam, took no encouragement from that portion of his discourse, but as rapidly as they could, passed out and endeavored to reach their quarters in the town hall.
One of them, the Orderly Sergeant, was killed in the street, and the others surrendered. Those who were at their quarters in the hall made a sharp fight, but were also soon compelled to give up to the victorious raiders. Only one man on the Confederate side was injured, and he was killed, but by a singular circumstance the battalion lost nothing by his death, he being an independent and had volunteered to take his brother’s place, who was unwell when the command marched from camp. His name was Jenkins.
After spending some time very delightfully in the village, where nearly all of Company B was perfectly at home, the battalion crossed the river with a large amount of captured property, including about sixty horses, and marched to White Post, in Clarke county, where the Major had stored a quantity of the supplies drawn from the commissary department of Gen. Burnside’s army, in November, and here they halted for some days, learning that Gen. Jones had moved his headquarters to New Market.
The Major made another scout in Loudoun, soon after, but nothing could be accomplished, and his time of his absence having expired, he returned to the brigade, arriving at camp on Christmas day.
General Lee noticed the Poolsville raid in the following note to Gen. Jones:
Head-Quarters, Army N. V.,
"January 31st, 1863.}
“Brig.-Gen. Wm. E. Jones,