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the war had 〃refugeed〃 from that section and enlisted in one of the
Union regiments from West Virginia。 In about a week these men came
back and reported that Gilmore was living at a house between three
and four miles from Moorefield； and gave full particulars as to his
coming and going； the number of men he had about there and where they
rendezvoused。
With this knowledge at hand I directed Young to take twenty of his
best men and leave that night for Moorefield； dressed in Confederate
uniforms； telling him that I would have about three hundred cavalry
follow in his wake when he had got about fifteen miles start； and
instructing him to pass his party off as a body of recruits for
Gilmore coming from Maryland and pursued by the Yankee cavalry。 I
knew this would allay suspicion and provide him help on the road；
and； indeed； as Colonel Whittaker； who alone knew the secret；
followed after the fleeing 〃Marylanders；〃 he found that their advent
had caused so little remark that the trail would have been lost had
he not already known their destination。 Young met with a hearty；
welcome wherever he halted on the way； and as he passed through the
town of Moorefield learned with satisfaction that Gilmore still made
his headquarters at the house where the report of the two scouts had
located him a few days before。 Reaching the designated place about
12 o'clock on the night of the 5th of February； Young； under the
representation that he had come directly from Maryland and was being
pursued by the Union cavalry； gained immediate access to Gilmore's
room。 He found the bold guerrilla snugly tucked in bed； with two
pistols lying on a chair near by。 He was sleeping so soundly that to
arouse him Young had to give him a violent shake。 As he awoke and
asked who was disturbing his slumbers； Young； pointing at him a
cocked six…shooter； ordered him to dress without delay； and in answer
to his inquiry； informed him that he was a prisoner to one of
Sheridan's staff。 Meanwhile Gilmore's men had learned of his
trouble； but the early appearance of Colonel Whittaker caused them to
disperse； thus the last link between Maryland and the Confederacy was
carried a prisoner to Winchester； whence he was sent to Fort Warren。
The capture of Gilmore caused the disbandment of the party he had
organized at the 〃camp…meeting；〃 most of the men he had recruited
returning to their homes discouraged； though some few joined the
bands of Woodson and young Jesse McNeil； which； led by the latter；
dashed into Cumberland； Maryland； at 3 O'clock on the morning of the
21st of February and made a reprisal by carrying off General Crook
and General Kelly； and doing their work so silently and quickly that
they escaped without being noticed； and were some distance on their
way before the colored watchman at the hotel where Crook was
quartered could compose himself enough to give the alarm。 A troop of
cavalry gave hot chase from Cumberland； striving to intercept the
party at Moorefield and other points； but all efforts were fruitless；
the prisoners soon being beyond reach。
Although I had adopted the general rule of employing only soldiers as
scouts； there was an occasional exception to it。 I cannot say that
these exceptions proved wholly that an ironclad observance of the
rule would have been best； but I am sure of it in one instance。 A
man named Lomas； who claimed to be a Marylander； offered me his
services as a spy； and coming highly recommended from Mr。 Stanton；
who had made use of him in that capacity； I employed him。 He made
many pretensions； often appearing over anxious to impart information
seemingly intended to impress me with his importance； and yet was
more than ordinarily intelligent； but in spite of that my confidence
in him was by no means unlimited。 I often found what he reported to
me as taking place within the Confederate lines corroborated by
Young's men； but generally there were discrepancies in his tales；
which led me to suspect that he was employed by the enemy as well as
by me。 I felt； however； that with good watching he could do me
little harm； and if my suspicions were incorrect he might be very
useful； so I held on to him。
Early in February Lomas was very solicitous for me to employ a man
who； he said； had been with Mosby； but on account of some quarrel in
the irregular camp had abandoned that leader。 Thinking that with two
of them I might destroy the railroad bridges east of Lynchburg； I
concluded； after the Mosby man had been brought to my headquarters by
Lomas about 12 o'clock one night； to give him employment； at the same
time informing Colonel Young that I suspected their fidelity；
however； and that he must test it by shadowing their every movement。
When Lomas's companion entered my room he was completely disguised；
but on discarding the various contrivances by which his identity was
concealed he proved to be a rather slender； dark…complexioned；
handsome young man； of easy address and captivating manners。 He gave
his name as Renfrew； answered all my questions satisfactorily； and
went into details about Mosby and his men which showed an intimacy
with them at some time。 I explained to the two men the work I had
laid out for them； and stated the sum of money I would give to have
it done； but stipulated that in case of failure there would be no
compensation whatever beyond the few dollars necessary for their
expenses。 They readily assented； and it was arranged that they
should start the following night。 Meanwhile Young had selected his
men to shadow them； and in two days reported my spies as being
concealed at Strasburg； where they remained； without making the
slightest effort to continue on their mission； and were busy； no
doubt； communicating with the enemy； though I was not able to fasten
this on them。 On the 16th of February they returned to Winchester；
and reported their failure； telling so many lies about their
hazardous adventure as to remove all remaining doubt as to their
double…dealing。 Unquestionably they were spies from the enemy； and
hence liable to the usual penalties of such service； but it struck me
that through them； I might deceive Early as to the time of opening
the spring campaign； I having already received from General Grant an
intimation of what was expected of me。 I therefore retained the men
without even a suggestion of my knowledge of their true character；
Young meanwhile keeping close watch over all their doings。
Toward the last of February General Early had at Staunton two
brigades of infantry under Wharton。 All the rest of the infantry
except Echol's brigade； which was in southwestern Virginia； had been
sent to Petersburg during the winter； and Fitz。 Lee's two brigades of
cavalry also。 Rosser's men were mostly at their homes； where； on
account of a lack of subsistence and forage in the valley； they had
been permitted to go； subject to call。 Lomax's cavalry was at
Millboro'； west of Staunton； where supplies were obtainable。 It was
my aim to get well on the road before Early could collect these
scattered forces； and as many of the officers had been in the habit
of amusing themselves fox…hunting during the latter part of the
winter； I decided to use the hunt as an expedient for stealing a
march on the enemy； and had it given out officially that a grand fox…
chase would take place on the 29th of February。 Knowing that Lomas；
and Renfrew would spread the announcement South； they were permitted
to see several red foxes that had been secured； as well as a large
pack of hounds which Colonel Young had collected for the sport； and
were then started on a second expedition to burn the bridges。 Of
course； they were shadowed as usual； and two days later； after they
had communicated with friends from their hiding…place； in Newtown；
they were arrested。 On the way north to Fort Warren they escaped
from their guards when passing through Baltimore； and I never heard
of them again； though I learned that； after the assassination of； Mr。
Lincoln； Secretary Stanton strongly suspected his friend Lomas of
being associated with the conspirators； and it then occurred to me
that the good…looking Renfrew may have been Wilkes Booth； for he
certainly bore a strong resemblance to Booth's pictures。
On the 27th of February my cavalry entered upon the campaign which
cleared the Shenandoah Valley of every remnant of organized
Confederates。 General Torbert being absent on leave at this time； I
did not recall him； but appointed General Merritt Chief of Cavalry。
for Torbert had disappointed me on two important occasionsin the
Luray Valley during the battle of Fisher's Hill； and on the recent
Gordonsville expeditionand I mistrusted his ability to conduct any
operations requiring much self…reliance。 The column was composed of
Custer's and Devin's divisions of cavalry； and two sections of
artillery； comprising in all about 10；000 officers and