The Union News, Broome County, New York, August 22, 1861
We have been present the following private letter, written by our old townsman Milton C. Cafferty, to an Uncle in this village, giving a description of a skirmish he had with the rebels near Alexandria. Our friend, Milton, enlisted in Capt. Boyd's Company of Cavalry, at Williamsport, Pa. where he holds the office of Sergeant. He is bold and daring, and will do good service for his country. He is the right man in the right place.
Alexandria, Aug. 19th, 1861
My Dear Uncle: As I am excused from duty today, I thought I would spend a few moments writing to you, and inform you about a skirmish we had yesterday, Sunday. We were ordered out as a scouting party, to go to certain cross roads and a certain church to capture a party of twenty-seven rebels that was pillaging the Union people in that vicinity.
In all scouting parties, they always send out an advance guard about a mile ahead. Our guard espied them first, then came back and reported what they had seen. We rode on until within half a mile of the church and then we marched on double quick time until we came up within speaking distance and came to a halt. The rebel Capt. shouted "who are you." Our Capt. says, "come and see." Then we saw them preparing to charge us, but we being the quickest, we charged and fired first. There were twenty of them or more. After they fired they commenced to retreat and we after them. Part of them went one way and part another and our column divided also. We pursued them within two miles of Fairfax Court House, but their horses were fresh and out run us, we had rode ours up and down hills on double quick time, but we came so near them that we saw their camps very plain and we made up our minds we had better stop. The Capt. and First lieutenant went one road, and I with the other took another road, the Capt. having two thirds of the men with him. When we got back to the cross roads and all together and the roll called we found two men missing and one killed. We killed three of them and wounded two and we got two horses. I brought them with me parts and never was a man more loudly cheered than I was when we came in. The Captain complimented us for pursuing them as were were not ordered any further than where we had the engagement, as we were outside of our pickets four miles. We brought back all our horses and the body of the man that was killed. The two missing men have not come in yet and perhaps never will. They both got throwed from their horses in the fight and I saw them after and asked them if they were hurt, but could not hear what they said, but saw them walking towards the woods. Their horses kept in rank, so we have not much to brag of except driving them to their camps and getting two horses. We had five of our horses shot, but none of them seriously wounded as to kill them we think. I tell you it was quick work for about five minutes, the bullets whistling [about].
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All the camps here are from New York. There are some of the -?- here from Union. I saw Charles Van -?-, a Crocker from Vestal and Major Bartlett is camped about one hundred rods from us. I am the only York state man in our company but I have a comrade and we stick together like brothers. He is second sergeant and Capt. B.?.'s son. It is quite necessary that each man should have a comrade as if anything happens to one and not the other he will have some one to look after him. The Capt. shows no more respect to his son than to me. No more now.
Yours &c. Sergeant Milton Cafferty
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