In May 1864, while the armies were still around Spottsylvania Court
House, my brother Zack and his scout pal, Bill Reid, came by Belair
with two clumsy fat iron-grey horses and a full outfit of new saddles,
bridles, blankets, etc. and arms all marked "U.S." -- among which I
recall a new pattern of army pistol we had never seen before. They
soon swapped off these horses and extra plunder for better riding
stock, I believe. Our scouts did not carry sabers at all or pistols,
much their favorite weapon was the double barrel shot gun with buckshot.
They said that while operating behind Federal lines on foot they and
eleven more Confederate scouts got together on a plan to raid a Federal
cavalry post at the United States Ford on the Rappahannock back of
Chancellorsville and capture a remount of horses for themselves --
a feat in which they completely succeeded by a night attack on this
post in close proximity to a large camp of Federal Cavalry. Their work
had to be quick and bloody not be be captured themselves. They got
back across the river with the horses and arms of 13 new U.S. cavalry
recruits fresh from Germany! - eleven of whom
had been killed for not even knowing enough English to stop running and
surrender. Two of them were brought back as prisoners and protected by
my brother from further violence till turned in to a C.S. provost guard.
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