Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1876 — An Incident of the War. [ARTICLE]

An Incident of the War.

The Woodstock fVa.) Herald recently announced that John Hoffman, of Warren County, found, during the latter part of -January, while hunting on top of Massauutten Mountain, at the point or knob overlooking Strasburg, near the site of the signal station, a tine double-case gold watch and chain, which, it is supposed, was lost at that place during the war." In the year 1804 a detachment of Federal soldiure attacked a part of the Confederate signal corps and drove them from their posts. The Confederates in turn attacked the Federate and drove them down the. mountain, killing some and capturing otlxcro. llie ll.**ei3to»viA (M J.) ift+Zim+ Week notices the finding of thewpteh, and adds: “ The writer of the following lines had charge of that signal station on that memorable day in 1864. There were but four of us, and when the boys in blue, seventy-five in number made their appearance we deemed discretion the better part of valor, and retreated ‘in good order,’ but somewhat precipitous. Down we sailed from the top of old ‘ Strasburg Point’ in most beautiful time, but at the •foot we rallied, being reinforced by about seventy-five sharpshooters of old Jubal Early’s command, when we retraced our steps, dislodged the enemy, and recaptured our signal station. Now, shortly after taking possession of the post, we discovered the body of an officer—a captain of of the Federal forces—a few yards down from the point among the rocks, with his neck broken. He was not shot, but from his position he evidently fell in endeavoring to get down the side, -or rather end of the mountain. From the side coat-pocket of this officer the writer hereof took an envelope, in which was a photograph,-the envelope being addressed ‘ Capt. A. N. Pritchard, Member General Court-Martial, Cumberland, Md.’ That watch, no doubt, belonged to the unfortunate officer. Where he was from we iiave never learned, but probably this article may fall under the eye of some one who knew the gallant Captain, for it was a gallant act to lead seventy-five men to the top of an almost ol the enemy and in the enemy’s country.”