Note: Bolivar, Virginia, September
6, 1862, signed by Oscar in Sentinal
issue of September 9, 1862 Oscar is
Oscar D. McMillan who enlisted August
23, 1861 as a private and was promoted
Sergeant, First Sergeant and First
Lieutenant. He was taken prisoner of
war September 2, 1862.
Bolivar, Va. , Sept 4, 1862
Dear Sister: I arrived here safely
last night, after our last rather
unfortunate trip to Loudoun county. I
was captured by the Rebels on Tuesday
afternoon, about 8 o'clock, and was
released on parole. But I will give
you a short account of our trip and
adventures. We left here early on
Monday morning, and got to Waterford
about noon, four of the rebel scouts
had just left, taking with them one of
Captain Means' Loudoun Rangers: a
squad of men were dispatched to Point
of Rocks for Means' company; about 16
of them got to W. about 5 o'clock;
shortly afterwards we galloped to
Hillsborough, captured 3 enemy
cavalry, went back a few miles,
stopped at a farm-house , fed our
horses and slept in the barn until
daybreak when we started again,
traveled about 10 miles, stopped again
to feed; in a half hour we were off
again, got to Leesburg about 12
o'clock, halted outside of the town,
and sent out a reconnoitering party
who captured a rebel cavalryman in the
town .
After finding there were rebels
about in force, Capt. Cole,
commanding, fell back slowly, in good
order, to save himself from an attack
in the rear. On our right was a corn
field about a mile long. After we had
got about half way to the end of it,
the rebels charged on us. About 60'or
70 of us took in a gale after Capt
Cole, the rebels following us, when we
rallied and drove them back. But one
of their squadrons got in our rear and
we were between "two fires". We struck
to the woods and kept up and kept up a
running fight for about 3 miles, when
my horse tell and hurt herself. I rode
about 200 yards, when the rebels
getting among us I took to the bushes
and ran about 100 yards, when I was
surrounded and had to give up my arms.
One of our company, George Sease,
from near Emmitsburg, was shot through
the body; James Scott, Edmund Wible,
Joseph Wills, Geo. Jacobs, and Samuel
McNair were wounded; and Capt. Hunter
and 10 of us taken prisoners and
paroled yesterday. Wills has a saber
cut on the back of his head; and Wible
a saber cut on the back - neither
wounded seriously, and both are about.
Capt Hunter and two lieutenants of
Capt. Curls* [Cole's] were paroled to
remain in Leesburg, but I think they
will be released in a day or two. One
of Capt.Means' men and one of Capt.
Curls' [Cole's] killed and 15 or 20
wounded in the other companies,
several seriously.
One rebel Captain, one Lieutenant,
and several privates killed, and a
good number wounded. We had about 120
men on our scout; about 50 will cover
our loss in killed, wounded and
prisoners, we were taken by the 2nd
Virginia Cavalry, Col.Mumford, and
were outnumbered four to one, besides
citizens who turned out in force. The
rebel cavalry were the men who dashed
on Catlett's Station and Manassas.
After we were captured we were taken
to Leesburg, and afterwards marched
back about four miles towards
Manassas, where we were kept until
yesterday morning, when we were
paroled.
We then made our way .to camp,
where we arrived this morning. I
hardly expected to get off the field
alive, but a kind Providence watched
over and protected me. I expect to be
home shortly. What I regret most is,
that now I can do nothing to help
drive back the traitor horde.
OSCAR