Sprigg Singleton Lynn    1844 - 1898

     Sprigg grew up at the Rose Hill mansion that was built by his grandfather, Capt. David Lynn II in 1801.

     During the Civil War, Sprigg joined the Virginia 18th Cavalry at the age of 18.  He was captured in Hampshire Co., Virginia, July 30, 1863.  His Prisoner of War record lists his height as 5 ft. 8 3/4 in., Complexion: dark, Eyes: Hazel, and Hair: dark, Occupation: Student.  He was arrested by the 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia and sent to prison at Wheeling, Virginia (also known as Atheneum Prison).  On August 3, 1863 he was transferred to Camp Chase, Ohio.  He was then transferred to Fort Delaware, Del. on February 29th 1864 and escaped.  Information researched at Footnote.com by Vicki Lynn-Turney.

The following account was taken from the West Virginia History Website, The McNeill Rangers: A Study in Confederate Guerilla Warfare by Simeon Miller Bright, Volume 12, Number 4 (July 1951, pp. 338-387) Transcribed by Vicki Lynn-Turney

Action at Cumberland

Buy the beginning of the year 1865, it was evident that the Confederacy was in its death throe. In the twilight of the Confederate cause, a brilliant exploit of the McNeill Rangers lightened the general gloom. This was the notable raid made by the Partisans on Cumberland, Maryland, on February 22, 1865.114

This coup, planned some two years before, had some of the essentials of a comic-opera kidnapping. Captain Jesse McNeill had many times heard his father joke about a raid he was going to make into Cumberland in order to capture two Federal generals. The prospective victims were general Benjamin Kelley and General George Crook. Why did Captain John Hanson McNeill desire to capture these generals? A discourtesy shown his wife in 1862 appears to have been the immediate cause of his project. Mrs. McNeill, in Ohio, had been refused a passport by General Kelley to visit her husband. Kelley had not only refused her a passport, but also ordered her arrested and sent back to Ohio. The following letter was sent by a Confederate official in her behalf:

Brig. Gen. S. A. Meredith, Agent of Exchange:

Sir: I beg leave to call your attention to the fact that the wife, daughter, and son of four years of age of Captain McNeill, of the Confederate service, who have been sojourning for more than a year with their relations at Chillicothe, Ohio, were arrested at Oakland, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, about a month since and sent to Camp Chase. They left Chillicothe for the purpose of paying a visit to Hardy County, Virginia. Will you permit them to accomplish their mission? In fact, will you release them from Camp Chase? . . .

Ro. Ould

Agent of Exchange115

With the aid of a friend Mrs. McNeill escaped and finally completed the trek to her husband's headquarters at Moorefield.116 When Captain McNeill heard of this incident, he exclaimed, "General Kelley will regret that, for I will go into Cumberland and kidnap him and carry him off."117 The death of Captain McNeill relegated the plan to oblivion until late in 1864. At that time, two of the Rangers were prisoners in Union hands and held in close confinement. Captain Jesse decided that retaliatory measures were in order, and it was at this time that his father's plan was revived.118

Moving toward the slumbering city, the lights of the streets were soon seen. The horizon betrayed the fact the daylight was approaching and action must be quick.

On the outskirts a halt was momentarily called by Captain McNeill and he hastily appointed two squads of ten men each, who were directly charged with the capture of their prizes. Sergeant Kuykendall was in charge of the squad to enter the Barnum House and capture General Kelley, while Sergeant Joseph L. Vandiver was to invade the Revere House and capture General Crook.128

In an ironical vein, one of the men detailed to capture General Crook was Jacob Gassmen, a former clerk in the Revere House. Furthermore, his uncle then owned the building. Sergeant Charles James Daily, also assigned to Crook's capture, was the son of the hotel proprietor at that time, and whose sister, Mary, afterwards became Mrs. Crook!129

Fay was delegated to cut the telegraph lines with a few assistants. Without losing any more time, the troop was urged on by Captain McNeill.

Cumberland was entered with only one shot fired so far. A dog trot was quickly slowed to a careless gait and Green Street was approached. Going down a slow-sloping hill, the courthouse was passed and then over the chain bridge across Will's Creek to the principal thoroughfare of the city, Baltimore Street. On this street stood both the Barnum and Revere Houses.

In the slow gait up Baltimore Street, the Rangers whistled Yankee tunes and exchanged greetings with isolated patrols, or, with people going to work in the pre-dawn hours. A few of the men were disguised in blue overcoats taken from the pickets, but the dawn was still not strong enough to give notice to the shades of blue and gray.

The Revere and Barnum Houses were within 100 yards of each other so that Captain McNeill stopped the troop with the head of it in front of the Revere House and the rear in front of the Barnum House.

A lone sentry leisurely paced his post in front of each hotel and paid no apparent concern to the halting troop, doubtless thinking another scouting party was coming in to report. Sprigg Lynn, a native of Cumberland, and member of Kuykendall's squad was the first to dismount. He quickly captured and disarmed the sentinel in front of the Barnum House After learning from the sentry that General Kelley was on the second floor of the building, Lynn, Kuykendall, John H. Cunningham, and John Daily proceeded to General Kelley's apartment. Without delay they entered that room which was assumed to be the General's. It proved to be that of the adjutant general, Major Melvin. He was asked where General kelley was and responded nervously that he was in the adjoining room and that the door at his side was the one to enter.

General Kelley, a sound sleeper, had to be awakened and his surprise was complete. He was told he was a prisoner and requested to make his toilet as speedily as possible. While performing his forced task, General Kelley inquired as to whom he was surrendering. Kuykendall replied, "To Captain McNeill, by order of General Rosser."130 After this, General Kelley cooperated to the fullest extent and had little to say. In a few minutes he mounted on horses with a Ranger on the rear of each horse.

What a fantastic exploit had taken place. The men all sensed it and smiled from time to time. Though on Virginia soil again, the McNeill Rangers were far from safe. The intervening territory was disputed by both sides, and the heart of the horses was now to determine if the kidnapping could be carried to a successful conclusion. The destination was Moorefield, but no guarantee could be had that that town was in Confederate hands. To the west, at New Creek, was a very strong force of cavalry with good roads to travel. This was but forty miles from Moorefield, while the Rangers were almost sixty miles away. As stated above, General Sheridan was at Winchester, sixty miles from Moorefield with a direct road connecting. He possessed enough cavalry to block all roads and scour the countryside. Captain McNeill's hope was that the telegraph lines between these three Federal outposts were still out of commission.

In Cumberland the cavalry was known to be small, but, large enough to annihilate sixty-three tired men who were in a cumbersome position due to their prisoners and war trophies. At this stage, a familiar saying was to the requisite for success. "The life of the scout hangs on the heels of the horse."137

Even though the feat of going into an enemy-held city and escaping with two generals was astonishing, the fact that a greater harvest could have been reaped was never thought of by Captain McNeill and his Rangers. It so happened that this very night of the kidnapping, five generals were asleep in Cumberland. Besides Generals Crook and Kelley, Generals Lightburn, Duvall, and Hayes were also present.151 The last was later to become President of the United States.

The number of Federal troops that were stationed in Cumberland the night of the raid has not been ascertained. To arrive at a definite figure would be practically impossible since the Federals tried to minimize the event, and the Confederates attempted to magnify its significance. Regardless of the number, the fact that sixty-three men could go among at least several thousand and kidnap two generals, one of them the post commander, was a fact of astounding magnitude.

Today in Cumberland, Maryland, one may walk down Baltimore Street to the Windsor Hotel, formerly the Barnum House, and read the following inscription on the outside of the building:

Capture of Generals B. F. Kelley and George Crook

Nights of February 21-22, 1865

A company of Confederates, young men from Cumberland, Maryland, Hampshire and Hardy Counties, West Virginia, captured several picket posts, obtained the countersign, "Bull's Gap," rode into the city, captured the two Commanding Union Generals, Kelley and Crook, and Adjutant General Thayer Melvin, and sent them to Richmond, Virginia, as prisoners of war without firing a shot.

General Kelley and Melvin were taken from this building, then the Barnum House.

The Generals were asleep when taken from their respective beds.

General Lew Wallace was stationed here in command of a large body of Indiana Zouaves. Also Brigadier General Hayes, later President of the United States.

This most daring episode of the Civil War created a great sensation all over the country, as at the time several thousand Union troops were stationed in Cumberland.159

In summary of this remarkable feat and to support the claim that the capture of these two Generals was one of the most amazing exploits of the Civil War, a quotation from General Crook himself may be noted. After capture and in Harrisonburg, Virginia, he remarked, "Gentlemen, this is the most brilliant exploit of the war!"160

Another quotation from a famous guerrilla in the personage of Colonel John S. Mosby, speaking to Lieutenant Welton accompanying Crook and Kelley to Richmond, is also worthy of note. "This surpasses anything I have ever done; to get even with you boys, I have got to go into Washington and carry Abe Lincoln out."161

Governor O'Ferrall of Virginia in his book, The Civil War, gives his reflections on the raid. "It was as bold and successful achievement as any during the war, and deserves a place in every book which treats of that stormy period."162

General John B. Gordon, in his Reminiscences of the Civil War, calls the capture of Crook and Kelley, "one of the most thrilling incidents of the entire war."163

In the History of the Laurel Brigade, by Captain William N. McDonald, it is stated: "The capture of two distinguished Federal Generals Crook and Kelley . . . was an event that excited the North with astonishment at the audacity, and the South with admiration for its boldness and exultation over its success."164

IX

ROSTER OF MCNEILL'S PARTISAN RANGERS

For more detail click above

The following is the roster of McNeill's Rangers, preserved by Mr. Maloney, of which he was a member:

Officers:-McNeill, J. C., 1st Lieut.; Welton, I. S., 2nd Lieut.; Dolen, J. B., 3rd Lieut.; Taylor, Harrison, 1st Sergt.; Vanderver, J. L., 2nd Sergt.; Daily, James, 3rd Sergt.; Seymour, Able, 4th Sergt.; Hopkins, David, 1st Corp.; Judy, I., 2nd Corp.; Oats, I., 3rd Corp., Parsons, D. M., 4th Corp.

Privates:-Acker, John; Alexander, M. S.; Allen, Geo. M.; Allen, Herman; Anderson, Nathan;, Athey, William; Allen, I.; Albright, James; Bobo, Jackson; Bear, Fred; Bierkaup, William; Brathwaite, Newton; Blackmore, William; Bowman, Jack; Barnum James; Bare, William; Baldwin, H.; Blakemore, George; Branson, William; Bernett, Henry;'Browning, E. R.; Boggs, Guss; Crawford, James; Conley, Jack; Carson, John; Cleaver, William; Clutter, J. W.; Cain, Thomas; Cowger, David; Cokley, John; Cokley, George; Cooper, I.; Clary, Lloyd; Clary, Thad; Clary, Richard; Crisholm, Walter; Cresap, Van; Cosner, Wayne; Carl, George; Coffman, James; Cunningham, John; Daugherty, Sam; Davis, R. C.; Duffy, J. W.; Duval, R. H.; Davis, Frank; Dyer, Robin; Dyce, Sam; Devertman, P.; Eagright, E. C.; Fay, John B.; Fisher, J. G.; Frederick, Lewis; Gray, S.; Grady, Geo.; Harness, G. S.; Hatterman, J.; Harvey, J.; Havener, J.; Harness, W. W.; Hill, I.; Huck, William; Houseworth, J.; Hess, James; Hunter, John; Hulter, C. R.; High, J. W.; Hoard, H.; Hack, A. C.; Hutten, John; Hopkins, Wm.; Harper, John; Judy, G.; Jones, H. C.; Johnson, Chas.; Jacobs, Geo.; Johnson, Fisher; Jomes, Sam; Johnson, John; Kiracroft, Nelson; Ketterman, H.; Lobb, Robert; Lynn, John G.; Lynn, Sprigg S.; Long, J. R.; Luke, Wm.; Logan, Lloyd; Liggett, Robert; Mason, J. H.; Markwood, John; Martin, Taylor; Maloney, William; Maginnis, J.; Mountz, J. D.; Markwood, Geo.; Michael, J.; Magalis, William; McKaig, John; Moore, Sam; Miller, Simon; Miller, Chas.; Martin, Wm.; Miller, Rader; Miller, James; Miller, James; Miles, Ruben; Miles, Wm.; Michael, Isaic; McNeill, James; Neville, Thorton; Norris, William; O'Haver, Martin; Overman, John; O'Ruke, John; Parker, Jas. A.; Poole, William; Painter, N. B.; Pannybaker, J. C.; Reed, John; Ritter, Henry; Richardson, John; Rinker, Wm.; Rogers, John; Rhodes, 0. L.; Richards, B. F.; Robison,,I. N.; Rosser, Robert; Shaffer, Sam; Smith, John; Showalters, John; Seman, Wm.; Stewart, F.; Seymour, Henry; Seymour, Wm.; Stickley, S.; Steele, John; Showalters, D. H.; Shipman, J.; Saunders, James; Scott, T.; Shoemate, Wm.; Shyock, J.; Spaldings, Wm.; Shore, H. W.; Shitagger, Wm.; Temple, J. M.; Tabb, P.; Trumbo, M. G.; Tucker, E.; Tucker, Sam; Truehart, H. M.; Triplett, John; Taylor, G. R.; Tavebaugh, I.; Vandiver, George; Van Pelt, John; Vallandingham, J. L.; Whitmore, John; Watring, Ben; Welch, James; Welton, S.; Westmoreland, M.; White, Chas.; Williamson, J. B.; Watkins, Chas.; Williams, 0. U.; Wilson, J.

A rather amusing and entirely authentic incident occurred during the courtship of General Kelly and Miss Bruce. It seems that Captain Jesse C. McNeill, who took command of McNeill's Company after the death of his father, was also in love with Miss Bruce. The matter was talked over among the members of McNeill's Company, among these being Sprigg S. Lynn, John G. Lynn, Sr., Thad. Clary, Lloyd Clary, John B. Fay, all of whom were from Cumberland and vicinity. The matter became a concern of the whole Company, and it was finally decided that it would be a good thing to capture Kelly, and give young McNeill full sweep in his love affair. Upon learning that General Crook was also at Cumberland, it was decided to capture them both. The capture was made as detailed above, but General Kelly married Miss Bruce, nevertheless.

Another amusing incident in this affair is related, in which Miss Bruce figured. It was the night after the capture of Kelly and Crook, when a play was being given as a charity benefit at the old Belvedere Hall, the only theatre Cumberland had at that time, in which Miss Bruce took part. She was a sweet singer, and at the conclusion of her song, entitled, "I Kissed Him Just Before He Left," some fellow back in the audience shouted "No, I'll be damned if you did, you didn't have time!" It was hard to tell whether the applause that followed was meant as an encore for Miss Bruce or approval of the wag's sarcasm.

John G. Lynn, Sr., and William Maloney are the only two members of McNeill's Company living at Cumberland now.

Source:

History of Allegany County Maryland, Vol 1, by James W Thomas and Judge T J C Williams, L R Tittsworth & Company, 1923, pp 389-398.