Page News & Courier
Heritage and Heraldry
An unwelcome summer expedition to Luray
Article of September 17, 1998
On July 21, 1862, under the orders of General Baron von Steinwehr, an expedition to Luray was placed under the command of Colonel William R. Lloyd, of the 6th Ohio Cavalry. Within Lloyd's demi-brigade were the 73rd Pennsylvania, five companies of the 68th Pennsylvania [New York] Infantry, one section of Dieckmann's battery, all under Lieutenant Colonel Muhleck, of the 73rd; the 6th Ohio and mountain howitzers, under command of Major Steadman, and the 4th New York Mounted Rifles, under Lieutenant-Colonel Nazer.
By the following day, Lloyd's force held Luray and was encamped on the high ground immediately south of Luray. The town was immediately placed under Marshall law and Captain Abell, of the 6th Ohio acted the role of provost-marshal, with his company as the provost guard at the court house. Additionally, Peter Borst's home was seized, after his evacuation of the place, and used as a hospital, under charge of Surgeon Finch, also of the 6th Ohio.
At 5 a.m. on the following morning, Lloyd ordered reconnaissances made to the Columbia and White House bridges. Lieutenant-Colonel Muhleck was to take the first expedition to the site of the Columbia Bridge with six companies of the 73rd and four companies of the 6th Ohio, under Captain Barber, and the section of artillery. At the same hour, Lieutenant Colonel Nazer took four companies of the 4th New York, six companies of the 68th Infantry, and two mountain howitzers toward the White House.
Muhleck reached his destination without meeting resistance, but sent Captain Barber across with the cavalry to "scour the woods and roads for 2 miles south of the ford." With still no appearance of any Confederates, the party learned that their were "no indications that any scouts, patrols, or other parties of the enemy have crossed the ford for ten days."
Nazer's expedition would prove different. By 9 a.m. Nazer's men reached the White House Ford, also without meeting with resistance. However, upon reaching the ford, the Federals did encounter some "rebel cavalry, not more than 20," appearing on the opposite side of the river and "within rifle range." Having accompanied Muhleck's journey for about four miles, Lloyd decided to join Nazer's party moving on the White House Ford, and proceeded with his adjutant, Captain Richart, and a small escort of cavalry. Lloyd elaborated:
. . . We learned that 15 rebel cavalry had crossed the ford yesterday morning and
recrossed about 9 o'clock; that about 40 cavalry crossed the night of the 20th and
recrossed about 2 the next morning. We know that this party rode through the
town of Luray and back the same night, shouting for Jeff. Davis, but committing
no other indiscretion.. .
Reaching the ford shortly after Nazer's men had arrived there, Lloyd continued that ". . . A few shots were exchanged with the rebel cavalry, but a shot or two from the howitzers started their party back toward the gap." Concluding that the area around Luray was clear of any "rebel
force of any description," Lloyd figured that the opposing force was no more than four or five companies that used Harrisonburg as their base of operations to New Market and into the Page Valley. Nevertheless, Lloyd would continue his stay in Luray for a while, establishing his own base of operations to send patrols "southward daily." It was just a hint of worse times to come on the Page home-front in the following month.
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