Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-01-20
Rattle Field by Moonlight

tween heaps Of Russian dead, you come
To the spot where the Guards had been
compelled 10 retire from the defence OF the
wall above Iukermann Valley. Here our
dead was nearly as numerous as the ene->
my's. Across The path, side by side, lay
five Guardsmen, who were ali killed by
one round shot as they advanced 10 charge
the enemy. They lay on their faces ia
the same attitude. with their muskesa
grasped in both hands,1aud all had the
same grim, painful frOwn upon their iea-
lures, like men who were struck down III
the act of closing with lheir foes. Beyond
this the Russian Guardsmen and line reg
imens lay thick as leaves, mixed with
dead and wounded horses. The latter,
with fractured limbs, were now and then
rising, and after staggering few steps
rolling over among the corpses, snoring
and pIunging fearfnlly. Up to the righI
of the wall was the way TO the Two-gun
Battery. The path lay through thick
Ibrushwood, but the path was slippery
with blood, and the brushwood was bro.
ken down and encountered with the dead.
The scene from the battery was awful
awful bevond description. stood upon
/ its parapet at about nine o'clock at night,
and felt my heart sink as gazed upon
the scene of carnage around. The moon
( was al It's fall, and showed every object as
# by the light of day. Facing me was the
Valley of lnkermann, with the Tchernaya
like bank of silver, flowing gracefully
between the hills, which, for varied and
picturesque beauty, might we with any
part of tie wo:ld. Yet | shall never re-
call to memory lnkermann Valley with
any bat feelings of 1oathlng and horror;
for round the spot from which | surveyed
the scene lay upwards of Eve thousand.
Many badly wounded lay also there; and
their low dull means of mortal agony
struck with terrible dislinctness upon the
ear, or, worse still, the hoarse gurging
cry and vehement struggles Of tho5e who
were convulsed before they passed away.
Round the hill small groups of men
with hospital stretchers were searching
out for those who still survived; and others
again with lanterns, busily tuning over
the dead, looking for the bodies Of officers
who were known 10 be killed, but who
had not been found Here, also, wero
| English women, whose husbands had not
returned, hurrying about with loud Iamen-
talions, turning the faces Of our dead TO
the moonlight, and eagerly seeking for
what they feared 10 fRd. These latter
were FAR more TO be pitied than :hc mani
mate forms of those who lay slaughtered
around. The ambulances, as fast as they
came up, received their load of sufferers,
and even blankets were employed TO con-
yey the wounded 10 the rear. Outside
The battery the Russians lay two and three
deep. Inside, the place was literally full
with Russian Guardsmen, 55lh and Goth.
The fine tall forms of cur poor fellows
could be distinguished at glance, though
the grey great coats, stained with blood,
rendered them alike externally. They
lay as they fell, in heaps ; sometimes our
men over three or four Russians, and
sometimes Russian over three or four
of ours. Some bad passed away with
smile on their faces, and seemed as il
asleep; others were horribly contohed,
and with disiended eyes and swollen fea-
lures, appeared 10 have died in agony but
defylng to the last. Some lay as if pre-
pared for burial, as though hands of rela
tver had arranged their mangcd limbs,
while others again were in almost stari-
ling positions, half standing or kneeling,
their weapons or drawing a cart
ridge. Many lay with both their hands
extended towards The sky, as il TO avert
blow or utter a prayer, while Others bad
malignant scowl of mingled fear and ha-
tred, as IT, indeed, they died despairing.
The moonlight impaired an aspect of un-
natural paleness TO their forms, aDd a. tho
cold damp wind swept around tire hills.
ami waved The houghs above their npturn-
ed faces, the shadows gaye.a horrible ap.
rearsnce Of vitality; and Il seemed as if
tie dead were laughing, and about to tise.
Tnis was not ilIe case on one spot. but all
over ihe bloody ield.--LUadoa Tunes.
Poor Boys College.
The Printing Ot.ice las indeed proved
a better College 10 many a poor boy. has
graduated HiOnr useful and CONSPICUOUS
u.embers OF sociely, has brought more in-
Iriiecl aud tdrned It ihso Ptaesicai, useiuI
channels. awaken9d more mind, generated
Iiiofe active and elevated lhoOshi, lhsn
ttany 0! lie Iaefsfy colleges Of thc conn-
iry. How many a Ounce ll,as passed.
Ihtnugh these colleges with 30 tsngibia
psool ol GlHess other ti,sn bis igsnimalo
piece Of parrhment; himself. il Possi5le,
more Inan,n,aie ttan bis leather diplon,al
There Is something IN tie very aimos-
phere ol prnling office cs.culaled 90