Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-22
The Chan ges of Time and the War.

As We stand in msnhood's prime and
look back upon the days of our child
hood. many and great are the changes
that mark The pathway that we have so
ihoughLessly travelled, and we turn sad
ly away and contemplate only the Fu-
iure /; but in the grea, up-heaviugs OF
Society and in the mighty revolutions Of
Nations, changes occur SO rapidly Snd are
fraught with such nomenious events that
the mind can scarcely keep pace with
them or the Imagination conceive Of their
greatness. We propose therefore, brief
ly. to review the last four years and note
the changes that have taken place in the
appearance of our own vicinity. The
spring of 1851 opened upon our country
with the distant mu,terings Of war, and
ere long the threatening cloud burst over
our heads and the people Of both sections
began TO buckle on their armour for the
COuISst OOtH "eIe dlAe CONuntht dlIu
determined both alike thought them
selves IN the right the one for coercion
and the other for resistance. Time has
shown which was the more powerful,
and Poslerity may be able 10 decide
which was in the night.
The eyes Of II we're soon turned to
Harpet's rcI,y, as lhe,e was lhtn 4
large amount OF uachIneIy there for
manufacturing a ms. and there as the
first gathering ot armies on Virginia soil,
and there Ne first great destruction OF
public properly, for public safety begun,
which Vas subs, quenlly carried t. such
all unparalleled exleut. Early IN tie
sumner ol 1861 the place was evacuated
by the Southern armies. and the Railroad
bridge over the Potomac, aud all the
machIne shops. were burned, and appli-
ances for manufacturing arms were either
moved or destroyed by HE cOuhag raion.
The plare too has frequently since been
the scene Of contending armies, and
greater portion OF Il and Bolivar been
bruned by the different troops to
prevent It's occupation by the opposing
forces. About tie time of he destruction
OF the publ: works at HarpeT's Ferry,
the Bridge I! Shepherdslown, beautiful
structure and great convenience in pas
sing the Potomac, - destroyed ~ fire.
Next followed the destruction Of BOle-
ier's large flour aud cement mills. Tie
waS progressed and increased IN bitter
ness and he.ceness, and from The inva-
liablG destruction Of public property, the
destruction Of private property easily fol-
lowed, and many peaceful citizen, help
Ivss woman and innocent child, has been
made 10 ieel the cruel anu yindriive feel
Ings Of civilized man, and OF armies be3E-
ing slofI gle Gag thai promised them pro-
lection.
The "rempie of Justice in Jefferson
.ConnIy wss made stable Tor cavalry
horses, and the Court House yard 4 fort
iof protection Of The town against Rebel
raids, and the Market House in Charles
town. aud 'he 6riidmgs forming part Of
a, and the newspaper presses, type and
axlures there, were all destroy ed by fire;
end those old papers, whcIi had become
Indispensable ~ every household, were
Numbered snoUg the Ihlnks that were,
but ~e hope they Will soon arise again
like PhGnlX fIom the ashes. and go forth
a. OF old IN their peaceful and pleasing
insIru"non OF the befeaseI people OF TIE
Valley.
the sarne spirit OF destruction travelled
on up Me Valley. The Railroad Depol
at Winchester, and all the bulldogs near
by. and The buildings in the centre of the
town formerly occupied by C. B. Rouss
as store rooms, were destroyed by fire.
All the -four and girls, mills on Mill
Creek, and the Methodist, Presby ierian
end Episcopal churches at Bunker Hill,
snd every mill, farm, farming implement
and many private dwellings, from Win
chester ,o Harrisonburg, along the Val
ley Pike, have been destroyed. Fences
have disappeared like magic, and all
stock driven away.
Truly may the bsAntiful Shenandoah