Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-09-30

paths of peace. and Of loyalty and true
citizenship under the egis Of the Union.
May we not hope, sirs, that those hlen
qualities which protracted, with their rel
atyely limited resources the war ior lour
years, may we not now believe that The
time is approaching when the valor. the
enterprise, the fortitude, the perseverance
of the soldiers Of the South shall combine
with The glories and courage, the endu-
rance and heroism OF the soldiers OF The
North, in forming our joint national re-
sources, and our real and colossal nation
al strength and grandeur? ? Sirs, It has
been demonstrated in the progress OF The
war that the friendship OF many foreign
nations was not real 10 the North or 10 the
South; that their policy was vacciIlaling'
toruOus and unreliable; tha, neither the
North nor the South had true friends
among most of the nations OF the earth. 1t
has been often fell and is now being con-
clusively demonstrated, that the truesl
friends of the South are in the North; that
this grand fraternity of States, reunltlng
as they are, will afford in that Union the
srresl guarantee OF liberty, OF friendship,
OF progress and of prosperity for each
and every community within our COM
mon borders.
In illustration Of such sentiments, hav-
ing had much intercourse with the la
mented patriot, our late President. shall |
not say how frequently saw the great
grief under which he suffered al the con-
,inuance Of the blood shed Of the civil
strife, and how frequent and kindly his
expressions were of sympathy and even
affection for tie people Of the South !?
How he mourned their deluslons, and
hoped for early peace and restoration ol
kindly feeling, and the sympathy OF mu'
aal interest under our common Union
BY his request accompanied Presl-
dent Lincoln, Immediately after The bat
tie of Aniie,am, 10 the scene Of that san
culinary conflict. After passing over the
Baltimore and Ohio Road from Washing
ton to Harper's Ferry, | continued with
him, by his desire, during the memorable
period he spent with The officers and sol
diers Of the Federal army, and among the
hospitals and the wounded upon that
bloody field. As in accord with the sPr-
it of your fraternity. | will mention
scene which occurred il one Of those hos.
pirals, which bcdewed many eyes. The
President examined, kindly and tenderIy
into the condition and care Of the Federal
wounded.
He also passed through the hospitals
where were placed the Confederate woun.
ded. Many Of these hospitals, in view Of
the large number Of wounded, were I'm
provlsed from The barns upon and IN The
vicinity Of the field Of battle. Passing
through the middle space Of an extensive
Srilzer barn where a large number Of
desperate wounded lay, the President
stopped abou, the middle OF the apart
ment, opposite youth of striking aP-
pearsnce, probably eighteen or twenty
years Of age. He lay looking very fee
bic and palIid. He held three sraws in
his hand, and was (eebly moving them
10 keep the insects from his face 'Fhe
President asked "if he had received all
necessary attention" He replied that
: he had, that his right leg had been am-
puta,ed."
The President responded, II trust you
will get we'll" The youth, great tears
rolling from his eyes, said: "No, am
sinking, | shall die" The President
leaned ienderly over him and said: "WiII
YOU shake hands with me" ! remarked, ,
'.lhis is President Lincoln." He attemp-
ted TO raise his hand and give it 10 the
President. The President asked him:
"Where are you from!" "From Georgia."
Again the President expressed the hope,
still holding his hand, that he would re.
cover. NO" said the youth, 81 shall
never see my widowed mother again; |
shall die." The President still held his
hand, and fervently CALCULATED, whilst he
wept, and his tears mingled with those Of
the sufferer, MAY God bless you, and
restore you TO your mother and your
home" Amid all the sad scenes Of that
field of carnage, coming forth from The
sane,ifed spot said, "Mr. President,
such kindness will make missionaries OF
good will OF the soldiers who return
South to their homes" The President
then expressed his wishes generally TO
those accompanying him tbs, the wound
ed and all the sufferers should be kindly
treated, and in The COURSE Of conversation
thereafter expressed sanguine hopes that
at an early day, instead Of such scenes Of
suffering, scenes of concord and Of good
feeling. a restored Union, would be speed
lily realized.
In The successor of Abraham Lincoln
the South has again one who knows her