Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-10-13
sharpsburs VS.. shepherdstown.

EAUdC' IIONl elsUldi hSNO''SS''""o
Of the War;" by Porte Crayon-D. G.
Sro,her, member of Gen Hunters staff
during his Valley Campaign -
Those who live remote from The nlna
~ frontier doubtless have imagined that
all the hphung in Ihis war is done by The
great organized antsgonlsIs-lhe Govern
men, and the Rebellion. Tnls is mis-
take. individuals are cOnIlnuaiiy taking
advantage of lhe times 10 fight out their
private qusrrels. villages and communi-
lies TO svenge the jetlousirs and ri'slnes
of the past years. ShsrpsbUrg and Shep.
herdsio wn are bot three miles apart, sePs-
rated by The Potomac River, the boundary
line between Maryland and NIrgina-
LANDS separated by narrow ffiIh ab'
hor each other" Sharp,burg and Shep'
lherGslown are jealous 10 proportion to
their mutual insignifcance. Since last
spring they have been lighting each other
across the river with all lhe viIulrnce oi
rival tom cats; Iaiding and counler.raid.
ing; plunderng and defending c1nsl.boaIs;
arresIing and counter aTresIIng citizens
and strangers. As lhe spTIl wsxed
and warmed the amusement of peimng
each other with muskel balls al long tsw
was lounJ scarcely stimulating enough;
they couldn't kill any body. The Shep-
herdslowneIs, having nothing else 10 do
pursued The war Win more perIInscliy,
and was rather gaining on their rivals. At
this junclure brilliant idea suggested It.
sell 10 Captain Sowders. There were
two old FOUNDERS of Revolutionary or
1912 memory planted as sIreelposIs III
ShaIpsburg. Tie Captain had them dug
up and mounted upon couple OF water
cars. The ammunition consisted OF bags
Of nails and scraps OF iron Of oil shapes
and sizes. These formidable englne>
were hauled down 10 tie bluffs, and
placed in battery against Ihe devoted WI
Iage Of Shepherdslown. The guns were
tchsrged and sighted, bot The patent iTlc-
lion and percussion fuse were both ignor-
ed. Tie arlllerists prelerlng slow
III s,ch lighted with a cIgsr-which done,
they ran and hid themselves in adjacent
guIies and behind rocks. The eXplo-
sion was terrific, tremendous, entirely
satisfactory to The Mary lsnJers, and equal.
~ SO TO the Virginisns. who, before The
nails and bits Of iron bad ceased raining
upon their houses. succumbed and dis.
patched flag Of truce 10 protest. in the
name Of humanity and civilized ussges,
agalns, The wholesale massacre OF unarn.
ed and non.cOmbslsni widows and or.
phsns who were thus mensced with de.
strucIion. A truce was concluded, highly
honorable and advantageous 10 The Sharps.
burg party.
1t nav be as we'll TO anticipate. and
here give ,he conclusion Of the history Of
these memorable guns. Some lime after
this date was riding through SharP'burg,
and there saw dozen or more luglllves
from one OF nUr defeated columns. they
told me that in their attempt 10 gain the
northern hank Of ihe Potomac they had
beeh set upon and arrested by certain cit
izens OF ShepberJslown, dissrmed, and
held as prisoners. One Of lhelr number
escaping reported the fseis to Shsrpsbure.
The terrible Sowders Bauery was again
put in The field. flag was cent over
the river demanding The release Of The
pris oners, threatening an immediate BON.
bsdme0i if ihe demand was not complied
with. The prisoners were incon,nenIly
released; bul their aims and equipments
sll remained behind. The herald re.
turned and haughrIy demanded their sur
render, even 10 ihe last hsyersack. They
were surrendered meekly; hot the currenI
of war mo more than that OF love- does
not run always smooth, nor in the same
(direclon. Grown arrogant, perhaps. and
Icareless from their repeated IrIumphs. OF
fslieued with their martial IsboIs. or. Ike
Charles The Twelfth (who sent his jack
boot TO preside over The Swedish Senare)
believing that Ihe mere presence oi ihsT
lerribIe guns on the opposite bluff would
qu.!I The spirits Of their sdversarIts. and
Keep Them in sutjecI'on-for some rea'.
on, unknown 10 history, they lefi The pie
ces on lie bluff and re,Irsd 10 ShsrpsbuTg
TO celebrate Their victory. Nhs! was
their modification on returning. a short
lime after. Id find their victorious engin-s
di,sppe,red-gone. Then enemies. Ia.
king advantage OF their error. had come
with sublleIy in the night and captured
no, not captured. thank FOrune-bul had
meaRly stolen them away. Thus ended
he Sowters Bsuey. The gallant Cap.
tain sill lived, however. and, obtaining q
commission in the National army. turned
his snergy and courage 10 account with
rnianIiEn anil KanIEr rad