The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-01-31
4, Nigni ON the Battle F3cfa.

Ting IluIl lllS Noil'l vi ooi7 " llSlC
there is so much to think oi,so inuch to
excite tears, or Indignation or laughter
fortunate, we say, is the incident
which possesses the supreme advantage
of being pictgresqe.
Other incidents may equal or surpass
it in moral beauty, but they will not be
able to equal it in attraction. Hearts
may throb as nobly therein-but the
world will not catch the tumultuous
heaving of the bosom. Tears as noble
may be she'd, but they will flow in 81
lence, and unobserved. Deeds as wor-
thy may be performed, but il they do
not possess 5}icfUreS9e'aesS are they ever
heard Of? De not the writers Of the
North, who ought TO know the truth
declare that the Federal General Wright
rallied and reformed their line after
Early's terrible blow at them, at Cedar
Creek, in October 1S64?-and yet it was
the picturesque General Sheridan who
rushed at full speed upon the field, ''shod
with fire says his poet, and carried Off
all the glory Unhappy General Wright!
if Mr.. sWinton is good authority. Why
did YOU not arrive at the nick of time
rally the rallied, and reap the honours
OF the hard fought field!
Your good hard work, and steady
nerve had the misfortune not to be pie
turesqueor ''striking," General hence
nobody but the whole world fifty years
from this time will ever know that it
was you, not Sheridan, who saved the
Federal army from destruction, On that
day.
But every subject has two phases-ev-
cry thought cuts, double edged;-the
from one side to the other. Actions
may be grand and picturesque both-as
noble and beautiful as they are striking
and impressive. The incident which
we are now about to relate will be found
to illustrate this statement. The picture
which we shall attempt to draw is one
of those which catches the eye, moves
the heart, touches the hidden founts Of
feeling, and draws forth those '.noble
tears" which flow forever, in the long
current of our human history. at the
mention of all beautiful and heroic
deeds.
The incident took place in July 1864,
just after Early's return from Wash
ington, and when his advance force un-
der Ramseur was near Winchester. On
the afternoon of the Goth of that month
General Ramseur- the gallant, the no.
bic, the heroic Ramseur who died as he
had lived a fearless soldier and stainless
gentleman. Bamseurreceived iniorma-
ton from General Naughani that y We
rili was at Stephenson's depot Il few
miles northeast of the town Witha force
SO small as to render an attack upon
him almost certain 20 result in his cap
tufe. Acting upon this information
Ramseur put his troops in motion, adj
vanced to attack Avcril, and soon the
force, on both sides were engaged in OBJ
stinate conflict -Ramseur having moved
with too little caution in consequence Of
the reported interiority of his oppon-
ent.
The result was the serious repulse by
Averill's large force; the loss OF pieces
ofartllery; the death of Col. Board Of
the 5Sth Va, and the Woundng Of Gen
erals lewis and Lilly. Many of the
command, officers and pri ates, beside
these gentlemen, We're killed and Woun-
ded. When Ramseur fell back, as he
was compelled to do TO prevent himself
from being tianked by Il large force APP
preaching from Berryville, he left the
ground covered with his dead and woun-
ded.
lie retired through Winchester; join
ed EARLY at Newtown; and Winchester
was again in the hands OF the Federal
lists.
"Winchester" throughout the war
Htdllt HlOSu VI ttlI 7tuG UOWeS VI w III
chester" 1t was this noble body of
higA-souled and heroic women who now
looked with eyes full of regret and long
ing upon Ramseur's disappearing col
umns-and with sadness unutterable
toward the battlefield OF the preceding
day, wherein SO many of their dear
Southern defenders were lying in their
blood.
With the women of Winchester to see
suffering was to attempt courageousiy
to relieve it-for loag years they had
been accustomed to she war of artillery,
the crash Of small af,ns; TO nursing The
sick, suecorine the wounded. and bind
ing up the bruised forms, broken and
bleeding beneath the chariot wheels OF
that terrible Demon, War. Have we
not seen them after Ke.rnstown hang
ing with sobs over the death trenches
bearing off the sorely hurt, facing with
tears Of noble scorn The enemies who
Were the masters OF the moment.
That was in 1862, and be sure in 1864,
the long years Of embarrassing war had
not abated enc particle of that proud
ly defiant, that tenderly mercifuI spirit
which through all coming time win re
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