Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-10-03
ShepherdstoMn. &C.

Record and Vindicator. Of recent date ::
Again, after the lapse Of many months,
my fee, press the loved soil of my dear
old Mother State. My Mother State /!
They cali this section Of the "Old Do
minion" "West Virginia" "a name awak-
ening the recollec,ion-thsi while the
good, true and brave o. her sons we're
periling their lives and shedding their
blood 10 sustain her ancient honor. and in
defence OF principles held dearer than life
she was ru,hlessly sold by traitors 10
the Philis,ines. We were robbed OF our
bir,hrigh, wi,hou, even the promise Of the
"mess OF poiiage." The thought is Bit
ter. hard, cruel, bet there is a God oil
Justice and Of Mercy, and looking 10 ii i'm
to RICH, the wrong, we bids our time.
This little, unpre,ending villige from
which write, is The county sea, OF JET
fsrson and The centre Of rich agricultural
district, and possesses more than ordinary
historical importance. A mile or two dis
,ant bubbles up from its native limestone
"Morgan's Spring" celebrated for be ne
the rendezvous Of lhe frs. Of Virginia
patriots who responded TO the call OF
Washington IN the War OF The Revo!u-
ton. Here one hundred and twenty val
liant souls collected, drank mutual heallhs
in the crystal waters, and baptized with
the holy inspiration Of Liberty, pledged
themselves they who should be then liv-
ing 10 meet al the same spot the fiftleth
anniversary from that date. They then.
on foot, wended their wsy 10 Boston TO do
battle against The enemies OF their country.
Seven years passed, Of which we all know
the history. Seven dark and gloomy
years, out Of which rose The sun Of Amer
lean independence. Fifty years passed
away, and the wings Of our proud noun
tain bird were triumphsully extended from
the 81. Lawrence river to the Gull Of
Mexico, and from the Atlantic Ocean 10
the snow capped peaks Of The Cordilleras'
when around Morgan's Spring three
Drowned, scared and crippled veterans
met. Three old men, with locks bleach
ed by the snow Of many winters, and
tears drawn forth by host of recollec-
tons. renewed the pledges Of half CEN
fury before in the crystal waters. Three
Honor the three. One hundred and sew
en;een had passed from earth, the mos. OF
them during The first seven years OF the
pledge. and the three old soldiers were
left 10 recoun, the scenes Of the march
and bivorac, the camp, the field and The
bsule. the gloomy shadows Of defea, and
despair. and the final triumph Of Right.
All precious are the sacrifces tina, Lib
eriy demands. Reca,ombs Of victims TO
feed the flames upon her sllsrs.
Shepherdsiown is situated Immediately
Upon The western bank OF The Po,omae,
and twelve miles above Harper's Ferry
and ten miles from Charlesto,rrl. render.
ed forever memorable in The execution oil
old John Brown and his dcluded coadju.
toys in crime.
1t wss just a, this poin. that Ramsey
made the first attempt that was made to
apply steam to purposes Of navigation.
And he succeeded. Old Mr.. Blac&iord'
an interested bu, incredulous witness,
whose house is still left as memorial.
stood upon the bank Of the river and
watched he poyel experiment. Ramsey
was consjderea only mopomspiae' harm
less and CURIOUS. Hs moored hIp rpoe
liule craft near The shore, laid on his
wood. and kindled FIRE under her boiler.
Soon a slender .tresm OF steam ascended,
and slowly the lille boat moved up NE
blue Potomac. by -, it moves
exclaimed Mr.. Blackford, in astonshmen',
and Ramsey's vageries were considered
no longer the effects Of crazy brain, but
the glinrings Of Developments that were
to give new and startling impetus TO the
commerce OF The whole world. and most
important era 10 science. Fulton, profit
ing by this experiment. propelled boat
by steam up the Hudson. Now whenev-
er children are asked, "Who was the
first s,eamboa, navigator - the answer
Fulton" is put into their mouths; and
SO Americas Vespucious gave name TO
a continent, and wore the laurels that I'M
PARTIAL and well instructed history de-
lights 10 lay around lbe brow OF Christie
pher Columbus.
But coming down 10 later ,lmea, and
reverlng back TO the John Brown raid,
which was the inauguration Of the recent
fearful struggle between the rival sections
of the Union, wo see upon hill immedl-
ately overlooking Shepherdslown the re-
Mains Of the frs, "breass work thrown
VI in defence Of Virginia. In skirt Of
woods, about mile from the village, was
fought the battle Of the I9sh Of Sep;em-
Der, 1862. /, was only the epiIogue to
the famous battle OF Shsrpsburg-ihe bat
tie claimed by Mcclellan as yic!ory,
bu. which strangely left the Coniederales
in possession of the Geld, and cost the
Federal General his command In the
engagement, at Shepherdslown the Yam.
KEGS were routed and driven back TO ths
river, into which they threw themselves
over precipice more than two hundred
feet in height. The stories told Of this
battle are blood chilling. Numbers who
were not killed on the field were dashed
to peices on the rocks, or drowned in the
waters that rolled in an angry surge o,
their feet.
She pherdsiown was the birthplace and
residence Of The late Hon. Henry Bedin.
ger, our accomplished Minister 10 Den
mark, TO whose genius for craftsmanship
was united tina. Of the poet. and whose