The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-19
Gales, gktttBts, 9nttOotts, Gt.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.

! In the latter part of the year S62 | was
residing in Fredericksburg, with my moih=
er, an old lady suffering fl orr compIica-
! ted form Of spinal disease, which had con-
fined her to her bed for very long period.
The doctors had pronounced her case
! hopeless, and, indeed, there were times
when the slightest noise in the room, or
the feeblest effort to move, brought upon
her such paroxysms of pain as were heart-
| rending to Witness.
We lived completely alone, in a small
cottage in the suburbs, not relative or
protector near US, for my father had long
been dead, and my two gallant brothers
! had both fallen in the first battle of Ma
nassas.
While thus unfortunately situated, the
neighborhood of Fredericksburg became
the scene of hostiliIies. Gen. Burnside,
with an immense force, appeared on the
northern bank of the Rapoahannock, and
endeavored to effect Il crossing Of the
| river.
Some time before the main part of the
| population of the town had deserted it
but my poor mother, more weak and i'll
than usual, could not be removed to any
| place of safety.
Imagine our position, reader, if you can
| Two feeble women, with small kcg of
stale biscuits to sustain US, left without
the remotest prospect of help, in city
under nearly a hundred Federal cannon
A dull lethargy, like that of despair, over
powered me. could only listen, stupi-
fed, to the meanings Of the invalid and to
the frequent crashing rolls of musketry
lower down the river.
With the fight of hope every vestige of
apprehension and fear seemed TO have left
me. l was absolutely certain we should
both perish, for to abandon my helpless
parent was thought which never once
entered my mind.
Suddenly, on the morning ofthe lth of
December, just as l was trying after a
sleepless night TO prepare some food for
our breakfast, the dreadful bombardment
broke forth in all its fury.
''Ah, it has come at last, and we shall
be out of our misery" L thought, stepping
quietly to the window and looking out
upon the terrible scene. No words could
convey picture of what then saw--the
/ eiT ul6u VIII IIdtIl6Ss anu ucduiy
missiles the crash of buildings struck by
round shot, and torn open by bursting
shells; houses momentarjly catching fire
in all directions and what was more bor
ri5le than all the rest, the frantic shrieks
of women and children, who, too late, were
seeking safety in fight.
As stood by the window-heaven
knows how long, for | was dreadfully fas-
cinated by the spectacle-I witnessed what
even now, as l recollect it, makes NE
shudder.
A butchers cart, drawn by an immense
gray horse, with man driving it, and a
little boy holding fearfuly to the skirts OF
the mans coat, had just came rattling in
view. had hardly caught sight of these
figures when a shell burst directly under
the animals feet-or possibly two of them
for the horse, the vehicle, and the hu-
man beings in it were literally torn to
pieces could see the mangled limbs ol
the poor boy qnivering on the side walk.
At once, and utterly, lost all my res-
olution. In fact 1 must have tainted,
since the next thing of which l was con-
scious was my mothers voice pitifully
begging me to answer her, and say wheth-
er | bad been wounded.
/ staggered and attempted to assure
her but as may belsupposed, unsuccess-
fully. For a whole hour after this we