Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-10-22
Sslett Storp.
BLUE AND GRAY.

Were there a hundred veterans in the
Army Of the Potomac who never march
ed through Winchester. Virgins
One doubts il when the records of war
tell him that the town WAS captured
twenty three times during The war II
was "Yank" ono month. johnny" the
next, and the inhabitants got So al last
that they dNred not pronounce Tor either
,lde. they claimed TO bo neutral. aud only
asked The soldiers in blue or the soldiers
in grey 10 let their chickens alone.
II the last year OF war didn't sweep ii
away, aud lire has spared it yet, there
stands Sn old brown farmhouse on the
north roSd. about mile outside OF the
town. LISA quaint old house, with u
front yard filed with cherry trees, grow
ing up and shading the south end OF the
house Its cosy place Tor two old
whue-hNircd paIeuis 10 sit on The front
yerHnds and rock and doze in the run
shine. while asuong armed son whistles
checrily among the growing crops.
saw il thus once. and saw it alter
wards when the storm OF war swept over
aRd around it, staining the green gisSs
10 r red. and when passionate neu and
6rsy horses swept through the field: and
dashed at each other y, the black smoke
lifted lor moment.
One day in the Spring of 1862. the dis
patches said that the Coniederstes had
been driven out OF Winchester aud that
The Union forces held possession. MAS
not with the victorious party; but few
days after, when the COnledcrstes came
bsck so close that they held half OF The
town and The Union forces the other half.
went down with half = regiment Of cav
airy and a lew bsltalions of infantry To
hold the ground.
Army operations had hardly commenc-
ed for the Spring, aud the ConfederaIe'
wero determined to hold The line OF COM
munication open Us long as possible.
had heavy backing few miles away,
aud knowing this. the ConfederaIes only
cared 70 keep me from advancing tuIth'
or than Winchester for the time being.
W. had cur pickets IS thick rs bees in
I the northern suburbs OF the town, tut The
main force was back on the road, near
I the old farm house, where the grounds
offered better advantages in caEe of an
attack. We had been in camp les. than
a d4Y when | ascertained that the iarm-
er's name was Hastings, and that he had
one of The handsomeSt daughters in AL
Virginia. lie asked for property guard
around his farm, and in seeing that the
guard was properly posted, | had occa'
sion 10 enter the house There wasn't
/ that bitterness then which came in aitei
years, aud we could al SPEAK freely with
oul lcas OF offence The farmer was old
and weak, aud when found out that h6
VA. firm believer in secession and re-
bellion. l had no hot words to give il
reply. Where should one look lol
Southern feeling il not in the homes o.
southerners
The wife was old and feeble, the sor
away to Richmond. and it was natura
enough that should make up my nint
TO stand between beautiful Kate Hatiing'
ami the iDeonvenienees of war rs mucl
as could. don't think violated any
of the rules and regulations when
promised the family that their property
should be preserved from raiders anC
their personal liberties abridged only 81
Tar as The safety of my command requir
ed. OF cOulse. could not allow then
to be passing back and forth between ;h'
lines. but they should be free to nlove ii
any other direction.
| tell you right here that never saw