Morris tribune., 1881-09-08
STORIES OF THE WAR.

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STORIES OF THE WAR.
A Marrow Escape from Lynching-A Maj
Who Had the Rope About His Neck and
Was Saved by Mere Accident.
"And this is Kernstowng" asked, as
drew my horse under the shade Of big
walnut tree by the roadside and saluted an
old gentleman leaning up against the trunk
in his chair. I had ridden over from Win
chester, the metropolis of the valley OF
Virginia, only short distance away. and
this is Kernstown," repeated, half to my
self, gazing about me as I spoke.
"Yes." said the old gentleman, ''this is
the old battle ground itself. They we're
fighting all around us during the war. AS
far as the eye can reach this country is rich
with historic associations. The battle of
kernstown was probably one of the most
desperate and we'll contested battles of the
war. Gen. jackson always spoke of it as
SUCH"
The August sun was very warm and
gladly accepted the invitation to rest OH the
porch. Spread out before us was COM
| plete view of the little hamlet and its ada
| cent fields and meadows. Such a queer
old town it is, with its low, gabled roofs
and old-fashiened gardens, with flowers
and shrubs peeping through their green
fence palings. A little way down the road
| is the village inn, q tumble down looking
affair. Its creaking sign swings lazily to
| and fro in the summer breeze. Around the
corner grocery are the usual number of
country loafers, while near by is black
smithshop, the rudy glare from it's forge
lighting up the bronze features of the old
smithey as he stands In an attitude of rest
/ <l,a, a.
luxurious meadows. Way over to the left
| what looks to be continuous range of
| mountains, their fantastic peaks looking as
| airy and dream like as the blue world which
| floats above them. Well, indeed, has nature
hidden beneath her mantle of verdure the
ravages of the war.
| A NARROW ESCAPE FROM LYNCHING.
eyes. sir" continued the old gentleman
this little village was the scene Of many a
hard fought skirmish. You see, 1 lost nv
right arm when mere boy and SO when
the war was proclaimed had to remain at
home with the women folks. I was q
staunch Union man and tell you my SEN
timents came mighty near losing me my
life. You see that apple tree down by the
lane? Well, one night squad of rebs
came riding up and told me to lose no time,
but to dress and come out, as they intend
ed to hang me to that very tree. With
fear and trembling I obeyed, bidding my
heart broken wife and little ones farewell
I hurried away. Just as they were fixing
the rope about my neck up dashed de-
rebs to flight. That was the nearest I ever
came to death. We were always on the
lookout for surprises. Many n night has
my wife prepared the little ones for flight.
remember one day we had hidden our fire
arms in the stove as the best place for con-
cealment. Hardly had we accomplished
this when up came number of soldiers
and demanded hot supper. What to do
my wife did not know. The soldiers were
all about her. She finally with woman S
ingenuity, managed to slip the revolvers
beneath her apron, and, beating hasty re-
treat, soon had them hidden in more Sc
cure place. You see had the soldiers
caught but one glimpse Of them they would
have taken them without leave or license.
There was set of men called bush
yhackers who proved terrible annoyance.
They followed the army for the sole pur-
pose of robbery and plumber. One night a
party of these fellows rode up and demand
ed an entrance. I had been called away
to see a sick neighbor. My wife, tying
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silver spoons, the last remaining links in
the chain of prosperity, fastened down
stairs AS she hurried around, preparing
them something to eat, her distress of mind
was very great, for fear one of her pre-
cioHs spoons would slip from its hiding
place and thus reveal it's existence. While
going from pantry to kitchen she was con-
stantly followed by a big bra why fellow,
pistol in hand. Oh! those were tough
times, and would rather die than pass
through like experience again. We would
rise in the morning to find everything as
peaceful and as quiet as it is at this mo-
m ent, but ut noon here would come squads
of rebel and Yankee cavalry men, and meet
ing right down here on the turnpike it
would soon be strewn with the dead and
dying. .. a-...... .....
THE BATTLE OF KERNsTowN.
"The day of the battle of Kernstown was
dark and dismal. Heavy black clouds
hung over the little village. A slow driz-
zllng rain increased the gloom and horror
of the scene. Shields and Jackson's cav
airy fought right here in front of the door.
The cries of the wounded were pitiful, the
cracking of the musketry fearful, while
the booming of the cannon was so continu-
Gus that it sounded like crashing thunder.
The disparity of numbers in this fight was
very great, but notwithstanding this fact
the field was commended for during the en-
tire day. One poor little fellow fell near
our gate, and we managed in spite of shot
and shell, to carry him into the house. He
could not have been more than nineteen.
The dark curls lay matted against the white
brow damp with the dews of death. As
we laid him down, the brown eyes Enclosed
and he murmured, Mother, mother Then
his eyes wandered from MS to the bare walls
around him. oh, he said, 4 thought /
was once more in my beautiful southern
home, and with quick, convulsive sigh
the sands of life ran out. We buried him,
after the fight was over, just there in the
garden, and every day when flowers could
be obtained the children would carry a
bouquet and place it upon the poor little
fellows grave.
Months after sweet. faced, aristocrat-
ic-looking woman came to our humble
home and, weeping tears of bitterest grief,
carried back with Ter to Savannah all that
remained of her once bright and beautiful
boy. tell you, sir, those were times which
II wrung the hearts of the bravesl and stout
est" and the old man hastily brushed away
a tear.
"Was it not down this very road that
Sheridan took his famous rider" asked
SHERIDAN's RIDE.
Eyes" was the reply; "that was day
long to be remembered. have at different
times seen great doubts expressed by news
papers as to the genuineness of that ride.
Let me tell you that these very eyes saw
Phil. Sheridan come down this road, riding
as man never rode before. All the morn
ing the reports from Fishers Hill had been
very discouraging. Bands of fleeing sol
diery were constantly passing Everywhere
the marks of stampede were visible. Along
the pike were scattered wagons and scat
tering infantry and cavalry troops. All
was scene Of helpless confusion.
Things were beginning to look very desperate,
when, ran down to the gate, and there,
coming down like the wind, was Sheridan.
He was ahead of his aids, who were
following him as rapidly as possible. ]
knew in an instant that it was he, for it was
popularity of his that he always rode in the
sadflle little to one side. The little fell
lows black eyes were rowing from one side
of the road to the other, and flashing with