Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-08-27

would soon be strewn with dead and
dying.
"Thc day of the battle of Kerns-
town was dark and dismal. Heavy
blnck clouds hung over the little vii
liage. A slow, drilling rain increased
the horror of the scene. Shields and
Jackson's cavalry fought right here in
front of the door. The cries of the
wounded were pitiful, the cracking of
musketry fearful, while the booming
of cannon was so continuous that 1t
sounded like crashing thunder The
disparity in this fight was very great,
but notwithstanding This fact, the field
was contended for during the entire
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 murmered, Mother, mother.
Then his eyes wandered from us to the
bare walls around him. oh, he said,
L thought | was once more in my
beautiful southern home, and with a
quick, convulsive sigh, the sands Of
life ran out. We buried him after
the fight was over, just there at the
foot of the garden, and every day when
flowers could be obtained, the children
would carry a boquet and place it
upon the poor little fellows grave.
Months after, a sweet faced, arts
tocratic looking woman came to our
humble home, and weeping tears of
bitterest grief carried back with her
to Savannah, all that remained of her
once bright and beautiful boy. I tell
you sir, those were times that wrung
the hearts of the bravest and stoutest,'
and the old man hastily brushed away
tear.
"Was it not down this very road
that Sheridan took his famous ride 2?
asked.
yes, was the reply, "that was 6
day long to be remembered. I have
at different times seen great doubts
expressed by newspapers as to the
genuineness of that ride. Let me tel
YOU that these very eyes saw Phi
Sheridan come down this road, riding
as never man rode before. All the
morning the reports from Fishers hill
had been very discourageing. Bands
of fleeing soldiery were constantly
passing. Everywhere the marks Of
the stampede were visible. Along
the pike were scattered wagons and
scattering infantry and cavalry troops
All was scene Of helpless confusion
Things were beginning to look very
desperate, when hearing great chat
tering of hoofs, ran down to the gate
and there, coming down the road like
the wind, was Sheridan. He was way
ahead Of his aids, who were following
him as rapidly as possible. l knew ii
an instant that it was he, for it was
popularity of his that he always rod,
in his saddle little to one side. TIL
little fellows black eyes were rowing
from one side of the road to the other
and flashing with desperate determin
alton to reach the scene of action. Al
he came in sight, the terror-strickel
soldiers recognizing their leader sen
up cheer after cheer. The effect wa
magical. The wave of sound was car
ried down the road, caught up by the
others and echoed and re-echoec
among the rocks and hills. With on
common impulse, the panic stricken
men turned, and started with renewed
courage for the battlefield. Sheridan
leaving the turnpike just at this point
dashed through the little garden which
you see just opposite, taking short Gu
through fields and over hedges, reach
ing Fishers hill in time to stem tn,
current of defeat and win the day."
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