The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-09-08
STORIES or TIE WAR.

800 81 - we ~ y - ~ - - 110m
: STOKES or TIE WAR. ~:
A Narrow Escape from LynShhg-=A Man
who Had the Rope About HIS Neck and
Was Saved by Mere Accident. y
"And this lie Kernstown2" asked, as l
drew INV horse under the shade Of big
walnut tree by the roadside and saluted an
old gentleman leaning up against the trunk
in his chair. had ridden over from VIM
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 spoke.
"Yes," said the old gentleman, "this is
the old battle ground itself. They were
fighting all around us during the war. AS
far as the eye Can reach this country is rich
with historic associations. The battle of
Ke1nstown was probably one of the most
desperate and we'll contested battles of the
war. Gen. Jackson always spoke Of it az
such.
The August sun was very warm and
gladly accepted the invitation to rest on the
plete view of the little hamlet and its ada
cent folds and meadows. Such queer
old town it is, with it's low, gabled roofs
and fashioned gardens, with flowers
and shrubs peeping through their green
fence palings A little way down the road
is the Village inn, a tumble down looking
aff,ir. Its creaking sign swings laz'ly to
and fro In tho summer breeze. Around the
corner grocery are the usual number of
country loafers, while near by is a black
smithshop, the ruddy glare from it's forge
lighting up the bronzt features OF the old
smithey az he stands in an attitude OF rest
near the door. Around are fertile fields
luxurious meadows. Way over to the left
are wood crowned hills, and beyond them
what looks to be continuous range OF
| 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 MARROW ESCAPE FROM LYNOHlNG.
Eyes. SIR" continued the old gentleman,
"this little village WIS the scene OF many q
hard fought skirmish. You see, lost my
right arm when mere boy and SO when
the war was proclaimed I b. to remain at
home with the women folks. l was a
staunch Union MAY and tell y>ou my SEN
timents came mighty near losing me my 11y
life. You see that apple tree down oy the
lane? Well, one night squad Of REPS
came riding up and told me to lose no tin g.
but to dress and come out, as they intend
ed to hang me to that very tree. With
heart-broken wife and little ones farewell,
I hurried away. Just as they were fixing
the rope about my neck up dashed q de-
tatchment of Michigan cavalry and put the
rebs to flight. That was the nearest I ever
came to death. We we're ALWAYS on the
lookout for surprises. Many night has
my wife prepared the little ones for fight.
remember one day We had hidden our fire
arms in tho 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 we're
all about her. She fiually, with woman's
ingenuity, managed to slip the revolvo rs
treat, soon had them hidden in more So
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
Ehackers who proved a terrible annoyance.
They followed tho army for the solo pur-
pose of robbery and plumber. One night q
party Of these fellows rode up and demand
ed an entrance. had been called away
to see a sick neighbor. Ny wife, tying
around her waist, beneath her dress, a few
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-
! cious spoons would slip from it's hiding
place and thus reveal its 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-
=, ment. but at noon here would come squads
Of rebel and Yankee cavalry men, and meet
, ing right down here Oh the turnpike il
would soon be strewn with the dead enc
! dying.
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.
, 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 wa.
very great, but notwithstanding this fac
, the field was contended for during the en-.
, tire day. One poor little fellow fell neal
our gate, and we managed i'll spite Of sho
and she'll, 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. Al
, we laid him down. the brown eyes Enclosed
and no murmured, Mother, other Their
his eyes wandered from us tothe bare walls
, around him. Oh he said. I 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 q
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 thai
remained of her once bright and beautiful
boy. tell you, sir, those were times which
wrung, the hearts of the bravesG and stout
est" and the old man hastily brushed away
tear.
'Was it not down this very road that
Sheridan took his famous rider" asked.
sHER1DAN's RIDE.
"Yes," 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 a stampede were visible. Along
the pike were scattered wagons and scat
tering infantry and cavalry troops. All
was a 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
saddle little to one side. The little fell
lows black eyes were rowing from one side
of the road to the other, and flashing with
desperate determination to reach the scene