Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-08-27
Some Stories of the War.

IL MARROW ESCAPE FROM LYNCHlNG-
AMAN WHO HAD THE ROPE AROUND
HIS NECK AND WAS SAVED BY
A MERE ACCIDENT.
From the Philadelphia Times
WINCHESTER, VA, Aus.-14-"And
this is Kernstown p / asked as I drew
my horse up under the shade Of big
walnut tree by the roadside and salut-
ed an old gentleman leaning up against
the trunk in his chair. | had ridden
over from Winchester, the metropolis
of the Valley of Virginia, only short
distance away. "And this is Kerns-
town. I repeated half to myself, gaz-
ing about me as spoke.
Eyes" 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 asco-
stations. The battle of Kernstown
was probably one of the most despair
ately and we'll contested battles Of the
war. General jackson always spoke
of it as such.
The August sun was very warm and
I gladly accepted the invitation to rest
on the porch. Spread out before us
was a complete view of the little ham
let and it's adjacent fields and meadows.
Such a queer old town it is, with its
low, gabled roofs and old-fashioned
gardens, with flowers and shrubs peep
ing through their green fence pailings
A little way down the road is the vii
lage, a tumble-down looking affair.
Its creaking sign swings lazily to and
and fro in the summer breeze. Around
the corner grocery are the usual num-
Der of country loafers. while near by
is blacksmith shop, the ruddy glare
from its forge lighting up the bronze
features of the old smithey as he stands
in an attitude of rest near the door.
Around are fertile fields and luxurious
meadows. Way over to the left are
woodcrowned hills, and beyond them
what looks to be a 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 be-
meath her mantle of verdure the raw
ages Of war.
Eyes, sir, continued the old gentle
man, "this little village was the scene
of many a hard fought skirpish. You
see, l lost my right arm when a mere
boy, and SO, when the war was pro-
claimed I had to remain at home with
the women folks. I was staunch
union man, and l tell you my senti-
ments came mighty nigh loosing 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 intended to hang me to
that very tree. With fear aud tremb-
ling obeyed, bidding my heart-bro-
ken wife and little ones farewell.
was hurried away. Just as they were
fixing the rope about my neck, up
dashed a detachment of Michigan cav
airy and put the rebs to fight. That
was the nearest l ever came to death.
We were always on the lookout for
surprises. Many night my wife has
prepared the little ones for flight.
remember one day we had hidden our
firearms in the stove as the best place
Of concealment. Hardly had we ac-
complished this when up came a num-
Der of soldiers and demanded a hot
supper What to do my wife did not
know. The soldiers were all about
her. She finally, with woman's inge-
nuity, managed to slip the revolvers
beneath her apron, and beating hasty
retreat soon had them hidden in a
more secure place. You see, had the
soldiers caught but one glimpse ofthem
they would have taken them without
leave or license.
There was q set of men called
bush-whackers, who proved terrible
annoyance. They followed the army
for the sole purpose of ROBBERY and plum
der. One night party Of these fell
lows rode up and demanded an en-
trance. I had been called away to
see sick neighbor. My wife, tying
around her waist beneath her dress, a
few silver spoons. the last remaining
links in the chain of prosperity, hast
ened down stairs. AS she hurried
around, preparing them something to
eat, her distress of mind was very
great for fear one other precious roons
would slip from its hiding place and
thus reveal its existence. While GO
ing from pantry to kitchen, she was
constantly followed by big, brawny
fellow, pistol in hand. Oh those
were tough times, and I would rather
die than pass through like expert
ence again. We would rise in the
morning to find everything as peace
full and quiet as it is at this moment,
but by noon here would come squads
of rebel and yankee cavalrymen, and
meeting right here On the TURNPIKE, it