The Worthington advance., 1881-09-08
STORIES OF THE WAR.

D1O YOU over see u ul6u MAKE BuCu HtI
internal ass of himself? Shaker
-O~~--
STORIES OF The WAR.
Marrow Escape from Lynchiag-A Mai
WHO Had the Ropo About HIS Neck and
Was Saved by y Nero Accident.
"And this is Kernstown7" asked, as
drew my horse under the shade Of big
walnut tree by the roadside and saluted an
old gentleman leaning mp against the trunk
in his chair. fhad 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.
"Ye 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
Kernstown was probably one of the most
desperate and we'll contested battles of the
war. Gen. jackson always spoke of it as
such"
Tho August sun was very warm and l
gladly accepted the invitation to rest on the
perch. Spread out before MS 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, a 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
cot,ntry loafers, while near by is black
smithshop, the ruddy glare from its forge
lighting up the bronze textures of the old
smithey as 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 a continuous range of
airy and d1eam-lik as the blue world which
hidden beneath her mantle OF verdure the
ravages of the war.
ANARROw A ESCAPE FROM LYNCH1NG.
Eyes. sir" continued the old gentleman,
this little village was the scene Of many q
hard fought skirmish. You see, 1 lost my
right arm when n mere boy and so when
the war was proclaimed l had to remain at
home with the women folks. I was a
staunch Union man and tell you my sem
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 obeyed, bidding my
heart broken wife and little ones farewell,
hurried away. Just Us they were fixing
the rope about my neck mp dashed q de-
tatchment of Michigan cavalry and put the
| rebs to flight. That was the nearest ever
| came to death. We were ALWAYS on the
lookout for surprises. Many 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 dc
my wife did not know The soldiers were
all about her. She tiually, with woman's
! ingenuity, managed to slip the revolvers
beneath her apron, and, beating hasty re-
treat, soon had them hidden in a more Sc
cure place. Yousee had the soldiers
have taken them without leave or license
There was set of men called bush
;Shackers who proved terrible annoyance
They followed the army for the sole pur-
pose Of robbery and plumber One night q
party Of these fellows rode up and demand.
ed an entrance. I had been called ava,
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, FASTENED dowr
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 its hiding
| place and thus reveal its existence. While
! going from pantry to kitchen she was Con-
| stantly followed by big bra why fellow
pistol in hand. Oh! those were tougl
times, and I 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 at noon here would come squads
Of rebel and Yankee cavalry men, and meet
ing right down here on the turnpike il
would soon be strcwn with the dead and
dying.
THE BATTLE OF KERNsTOwN.
The day of the battle of Kernstown was
dark and dismal. Heavy black clouds
| hung over the little village. 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-
ous that it sounded like crashing thunder
The disparity of numbers in this fight was
very great, but notwithstanding this fact
the field was contended for during the en-
tire day. One poor little fellow fell nea,
our gate, and we managed in spite of sho,
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, Az
we laid him down, the brown eyes uncloscd
and he murmured, Mother, mother Then
| his eyes wandered from us to the bare walls
around him. Oh he said, Il 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 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 a sweet faced, aristocrat.
ic-looking woman came to our humble
home and, weeping tears of bitterest grief,
carried back with her to Savannah all thai
remained of her once bright and beautiful
boy. tell you, sir, those were times which
wrung the hearts of the bravese and stout
est" and the old man hastily brushed away
| tear.
''Was it not down this very road that
Sheridan took his famous ride?" asked.
sHER1DAN's RIDE.
Yes" was the reply; "that was day
long to be remembered. 1 have at different
times seen great doubts expressed by news
papers as to the genuineness of that ride.
Let mo tell you that these very eyes saw
Phil. Sheridan come down this road, riding
rs 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
a pecularity 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