The Republican journal., 1882-01-12

streets "Stonewall Jackson" fresh from the siege
of Harper's Ferry, was reported to have been IN
command of the forces that held possession of the
town for several days A large portion of the peo-
pie were undoubtedly in sympathy with the enc
my, while a few were loyal to the Union-and
among these was old Barbara Fftnhe," whose
spartan like devotion to the old flag has been Is-
mortalized in the poem of Whittier
There was intense excitement in the town as We
marched through. Our troops had driven the enc
my from South Mountain after desperate en-
counter, had followed through Hagerstown and
across Antietam Creek. We were pushed rapidly
on. Soon we began TO see signs of the conflict.
squad of prisoners were being brought back
the first live Johnnies' our regiment ever saw.
They were long lean, lank slouchy looking fell
lows, clad in dirty gray uniforms. We soon came
to where the earth had been torn up by exploding
shells buildings riddled through and through with
shot and trees torn and twisted by flying missile.
We marched over the field and up the mountain
side, where our troops had charged the day before
Every house aud barn was filled with wounded
soldiers Surgeons with sleeves rolled to their
elbows were busily at work around the rough
tables they had hastily constructed. Squads of
men were buslly engagedn burying their dead We
climbed the stone wall and rude breastwork where
the enemy had made their final stand, and from
which our men had driven them. There had lot
been time to bury the rebel dead. They laid as
they had fallen, in groups of half dozen each,
and single bodies scattered here and there all
through the scattering oak growth that crowned
the crest of the hill, They all ages and look
ed grim and ghastly Old men with silvered hair
strong men in the prime of their manhood, beard
less boys, whose smooth youthful, upturned iaces
looked strangely innocent, although sealed in
bloody death. With hushed voices and careful
tread we passed over them, thinking that perhaps
the enemy wonld some day pass over a field upon
which lifeless bodies would be stretched
0minous sounds were coming from the front
Clouds of dust hung thick and heavy over the
moving columns of both armies The roaring Of
artillery and burs.s OF musketry were frequently
heard, showing that the advanced lines of the two
armies had come in contact, and that each was
striving for the vantage ground Darkness came
on and We encamped We now learned that the
enemies line was in our immediate front; that
uenerdl BURNSIDE was IN command OF our lelt
wing, which extended to Antietam Greek, and that
lighting Joe Hooker, who commanded the right
wing, had already gained an important advantage,
and with his usual audacity had pushed his lines
close up to the enemy. All was in readiness, and
the battle is to be fought on the morrow.
The rattle Of musketry died slowly away. All
as quiet as the grave The blankets were un-
rolled and the tired soldiers, both blue and gray,
laid down to sleep and rest The Anfietam Creek
rolled It's suen course, breaking the silence Of
night with its murmuring waters; thick clouds of
solemn vapor seemed TO hang over the sleeping
combatants. The stars twinkled down sorrowtully
through the gloom, ana the miss came in gentle
showers from the skies as if the angels we're weep
ing over tho fate Of those who were TO be slain
upon The morrow. AN OLD PRIVATE.