Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-07-16
NEW VOL. 2l-NO. 40.

the folly, the suicide, Of the attempt;
in vain we argued, cajoled, threatened,
ridiculed; pointed out that we were re-
manning and that there was less danger
here than on the road. There Is no
sense or reason in panic. The cannon
were Believing upon Douglass Hill,
the shells whistling and shrieking, the
air full of shouts and cries; we had TO
scream to make ourselves heard. The
men replied that the yankees" were
crossing; that the town was to be
burned; that ire could not be made pris-
oners, but they could; that, anyhow,
they were going as far as they could
walk, or be carried. And go they did,
but how?
Men with cloths about their heads
went hatless In the sun, men with
cloths about their feet limped shoeless
on the stony road; men with arms In
slings, without arms. with one leg, with
bandaged sides and backs; men In am-
balances, wagons, carts, wheelbarrows,
men carried on stretchers, or supported
on the shoulder of some self.denying
went TO almost certain death. They
comrade-all who could crawl went, and
could not go far, they dropped of into
the country houses, where they were re-
ceiyed with as much kindness as IL was
possible to ask for; but their wounds
had become inflamed aud angry. their
frames were weakened by fright aud
oyer.exertion; erysipelas, modification,
gangrene set in; and the long rows OF
uameless graves stlll bear witness to the
results.
Our hospitals did not remain empty.
Ii was but n portion who could get OF
any manner, and their places were
soon taken by others, who had at
tempted to follow the retreat, but hav-
ing reached Shepherdstown, could go
no farther. We had plenty TO do, but
all that day we went about with hearts
bursting with rage and shame for tho
needless, needless waste OF life. The
amateur nurses all stood firm, and man
aged to be cheerful for the sake of keep
ing their men quiet, but they could not
be without fear.
have said that there was less danger
than appeared, but Ii must not be sup'
posed that there was none. A friend
who worked chiefly In the old blue fac
tory had asked me TO bring her bowl
of Cruel that some one had promised to
make for one Of her patients. j had
just taken il TO her, and she was walk
ing across the floor with the bowl In
her hands, when shell crashed
through a corner of ;he wall aud passed
out at the opposite end of the building,
rocking the crazy rookery to It's fonnda-
ton, filling the room with dust and
plaster, ana throwing her upon her
knees 10 the floor. The wounded
screamed, and had they not been entire
ly unable TO move, not man would
have been left In the building. But IL
was found that no one was hurt, and
things proceeded ms before. ] asked her
afterwards If she was frightened. She
said yes, when IL was over, but her
chief thought at the time was 10 save
the Cruel, for the man needed 1t, aud u
had been very hard to find any one COM
posed enough to make IL. ! am glad to
say he got his Cruel In spite OF bombs.
That factory was struck twice, and what
miracle kept IL together could never
understand. A school-h house, OF course
full of wounded, aud one or two other
buildings were bit, but believe no Sc
rious Gamage was done. ! was told
that bomb exploded In the street and
killed several men, but did not see IL.
We were told SO many wild stories that
wish only to repea. what ! actually
saw, or know positively TO be true; aud
while there was so much 10 be done la
the hospitals, we really were compara-
lively ignorant Of what was passing out
side Of our own wards.
On Saturday morning there was the
fight at the ford. The negroes w,re
still encamped in the fields, though
some, finding that the town was yet
standing, vcntured back OF varions er.
rands during the day. What we feared
were the stragglers and hapgers-on and
non-descripts, that circle round m
army, like the great buzzards We sbud'
dered to see wheeling silently over us.
The people were stiIl excited, anlicipat-
ing the Federal crossing aud dresding
a repetition OF the bombardment or an
encounter In the streets. Some parties
Of Confederate cavalry rode through,
and 1t is possible that body Of infant
ry remained drawn up In readiness on
one Of the hills during the morning,
but remember no large force OF troops
at any time on that day.
Old Nose aud another old darksy were
standing on street corner discussing
matters and things, when Jim Webster
happened TO pass.
"Dar aD forty regular chicken steal
srs 10 dis town including Jim Webster"
remarked the old man.
Jim overheard the remark, 20 be came
right up to Nose and threatened to eiIm-
mate him II he did not take it back.
"Dsr am forty regular chicken steal
ers iD Texas, not incIudin' Jim Webster.
Is yer satisfied now?" "a