St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-05-06
Mexico City, April 10.
AFTER BULL RUN.
Scenes of that Terrible Time Wildly
Recalled.
G. NJ. STONE

Slowly we travelled out of the hear
ing of the booming guns on that ever
memorable day, July Is, 1861, and
when the echoes of the shocks were
hustled in the distance the exciting
scene was exchanged for peaceful,
quiet region, where the frightened
birds, fleeing as we'll as ourselves
from the roar of the battle, chirped
and whistled their sad complaints one
to another. Here it was impossible to
believe in the realities we had left be-
hind us. Was there really war? Was
it not a fearful dream that we had
crept along the verge of the battle
field? Was it true that the youth, the
mere boys of our little village, lay
dead and dying in the pools and the
thickets around Bull Run? The bloody
pages of history are now responding to
these questions, and laurels are being
wreathed for the brave, whether friend
or foe.
At last in the gathering shadows of
that quiet evening our weary horses
refused to take another step. They
came to a stand in the middle of
the road and the woman-kind de-
scended to take a survey of the
situation. We were in the neighbor-
hood of the little town of Middleburg.
A survey of our surroundings revealed
to us handsome substantial mansion
that stood invitingly near. 1t was the
home of Mr.. Hamilton Rogers, a
wealthy gentleman, who only needed
to hear of our sad plight to extend that
hearty Virginia welcome which was
ever DrOyerbial and has now become
historical.
The cruel spirit and ruthless hand of
war had not then reached his elegant
home. Everything in this well APP
pointed mansion was 50 orderly, so
quiet, that it was indeed a haven of
rest to us, who, since the attack on Fair
fax Court house the first of June, had
lived in dread and confusion. AL
though we were literally covered with
the dust of the battlefield, sOiled, sun
burned, weary, we were welcomed
like kinsfolk and soon seated at ia
BILE covered with Injuries. The chill
dren caressed and fed, our tired steeds
rubbed down and provided for; in
fact, every kindness that human SYM
pathy could suggest heaped upon us.
The children had not been undressed
uOiOfO lOi HldhJ hiShoo' ASeuioh" "Io
blooming from their baths, and angel
like in their clean white linen robes,
they scampered round the large airy
chambers in unchecked freedom. Mrs.
Ms child, that from fatigue and
exposure to the sun had become much
worse, was ill the whole night through.
We womankind sat up, watched the
babe and discussed the situation in
deed, our eyes so sorely ached with
the sunburn that no travelled sleeve
of care" could have been "knit up"
that night, even if the babe had not
been ill.
None of us knew where the male
portion of the family were. Whether
they were caught in the Federal lines
or had safely arrived at Manassas we
could not tell. That was cause for
anxiety. There was no difficulty
about All early start. Sunrise found
us prepared-a nice breakfast and
baskets packed with appetizing lunch
es. Even the old harness had been
mended and strengthened by strong
hands. Stripped of my pocket hand
kerchiefs and strings from the chill
dren's aprons that had held it together
the day previous, the old harness was
quite respectable. Being the first cav
alcade of the kind that passed through
Middleburg, we preferred not to APP
pear in the guise of a travelling show,
with our colors flying.
Although we were heartsore and
weary although we had at that early
day seen enough of war to believe it
an awful reality, yet we were not de-
sirOus to be gazing stocks to the eyes
of the Middleburgers, who thrOnged
around us to ask concerning the war.
They would scarcely believe that blood
had been spilled, and that the fight at
Bull Run was being fought when we
left. We could give no assurance that
husband, son or brother was safe.
Through Main street we pushed our
way, serious, fearful faces thrOnging
the side walks, for the Inhabitants had
turned out en- masse to see and hear.
Upperville, the next village, lies in
the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains,
on the boundary line dividing the
counties of LeudOn and Earquier A
mile beyond lay the destination of
Mrs. Ayre; Mrs. M was to abide with
her also, and thenceforth l was to pur-
sue my journey alone. They were to
be welcomed and remain with kins-
folk until better and brighter times.
In fact, until "the three months war"
should be over. Mr.. John Marshall,
son of the president of the Manassas
Gap railroad, was slightly connected
to me by marriage. He resided in the
neighbOrhoOd of Piedmont, and though
it seemed great imposition upon a
kind and generous heart and severe
tax upon his hospitality to drive up to
his door and request him to take in
destitute family of refugees, yet no
other place occurred to my mind Mr..
Ayre most kindly furnished me with a
fresh horse and a negro boy as a guide
to pilot me across the "LOst Mountain"
Once safely across that lonely barrier
and in the neighborhood of Piedmont,
there would be no danger of losing
myself. 1 began to feel like the lone
ly Indian who, when he was asked,
"Was he lost ?" answered: "Me no
lost wigwam lost" packed my car
riage with it's living freight (they
were all my worldly belongings) and
with many regrets, bid adieu to my
late travelling companions.
1t was a terribly hot day, that eve
of the first battle of Manassas, and by
the time we had climbed the ''LOst
Mountain" which was completely des-
titute of shade, the heat became in
tense. Not cloud to veil the scorclI-
ing sun, not breath of air, and the
stiffness was oppressive. The narrow
stony road before US alone bore wit
ness that any vehicle but our own had
ever passed over it before. Somewhere
on it's broad surface we stopped to feed
the horse. and here we found the larg-
est and most luscious blackberries |
had ever seen. They were most re-