Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-04-13
A STRAY SHOT.

1t was early in GA when our brigade,
Hood s. was in Tennessee, that one
morning we received orders to be
ready to march at a moments notice.
We had been idle for some time and
the prospect for action was not un-
welcome. Besides, a brush meant
a possible supply of blankets, cloths,
and commissary stores-of all of which
we were in sore need. Those of us
who had them rolled up our ragged
blankets: the bugle sounded fall in
and'we were on the march.
We learned presently that the Fed
erals We're advancing by Cumberland
Gap, where we had about regiment
of cavalry and battery of light ar
tillery. 1t was splendid day; the
ground was covered with fresh fall
of snow that glistened in the cold sun
shine, and melted away here and
there, showing patches of warm-loOk-
ing brown earth. The sky was a soft
clear blue overhead: and the crisp lit
tie wind that blew in our faces had
lost the biting edge it had at dawn.
Our spirits rose and we fell into the
familiar swinging step, and there was
no struggling.
We had tramped steadily for some
time when we heard all at once, a
sharp firing Of small arms ahead, and
rapid work by the battery. 1t seemed
to be short, hot fight, without the
usual skirmishing, and we were put at
once a double quick. But much to
our disappointment when we came to
the bit of open country where the fir
ing seemed so brisk, save for the tram
pied snow and one or two wounded
men and few dead horses. broken
down caisson, a saber dropped here or
there, or blue cap tossed on the
ground, there was no evidence that
regiment of cavalry and battery of ar
tillery had met an enemy here i'll
hand-to-hand conflict. The Federal
troop, which proved TO be single reg
iment out on a scout, had retired be-
yond the gap, and our own forces had
followed in the direction of its former
position.
We were grumbling loudly at hav-
ing come so far for nothing, when a
woman, mounted on an old sorrel
horse and wearing a blue homespun
sun bonnet, came galloping down the
road. She dismounted at a small
double-log cabin near by, and walked
rapidly over to the spot where we
were making ready to camp.
Had we seen anything of her two
little boys, she asked, turning pale,
agonizing face upon us. They had
been perched upon the fence when
the rebs began forming a line just
across from the cabin, and the older
one. "a leetle turned o six had
taken his little four-year- brother
by the hand and run out into the road
to look on. Then, in a moment, and
before anybody could cry out to them
even, the Yanks had come thunder
ing along and they had been caught
between the lines and swallowed up
in the rush and roar of battle. When
the short tussle was over they were
nowhere TO be seen. She had gone on
TO where our lines had been re estab-
lished, and had there got ready leave
10 pass over to the Federal camp;
but no one had seen or heard any
thing of the missing children. Would
we help her hunt them?
Wouldn't wei Every man volunteer
ed with whoop. We formed long
line-like skirnish line-and started,
searching every foot of ground care
fully, and calling out cheerily as We
went. We peered over the edged OF
fallen trees. We turned over brush
heaps. We scattered the dead leaves
that had drifted into root-bound hol-
lows. We dragged the little pools OF
water made by the melting snow.
We had gone over two or three miles
in this way. The short afternoon was
waning and the wind was growing
sharp and keen with the lengthening
rays of the sun. A halt was called
Some of the officers and older men