Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-04-12
ABOUT the WAR.
INTERESTING TALK OF THE GREAT
CIVIL CONFLICT.

During the late war Shepherdstown
and its environs were the theatre of
incessant army operations, aud the
town itself was shelled more than once
by alternate guns. Its position made
it an impracticable point for either
army to hold, while its neighborhood
was desirable to both. Hence, in the
evenly contested campaign of the
earlier years of the war, and the
great marches and counter-marches
which took place later, Shepherds
town was alternately occupied by
both. enemies" TO its peace and pros
perity-
\ recent writer gives the following
interesting incident of the late war,
the scene being short distance be-
low Sbepherdstown:
Walking in the evening TO the high
bluffs near the end of the fine bridge,
and feasting our eyes on the beauty OF
the river-picture stretching away to
Harper's Ferry, We can see, mile be-
low the town, ripples upon the water,
near some large kilns and cement
mills. which betokens shallow place.
There" say to Prue, lis the fa-
nous old Pack horse ford, which got
its name in the colonial days when al
the mountain paths were simply
trails, and the pack-horse the only
means of transportation. Here would
cross the northern savages when they
went on their war expeditions against
the southern tribes, and there eini-
grants and hunters and surveyors
found their easiest transit of the riv-
err
Il suppose says Prue, "this must
have been an important point in the
late war, if, as you say, all the bridges
were destroyed"
1T was. Soldiers were always cross
ing and re-crossing, but it became OF
especial use to Lee. By it a part of
hi army marched TO the field of An
tietam, and after the battle the whole
of his forces re-croSsed on the night OF
September Is, TO the Virginia side, at
this ford. The main body of the Con
federates continued their retreat in
land, but part OF Jackson's army,
under A. p Hill, remained in partial
concealment, and on that bluT which
you see cleared just this side of the
ford, batteries were planted. This
was on the 10Th day Of September, two
days after the Antietam battle. Gen.
Fitz John Porter, with the Federal
fifth corps, had been ordered by Nc
Clellan to support the cavalry, and he
determined TO try to capture some Of
Hills guns He posted batteries on
the knolls through which the railway
passes at the northern end of the
bridge and lined the top of the Mary
land bank with skirmishers and sharp
shooters, supporting them by two di-
visions. Volunteers from the 4th Mich
igan, 11Sth Pennsylvania, and 18th
and 22d Massachusetts regiments
plunged into the ford at dark, and
succeeded in capturing five guns. A
reconnaissance in force was sent across
the river next morning (20th), at sew
EN- o'clock The cavalry ordered TO
cooperate failed to do so, and the un-
supported infantry was sharply at
tackled by greatly superior Rebel
force. 1t was driven back, pushed
over the cliffs, killed, captured, or
forced into the river. The ford was
filed with troops, for, just at that mo-
ment, the pet Corn Exchange regi-
ment of Philadelphia was crossing.
Into these half-submerged, disorgan-
lied and crowding masses Of men,
were poured not only the murderous
fire of the Rebel cannon and rifles, but
volley after volley from the Federal
guns behind them in trying to get the
range of the Confederate batteries.
The slaughter was terrific. The Po-
tomac was Redeemed with blood and
filled with corpses. When the routed
detachment struggled back TO shell
ter. fourth of the Philadelphians,
IanY, In onrx-ioa only fh
weeks, were missing, and their com
rades suffered equally"
1t is a curious coincidence that the
same spot was evidently at one time
the scene of an Indian fight. To this
day, when the plowman turns the
burrows on the hills along the river
the plowshare uncovers many evil
dences of contest between opposing
tribes of red men. Arrow-heads,
spear-heads and other similar articles
are found in abundance, and some
years ago part of a skeleton believed
10 be that of an Indian, was unearthed
Many relics of the late war are found
here, and ever and anon in plowing
or opening new quarries the remains
of a soldier are found. The bones
are always decently Inferred either
in the Confederate Cemetery at Shep-
herdstown or in the Antietam Nation
al Cemetery just across the river. A
few years ago a party Of gentlemen
from Washington were fishing at the
dam where the soldiers had made their
disastrous retreat, when small boy
who was angling near by hooked his
line TO rifle and slowly drew it from
the water. 1t proved to be hand
somely mounted gun of one of the
members Of the Corn Exchange Regi-
ment. 1t is needless TO say that the
Washingtonians seized at once upon