The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-09-07

A Delightful Drive TO an Historic spot
Of National Fame
Correspondence Of THE woRnp:l
SHEPHERpsTowN. w. VA,
September z, 1901.

September z, 1901.
Editor World:
Having often heard Of the magniii-
cent scenery along the drive from this
town 70 Reno's Monument, on South
Mountain, 1 party ii Us determined Is
make trip over il, and view tho spot
where General Reno fell. WE left
Shepherdstown on sunday, the 9Th
inst, al 10 a. III, and Ill short time
reached the famous little town Of
Sharpsburg, Nd, where began the
great battle Of Antietam. on the 18th
day Of September, 1862, between the
Union Army Of the Potomac, 81 900
strong, under Gen. Mcclellan. and the
Confederate Army Of Virginia, 81 900
strong, under Gen. R. E. Lee. Its
story is well known. Lee had been
working his way northward all the
month, and fighting of a severe char
acter took place before this battle, but
the real conflict between the. armies
was at Antietam. 1t was critical
time for the Union cause. The Union
army had been defeated iii the seven
days fighting On the Chiekahomeny,
earlier. Mcclellan had been super
seeded by Pope, who was defeated it
the second battle Of Bulls Run, in
August, 1862, and Mcclellan restored
to command to save the capital. The
Confederates were the invaders. Their
success meant the occupation by them
Of Washington, and Lincoln vowed If
Lee was driven back, tosissue a proc
lamation abolishing slavery, which he
did. The battle was stubbornly and
ably fought on both sides, and the
Union forces were victorious. TWEEN
ty-fve thousand men were lost in this
battle, nearly equally divided between
the two sides.
All twas quiet along the Potomac
as we drove on, and but for the glist-
ening head-boards and monuments
which marked the graves Of the SOL
der boys, none would have imagined
we were within the confines Of the
fierce battle of Sharpsburg. The fields
were filed with waving corn; the birds
were sweetly singing, and happy con
tented look rested on the face of the
old earth.
We spent a short time in viewing the
historic points incident to the battle,
and were soon at Keedysville, on the
branch Of the B. & Q. r. r. A drive Of
three miles brought US to the quaint
little city of Boonsborough, at the foot
of South Mountain, and we began the
ascent Of its sloping drive. After rid
ing for an hour we reached the exact
spot where the gallant Reno fell. 1t
is marked by a handsome monument
of granite, 4 feet square at the base
and 5 feet high, and on the polished
front face Of the die, is the badge Of
the Ninth Army Corps, and the date.
This monument was unveiled and dedi-
Gated September, 1889.
The human mind almost fails to
grasp the awfulness of the fighting
around this point, where the fierce
dogs of war growled at each other
the clouds Of the heavens. Now
grim war has smoothed out herwrinkled
front, and lovely and beautiful, in the
early tints Of fall, lies all. the country
roundabout.
, | will not intrude further ON your
space, but advise Thereafter to embrace
the first opportunity to visit this fam
Gus field
0nr trip homeward in the evening,
as the shadows fell far out in the fields
andla mystic sheen bathed the bosom
Of the old Potomac, was beyond de-
and we feel well repaid for
our trip.