Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-07-25
After getting a GOOD resi- al Lee

~1ltCl SCJlluS q SUUU EeSL dL Lee
town, east of Opequon Greek, Gen
eral Averill marched his squadron
back to the Winchester pike. Early
on the morning of the 10th he at.
tackled the enemy again at Buckles
town, but, finding they were too
strong, he fell back to Martinsburg.
This fight was hot one. Some of
US fired sixty rounds of ammunition.
Among the most conspicuous in this
fight was Captain Duncan, of our
regiment, who was killed a few days
later in saber charge at Winches-
ter. In this fight Lieutenant Jacob
Shoop, OF our regiment, was wound
ed in the thigh. Shoop said that he
did not mind the wound, but be did
not like the idea of having his new
breeches spoiled. In 1868, when
Lees army was in Pennsylvania, it
was this Lieutenant Shoop who
swan the Potomac river from the
West Virginia side to the Maryland
side at Williamsport under the
enemy's fire aud cut the Confeder-
ate's pontoon bridge on the Mary
land side. The bridge hoated
around to the West Virginia side.
As we fell back from Bucklestown
to Martinsburg, a soldier Of West
Virginian regiment lost his horse,
which was killed. He jumped on
behind another soldier and rode
backwards. On the retreat his face
was towards the enemy. In this
position he hadn't to turn around to
fire at the enemy-and he fired pref
ty often.
A SWEETHEART IN EACH ARMY.
We passed through the east end
OF Martinsburg, and took a position
at Opequon Creek to repeI the
enemy. We did not pass the house
where we saw the girl at the win.
dow, but we supposed that she was
there. War is funny thing ?"
said red .headed girl, who was sit.
ting on the step pairing peaches, to
soldier, mounted on gray horse,
who had stopped in front of her
house to fix the blanket under his
saddle. " Why is war a funny
thing" said the soldier. She hand.
ed the soldier peach, then said :
"The last few weeks | have noticed
that one day the Union Army is at
Martinsburg, and the next day the
Confederates. | can't see bit of
sense in racing each other through
Martinsburg. My father is a Union
man. My mother is a Confederate,
and l am neither, l have two soldier
friends. One belongs to AveriIl's
command, and the other is a Con
federate. They are both named
William. Mother calls one Billy
Yank, and the other, Billy Reb.
Well. ifBilly Yank is here for break
fast, Billy Reb is sure to be here for
supper, and if Billy Reb stops for
breakfast, in steps Billy Yank for
dinner. About two weeks ago Billy
Reb stopped to get something to
eat. He said the Yankees we're
coming, aud he was in hurry.
put plate on tho table, and told
him to sit down. 1 went to the Gel.
lar for some bread, add when | came
back, what do you think? Why,
Billy Reb was gone, and IN walked
Billy Yank and sat down to the
table. He said: How in the deuce
did you know that | would be here
for breakfast?' l have two buttons
that were given to me by these sol.
der as keepsake. One has on it
the American eagle. It's a pretty
bird, and father says 1t will never
die. The other has on it, sic SEM
per tyrannis.' Mother says this is
Virginia's motto. 1t means Ever
so to tyrants.'"
THE GIRL AT THE WINDOW AGAIN.
After sklrmishing for awhile
around Martinsburg the Confeder-
ates left. On the 18th we had an
other skirmiSh with the enemy near
Bucklestown.
The Confederates' last charge at
Martinsburg was on the morning of
the 18th, the day before the battle
Of Winchester. | remember that
was on picket that day on the Tus.
carora road, and we made a very
narrow escape from being captured.
AS we ran our horses past the house
where we saw the girl at the window
we saw her there again. She had
her back towards the south, and her
hair was hanging loose down over
he. back. Johnnie Bellos was not
with us.
There was some fighting around
Martinsbnrg that day. The next
day Gen. AveriIl moved his force to
Winchester. -AmeriedR