The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-26

sotrON anu ueath, the hanu maluenS
Of war, shrouded themselves in the
clouds Of smoke that rolled heavily
over the battlefield Of Antietam. But
on this bright spring mofning gloomy
thoughts cannot linger very long, and
our party gaily descends from the
train at the little wooden shanty, dig
nifed by the name Of station, about a
mile distant from the village Of Sharps-
burg. We enter the various vehicles
which are waiting to receive us, and
away trot the patient little horses over
the splendid turnpike road, recently
built by the Government. We soon
enter the village. and drive past the
house which is generally pointed
out as havidg been Lees headquar-
tiers although in reality he only held
a consultation there with his generals.
At the Shay House, two important adj
ditions are made to our little party.
For the last two years, two gentlemen,
General Heath, better known as Gal
liant Harry Heath, Of the Confederate
troops, and Major Stearns, Of the I'm
| ion forces, have been engaged in max
ling maps and plans Of the field Of bat
tie, and marking by means Of posts,
| the positions OF the various regiments;
these posts are to be replaced at
the expense Of the Government by
stone monuments bearing inscriptions.
| We spend the morning in driving to
! the little white-washed Dunkard
Church, whence on account Of its ele-
waited position, we obtain a good view
| Of the surrounding country. One Of
the party, Colonel Robert McEldow'
ney, who took part in the fight, lin
Jackson's Brigade,) notices that the
tsEast Woods where his regiment
was stationed, have disappeared Hi
remarks elicit the information thai
they have been cut down, although
the "West Woods on the Other side
of the turnpike, still form noticea
BILE feature of the landscape. It i
hoped that the Government may buy
the farm, Of which tho battlefield nov
forms part, trees would then be re
planted, and the general aspect Of tn
ground be as far as possible restored
to what it was in 1862.
The next point of interest is th'
famous Bloody Lane" narrow roat
between high Banks, and dominated t
the East and South by rising ground
On these activities were stationed thu
Confederate cannon, which thus wer'
ENABLED to pour a raking fire through
the length Of thelane packes
as it was with the Federals; small
wonder that the spot merited III,
gruesome title bestowed upon it. Neal
here is monument erected by thu
+ Fifth Maryland regiment to the Nom
, DRY Of their fallen comrades, it marks
the nearest approach which the Union
ist made to the Southern lines on tina
part Of the field.
return to the hotel for lunch, aftel
\ which we start for the Burnside Bridg,
about mile and half distant. Oh
lone side the bank rises steeply, NOISY
, and cool, on the other, the grount
j slopes gently up, its rich golden colo
!. forming an effective background for {
i clump Of dark green trees growing
short distance away. It seems hare
to realize that the lazy little stream
! flowing at our feet, was once stained
| crimson with the blood Of scores
of brave men, yet there before
us, deeply embedded in the grey ston'
bridge, sticks the fragment of shell
9 d now mute but nnerring witness. w
t still have couple Of hours at our dis
8 posal before the train starts, and w
have not yot seen the cemetery, SAFE
9 to be one Of the most beautiful of al
g the national cemeteries, and truly !
deserves the praise. The lodge is
Z quaintstone structure, with towe
! from which a beautiful and extensiv,
! view is obtained. Mr.. George Hess
: the Superintendent, very kindly invite
us in, and shows us many interesting
old maps Of the field, together witt
) other relies Then we enter til
? grounds. Not a drive on pathwa,
I is to be scen, all is one velyety stretcl
Z Of greenest turf, on which the tree
1 are casting long shadows. In TIL
middle Of the cemetery is a colossa
statue Of soldier standing in a nat
nral and life, like attitude, very simple
! but very striking. The pedestal con
sists Of grey granite. All around
stand the plain white headstones will
J their short inscriptions, or it may be
! with only a number, and here AM
! there is a somewhat more elaborat'
monument, erected by regiment +
the members who have fallen.
After the noise and strife Of battle
I'm tha eoldiers have found peaceful