Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-10-03

during energy and utter self-sacrifice
which characterize the whole Southern
armies; for however high and solemn
may be the motives assigned by politi-
clans and writer's, we have very much to
do at last with the convictions of those
who are to send and to receive the dead
ly ball.
When brave young cavalry man first
came in sight of the northern army as it
appeared upon cur left their vast num-
bers and military appearance he said
his heart sunk within him, not for him
self but for his cause. His thought was
how can this multitude be driven back
to their rightful homes? His second was
they must be driven back or die. He
lived 10 see that host melt away as the
host ofthe Syriansin in the time ofElisha.
The battle was upon rolling ground,
with here and there thick vines and thin
skirts Of woods and bushes. At one
place a regiment of the MOTT thern army
suddenly emerged displaying a confed-
crate flag and some one cried, Don't
fire, we are your friends.
They employed the time in getting
nearer before they levelled their pieces.
Many of our men of course fell. But
soon the slaughter on the other side was
fearful. An eyewitness relates that he
saw at one place ravine filled with the
dead and wounded many deep, writhing
like worms amidst wounded and strug-
Cling horses, some crying for water and
others for some one in mercy to shoot
them.
After battle of nine hours (which but
for the skillful fanking movements al
ready mentioned would have been fin
ished III three the enemy fled i'll utter
route and confusion for more than 20
miles. The real entertainments at the
Junction itself you are aware were never
reached at all The first stories about
masked batteries, being caught in a
trap, the fright Of the teamsters, etc,
need no contradiction. The panic" did
not take place until the battle was fairly
ended and the Federal army was III
full retreat and it was not without cause,
for the retreating host was being pur-
sued and dslaughterednot only by cavalry
but by infantry.
The battle continued until so late an
hour that most of the enemy's wounded
lay upon the field until the next day.
Before morning it began to rain and
many were found with their tongues out
to appease their thirst and of course
otherwise in the EXTREMIST torture, 50
that one might we'll have said 81 praise
the dead that are already dead more
than the living thatare yet alive" They
are now scattered ali along from Centre
vile 10 Richmond.
l was only able to visit those taken to
Sudley Church, and the houses, sheds
and tents which were near it. On the
fourth day there were near 500 alive
The communion tablewas taken for am
putations and was literally dripping
with human blood. Many had died, as
many as so in one day.
One had a frightful wound i'll the hip
from a cannon shot, and was crying for
chloroform. Icalled to see him the next
day, but found that his leg had been ia
ken off at the hip joint and he had died
few minutes after. Another was dying
in all the contortions of lock jaw, all
other was undergoing an amputation
Somc with death upon their faces spoke
of wives and children whom they were
no more to see and told how cruelty they
had been deceived by those who brought
them into Virginia. talked with many.
Some seemed careless. y few were
grateful to hear of salvation, and did
what I could to lead them to Christ as
the last and only but ready aud all sut-
fcient help for dying sinners. l spent
more time with them than with our own,
as they were far from home and friends,
and now regret that broken i'll health
and heart as I was, did not stay with
them longer. They all said with graft
tudc that everything was done for them
that could be done by our surgeons and
people. Providentially some of their
surgeons were captured and others see
ing the field covered with their wounded
nobly refused to fly, but staid with them
to the credit of their characters and their
profession. As 10 the dead they were
being buried through Monday and Tues
day-pilcd up i'll wagons-some carried
to long trenches, some TO ravlnes, which
from their numbers and the heat OF the
weather was all that could be done. 50
late as the fifth day l rode among the
dead-some disembowelled, some had
crawled into the fence corners, some into
the bushes, lying in every posture OF ag-
ony, among horses and broken gun car
riages, covered with flies, black and fes-
tering in the sun. One counted I63 from
the road. These were mostly the hre
Zouaves and have since been buried. As
to the numbers of dead, wounded and
prisoners I could give the estimates, but
the whole loss from all causes to the
Grand Army" would not probably fall
much short of 10000. These estimates,
however, there are no means OF verifying
with accuracy. Official" reports, fear,
are not to be depended on. Some OF
them know to be altogether erroneous
and deceptive.
Among the articles taken upon the
field were 65 cannon with all their ap-
purtenances, not less than 10000 stands
of arms, $50 wagons loaded with provis-