Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-10-19

and quickly and Indignantly turning
his back on them he rejoined me.
Burroughs were occasionally grant
ed to those who desired them. In the
month of February, 1862. secured
one for the purpose of a horseback trip
to Gettysburg. My road lay along
the pike five miles to Shepherdstown,
where would cross the river on a
barge, the bridge there having been
burned. The weather was very cold.
Armed with pistol and saber / mount
ed and left camp before daylight. 1t
was showing To ride from Kear-
neysville to Shepherdstown along the
pike was considered at this time
safe enough thing to do, as the region
had recently been quiet, no organized
force of the enemy being known to be
near. Yet, there being no Union
troops at Shepherdstown, and none
along the way to the place, and as
was supposed, there were very few
loyal people in it, felt l would rath-
er get through it and over the river
before daylight, as it might be safer.
| came in sight of Shepherdstown in
the gray of the morning without
having seen soul. Just before l
reached street where must turn to
the right at sharp angle, l heard
the clatter of a galloping horse. Be-
fore l could even imagine who it
might be, rider and horse turned into
the pike facing me and came on,
though at slower gait. The rider
was stout well-built man, profusely
armed and in Confederate uniform.
Neither of us paused, but kept right
on, passing each other closely with
out word. Having to turn down
the street up which he came, l could
not look back to see what he might
be doing, but l rode rapidly to the
river in some trepidation for fear
there might be more of the same sort
around. Arrived at the river and
beginning to again breathe freely
with the thought that l should soon
have it as barrier between me and
any of the enemy who might be in
the town, found to my dismay that
the barge was on the Maryland side,
and, no movement being visible there,
it was necessary for me to shout for
the bargemen to come and ferry me
over. In answer to my shouts man
made his appearance and hallooed
across to me that the barge was frozen
up tight in the ice and could not be
moved-that would have to cross
somewhere else. Here was a pretty
kettle of fish! 1t was broad daylight,
and necessary for me to return
through the town and over the FIVE
long bleak miles on the pike back to
camp in the teeth of snow storm,
and besides with the risk of being
shot or snapped up by the wayl An
other vexatious thing was a day of
my furlough lost, as it would be nee
essary for me to ride to Harpers Ferry
to cross on the pontoon, and could
not do more than thattill night. How
ever, l rode safely back to Kearneys-
vile, informed the camp authorities of
my meeting the man at Shepherds
town, when they sent out a scout in
that direction, and I rode to Harpers
Ferry, stayed there all night, and
crossed the river next morning on my
way to Gettysburg.
The ladies of Emmittsburg, Md,
had presented one of our companies
with lovely flag On the day we
burned our tents and other property
when we had so suddenly to retreat
from Kearneysville, we were mounted
and in line, the company flags we've
flying at the head of each company
One of the members of the Emmitts-
bnrg flag company happened to fall
in about the rear of the line Some
of the boys, knowing his weak spot,
thought they saw chance for a little
quiet fun. This man had not been
well-which he ne1ey did when the
Rebels were around. The remark
was quietly made-in his hearing
that the rear would likely have some
fighting to do. This soon took effect.
The man quietly withdrew from his
place in the ranks and rode to the
head of the company and was seen in
conversation with the captain. By
the next thing he did the boys saw
what the talk had been about. He
rode to the front and the flag was
handed to him to carry. Here was
another chance too good to be lost.
One man, riding up to the flag bearer,
addressed him with great solicitude,
saying, GOOD heavens, my dear fell
low, you say you are not well, yet
you put yourself in the most danger
Gus and responsible place in the line.
If the Johnnies attack US, they will be
sure to go for our beautiful silk flag
the first thing as trophy, and we
must struggle for it to the death. We
must not let them have that. So,
look out!'' The boys then watched
| him after the comrade rode away, and
very soon saw him ride back to the
captain. He told the latter that since
taking the flag to hold he had been
struck with such pain in his shout
ders from rheumatism that he was re.
luctantly obliged to give it upl The
captain called man from the ranks
to take it, and so the victim of practi-
cal joking was relieved, and just Their
we all had to leave quickly. Thus
the boys amused themselves undel