Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-01-30
The Cadets Of New Market.

CIe III wv 4 4''N
ard Morton:
Opposite is the enemy's line Of gray,
belching forth fire and smoke. Those
Immediately in front of US are COM
paratively inactive. They have not
vet mended their broken fences. We
look to the further end of the rebel
line. Out from an orchard steps
small body of gray-clad troops. Some
thing about them attracts our atten-
ton, their marching and alignment
are perfect, their step is unlike that
Of the veterans who marched against
our front. Their movements are those
of a crack battalion on dress parade.
They look like boys; the strong glasses
show that they are boys.
1t is the battalion of pupils from the
Virginia Military Institute, 225 in
number. These little fellows, whose
ages range from IA to l6years' drawn
from the best families of the Old
Dominion, have closed their books
for the summer vacation, but instead
of returning to their homes and max
ing glad the hearts of fond parents
ard brothers and sisters, were told to
take their cadet muskets and JOIN the
army in the Valley. They have just
arrived and are eagerly marching to
their baptism of blood. War is cruel
at best, but who can excuse the cruel
ty that risks such bright young lives
even in righteous cause?
Opposite them, holding the right OF
our line is battery Of six twelve
Founders. The commander has OBJ
served the cadet battalion and opened
fire on it. The shells burst among the
boys, but they don't seem to be dis
tm bed in the least. Forward towards
the black monsters the line moves as
though parading on the smooth lawn
of the military institute whence they
came. Palings are being knocked
from their fence, but they close up and
present an unbroken line.
We ask ourselves can thoy be so
rash as to charge the battery. 1t Is
commencing to look that way. On
on, they march, their line as straight
as rule. more palings are knocked
from the living fence, and repairs are
made as before, but the fence is short
er. They are almost in canister
range, surely they will face about and
retrace their steps; but no, the little
heads bend lower as they face the
iron storm, the little muskets are
grasped tighter as on, on they rush.
God have mercy on them. The dead
ly canister sweeps through their
ranks, shorter and shorter grows the
line.
Heaven pity their poor mothers,
whose prayers are even now rising to
Heaven for their darlings safety. Oh,
that some pitying hand would stretch
! out to stay them; but, on, on, on, they
march, right into the jaws OF the black
monsters; now they enter the smoke
they disappear; the thunder of SIX
great guns is silenced; juvenile
shout is heard, and the survivors o.
that little band of heroes have captur'
ed the battery.
Scarce have we realized that they
are victors until we find that they have
manned the captured guns and turned
them down our lines. The supporting
line of rebel infantry dash across the
plain, with the blood of four of these
young heroes.
Forward moves the entire line o
the enemy. The rebel yell is given a:
they dash towards our demorallzec
troops. Our right is crowded back
the centre wavers. We run our gum
forward, and by cross-frlng agar
check the rebel advance on the centre
Back, back, swings our right; confu
sion takes the place of order, and W
see our infantry hurrying to recros
the Shenandoah. Batteries timber ~
and gallop back to take a new posi-
tien across the river. The cavalr,
and our battery are ordered to cove
the retreat. We move over to tn
pike. Dead and wounded thickl.
strew our pathway. Carefully W
move them to one side or pick ou
way among them.
Fire in retreat Fix prolOngs
the order. The trail of the gun is at