Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-01-04
WINCHESTER
1862
BY J. 4 scerr.

- Potomac into the Shenan.
doah. Valley and occupied Martins.
burg, the Confederate force falling
back temporarily. Coles Cavalry
was in the advance, and had a brisk
skirmish with the enemy at Bunker
Hill, where Major Coles horse was
shot under him. 1t was a quickly
fatal shot, and the position in which
he lay was so peculiar as to occasion
much remark. He seemed Just lying
down to rest, his neck elevated, and
ears pointed to front-just the posi-
ton horse would assume in lying
down naturally. The weather being
cold and decomposition thus delayed,
be lay in that position in the middle
OF the road long time. Some weeks
after, / had occasion to pass along
the road where the skirmish took
place. | was riding one horse and
leading another and could not get either
OF them to pass this horse, and was
compelled to make a detour in the
field TO the right to get past the spot.
At Winchester our cavalry was
principally employed in picketing the
roads in all directions. We had var
ious experiences with the disloyal cit
liens of the place. Our headquarters
were for awhile in a brick house on
the main business street, which street
at the time was terribly muddy from
curb to curb. Our flag was displayed
from a second story window, and
hung over more than half the width
of the sidewalk The ladies who
passed were careful to walk near the
curb to avoid passing under it, OBJ
serving which our boys arranged it
so as to cover the entire sidewalk
After that they would actually step
out into the deep mire of the street to
get around it. 1t amused our men
considerably. OF course none of the
male citizens acted in that way. One
Sunday morning I was walking in a
narrow side street, where the walk
was SO contracted as to admit of but
one passing comfortably along at a
time. The roadway was a mass of
filthy black mud Seeing a finely
dressed woman approaching, l step
ped into the mud with one foot togive
her room to pass on the brick walk.
She gathered her skirts together in
as small compass as she could and
as she passed me she CALCULATED,
Mean, contemplate Yankeel' That
was tie return for my courtesy.
did not say word but l wondered
what spirit possessed the woman. 1t
seemed to me they had all the bitter
ness that supreme hate could inspire
A Confederate soldier or even a Con
federate male citizen was always in
clined to be courteous, but a woman
never.
One picket post we all loved was
some two miles out on the Front
Royal road. Not that anything in
fha eoaear,, o-o.,.-J - x,-oe oJ1,--:.,~r
but that a real true and genuine
Uuion family lived near by, which
was precious oasis in the dreary
desert of rebellion by which we were
surrounded The family consisted
of the mother 0he father having been
compelled to fly ard two lovely and
noble daughters, all of whom had
made considerable sacrifice and in.
CURED trouble and danger in aiding
and sheltering Union soldiers. | be-
came we'll acquainted with them. and
like ali my comrades, did them all
the kindnesses could The soldiers
of the picket spent many pleasant
hours in their society at their hospita.
bic home They were native Virgin
ians, and were all the more appreciate
ed for that fact. As the troubles oil
the war thickened they removed from
their exposed home to Harpers Ferry,
to be more within the Union lines
My first night on picket at the fort
near their house was rough one-a
snow storm ragged the whole night
and some eighteen inches of snow fell
on level, with great decree of cold.
They were up long before daylight
and invited us all into their house tc
cook and ear our ratiors.
Once in a while the men OH picket
felt like having a little more and
daintier food to eat than the Govern
ment ration, and turkeys fell victims
and went into the mess and reappear.
ed in muscle with which to fight
Rebels. The foragers seemed always
to know where to find them.
Towards the latter part of March
symptoms began to be observable
among the disloyal that something
pleasing to them was on foot, and
which they hoped would rid them o
the detested Yankees for good and all
The demigod Of their worship
"Stonewall' Jackson, was pushing
down the Valley to wipe them out will
the bosom of destruction. For once
though they were woefully deceived
by the superior tactics of the Unior
commander. Feigning to be perfect
~ at his ease in regard to the rumo
he detached several thousand of hi:
force and started them apparently
for Washington. but in reality he lee
them only some four miles from Win
chester and held them there. keeping
| the citizens wholly in the dark abou
il, they thinking that like Johf
Browns soul they were marching
on. At this juncture General Jack
son made rapid marches on the plac
to scoop up what few Yankees wer
L.