Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-01-10
Written for the Register
An Incident of the Civil War at Bunker
Hill, w. Va.


An Incident of the Civil War at Bunker
Hill, w. Va.
When General Patterson crossed
the Potomac at Williamsport and ad-
vanced as far as Bunker Hill, Stuart 8
cavalry was dismounted in an orchard
south of that place The enemy by
some means had discovered their po-
stiou and while the cavalry were ly-
ing down unconscious of danger,
moved battery in position, and cut
loose at them. The men had not yet
gotten used to the screaming Of solid
shot and bursting shells-in fact many
of them had never seen a piece Of ar
tlllery.
As soon as the first shell struck and
exploded, Col. Stuart gave the COM
mand to mount, but it was unneces-
sary, for every man was in his saddle.
We were ordered to move out Of the
orchard, marching in two columns,
Captain C at the head of the col
umn on the right. When out of the
orchard, the enemy still continued to
L
drop shells among Us, many OF them
blowing great holes in the ground.
The men now stood with their backs
towards the enemy and could not see
what was going on. Stuart saw that
something must be done, so he gave
the command to Captain C to
fright oblique," pronouncing it "ob-
like" C in the confusion re-
peated the command in loud tone
Ito break and they did break, and
in such a manner that caused scene
hard to describe, every man for HIM
self and the devil take the hindmost.
The ambulance train was on the pike
leading to Winchester. The cavalry,
running at a great rate of speed, was
going in the same direction, but some
distance west of the pike, saw the am
balances going up the pike like a
whirlwind, thought it was the enc
my's flying artillery trying to get
around them, and the ambulance dri-
vers thought the cavalry was the Yam
KEGS trying to head them off.
To make the scene more ludicrous
there was company armed with
long-range shotguns, which they car
ried strapped to their backs. They
also wore broad-brim hats. These
fellows with the shotguns took uI
considerable room in passing through
thick piece Of timber The broad
brim hats futtering in the wind with
the crack of the shotguns gave fresh
impetus to the gang as they dashed
on. Occasionally a fellow with a
long-range gun would run between
two trees, the horse leaving the rider
Absalom-llke, dangling in the air
One of these men as he fell to the
ground discharged his gun, and think
ing the enemy had shot him cried fol
help, but his cry was unheeded. On
they dashed until they came to a
stone fence. They were all good
horsemen, well mounted, and at a rur
could leap the stone fence with ease
There was one poor fellow who
thought his horse could not jump, and
with look of terror upon his face
cried out for some one to throw down
the fence, "By the life, Barney cant
Jump" Now, there was no time fol
idle conversation. 1t takes time tC
throw down stone fence and about
this time every one seemed to be in a
hurry. With look of despair he
closed his eyes, gave Barney the spur
and cleared the fence with ease
Those that were in front now stopped
and waited for the rest to come up
Having concluded that they had gont
far enough they turned back to look
for the wounded. They soon came
to fellow with long-range shotgun
lying on his back with his gun under
him. They turned him over very
tenderly to examine his wound, when
behold, they found nothing but
splinter sticking in his back. When
told that it was only splinter he
said, I'll be goldarned I'll never
hear the last of this"
A commissioned officer in jumping
the fence bit his tongue. He never
stopped until he got to Winchester
and remained there until sent for