Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-09-30

an ambulance ana carried MIN IN. MY
good old mother put him in her own bed,
as it was the only bed We had down
stairs. When we laid him down he
looked up at me and said, 'Sister, what
a good, soft bed" Mother had an old
time feather bed, and if must have felt
soft TO him after lying on the-hard ground.
This sweet little cadet was from Amelia
county, Va. His name was Thomas Gar
land Jefferson. He was about 10 years
of age, was blue-eyed and had golden
hair. | will never forget him and his
sweet, boyish face. He was shot in the
breast, and the bullet was cut out Of his
back. His sufferings were intense, but
he bore up so well and never complained.
Cadet Ezekiel nursed him very tenderiy.
His own mother could not have done
more for him. All, those were noble
youths | feel proud today to think we
have such grand institution in old Viz
ginia that can make such brave soldiers
out of boys. When Cadet Jefferson fell,
two of his comrades hastened TO his aid.
Indifferent to his own comfort, with out
stretched hand he pointed 10 the front,
saying, "That is the place for you; you
can do me no good" He urged them to
the front, saying words which should be
immortal. The evening before he died
he called Cadet Ezekiel TO read for him.
He read the l4th chapter OF Saint John:
"Let not your heart be troubled. Ye be-
lieve in God, believe also in me. In my
Fathers house are many mansions. go
to prepare a place for YOU" What a
death-bed scene-the little Jew cadet
reading the New Testament to his Christ
ian comrade in his last hours. Could
anything be more touching? went TO
smooth his pillow, and he said, "sister,
what beautiful hands," He called, 'Dun
can, come and light a candle, it is grow
ing dark" The blindness Of death came
over him. He died about midnight in
Moses Ezekiel's arms. He was buried
in the old church-yard, where they fought
so bravely. Those were noble boys and
Virginia should be very proud OF them.
The day they marched away they gave
me his gray jacket TO keep for his mother
and the big mimic ball which DR.. Russell
Meem cut out. wrote letter 10 his
mother and gave her the history OF his
last hours. She did not know her little
boy was called out, but thought he was
safe in Lexington, Va. When she got
the news that he was dead she sent for
me. went down to Amelia county and
staid with those good, kind people till
just a few days before the surrender OF
our beloved chieftain, Robert E. Lee.
General Lee had moved his supplies from
Richmond, and the big guns were staring
me in the face. The army was falling
back TO Amelia Court House. ! left in
one OF the last cars TO 60 over the road
TO Lynchburg. II was only a big box car.
When got in had TO sit down in the
straw on the floor. The car was filled
with our poor men just out of prison.
They were living skeletons. Before we
left Amelia my brother came on from
Richmond to come home with me. The
day we left Amelia Court House Mrs.
Jefferson filled a sack with nice biscuits,
ham and chicken. Oh, was so glad !
had il with me. As long as life lasts will
| remember these poor wasted hands
that reached out to me for some OF it, and
how thankful these poor men were for
that good taste of ham and chicken.
When we got TO Lynchburg we found
that the Yankees had torn up the canal,
and we had no way TO get home. | could
not get back to Amelia, so my brother
and started to walk home. We left
Lynchburg a beautiful spring morning
and walked the old tow-path to Lexing-
ton. We walked about p miles day,
and just had to beg something TO eat on
the way. How often think OF that kind
old couple up in the Blue Ridge noun
tain, old Mr.. and Mrs. Ogden. How
kind they were TO us, and kept us over
night, gave us such good meals and filled
a sack to last till we got TO Lexington.
The next night we stopped over with
an old friend, Col. Mohler, from Page,
who moved to Rockbridge before the
war. He met me with outstretched arms
and did so much for our comfort. He
was so glad TO see old friends from the
Valley and treated US so kindly. We
had fine weather and stood the trip
well. The scenery along the old tow
path was grand and beautiful and it did
me good TO look over this fine country.
When we arrived in Lexington the first
thing saw was the blackened walls Of
the dear old V. NJ |. Hunter and his
raiders had been there and burned this
fine old institution of learning. The dis
tance walked was about 63 miles, not
100, as the paper said. When We got TO
Lexington We found stage on the line
TO take us TO our home in the Shenandoah
Valley.
could write more and tell you of the
dark days when Sheridan and his host
burned our barns and mills. The black
smoke went up and We could smell the
wheat burning. don't see how We
were able to live in those dreadful times.
know often went to bed hungry. For
ty-five years have passed away since that
memorable day May Is, 1864. am an
old woman now, ''three score years and
ten," but the incidents of that day are as
fresh in my mind as if if had taken place
yesterday. | made the pilgrimage 10
Lexington, Va, the most interesting place
in our beautiful Southland. Here repose