Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-11-21
Fifty Years Ago at sharpsburg.

Fifty wears ago, September 10Th, 1862,
the writer of these lines entered Snarps-
burg. MARYLAND, as a SkirmiSher OF the
Union forces. Our line advanced along
both sides of the road from keedysville
until we reached a low arched stone
bridge which spanned the Antletam near
the outskirts of the town. After crossing,
we deployed and the part OF the line 10
which belonged soon entered the Town
and advanced through the yards OF cot
tapes that faced the road which led out
toward Shepherdstown and its nearby
lords. There seemed to be an alley IN
the rear of the yards OF these cottages
running parallel to the street in front.
I recall one or more churches upon this
street. The steepie OF one was shell
riddled and all were used as hospitals.
| take il that this was the main street OF
the little burg. | had the alley in my
favor. and had not gone very tar before
a halt was ordered. II was now learned
that the Confederate army had recrossed
into Virginia. While awaiting orders at
this point, others there and myself be-
held two impressive sights that still
linper in my memory. Near the kitchen
door OF small cottage that fronted on
this main street an open well had been
dug, and the same was enclosed by a
wooden platform. A wooden win dlass
was erected upon it and rope and we'll
bucket properly attached thereto.
A thirsty soldier had endeavored TO
draw water therefrom, and while thus
employed a mercilesS shell struck the
upper part of his body and not only
Thoroughly disemboweled him, but LETT
scarcely shred OF his other internal or
gans intact. g ,
There what was left Of the body OF a
manufacturing man lay upon that plat
form. The position OF the upper limbs
seemed TO indicate that he was cut down
and ushered into eternity while turning
the handle OF that MINDLESS. While cast
ing our ewes about us we observed that
an upright two-by-four near the kitchen
door had been completely severed,
evidently by this same missile that had
killed the man in quest OF water at the
well. The line of travel seemed to be
exactly the same, and about the same
| distance from the surface OF the ground.
Our curiosity was now more fully aroused.
| The kitchen door stood wide open. We
entered the small enclosure and beheld
This sight: Near the door, prone upon the
floor, lay a young soldier in the cold enl-
brace OF death Evidently, the same
deadly missile that killed the man outside
| and shattered the ioiSt had struck him
first. and after almost destroying one OF
his legs passed on and out and then pos
| sibly exploded when il reached the man
at the well.
Our stay there was so short that we
could not arrive at any sure conclusions
as TO lust how all that came about, but
do wish to assure those that read these
lines of sad but too true little story.
Those of us whose lot 1t was TO witness
this very unusual happening in cruel val
were deeply impressed.
In one corner OF this kitchen there stood
a corner-cupboard. The doors were
wide open. My impression was then
that this hungry young man had been
there in the hope OF finding something TO
appease the cravings OF an appetite that
had not, perhaps, been fully satisfied thus
far from the granarieS OF Maryland.
Somewhere in there he had found a
string or straw WiSp OF onions, which
no doubt had recently been punched &C
cording to the custom then in vogue by
some provident mother for the famlly'S
winter use. 1t may be that some young
people will better understand the recital
of this second incident if say that in that
| day bunch OF straight, stiff straw, per-
haps eighteen inches long, would be
| selected. Then several large sized onions
would form bottom layer OF this onion
cone. Then through the aid OF tWlne
this and successive punches, each bunch
selected being smaller than the preced-
ing one, would be tightly fastened to this
support or backbone OF straw until the
upper end of the cone was reached.
| Our inference was that after securing
this straw wiSp OF onions he had started
for the door. He held the large bunch in
his left hand near the top; with his right
hand he had pulled off one handful and
placed them in left breast coat pocket
Then after graSping the second handful
from the WiSp he was struck by solid
shot or shell and no doubt fell dead Still
clutching them.
The writer will be pleased to have one
or more of the citizens OF SharpSburg,
now living, who knew OF this happening
at the time or may have learned through
others now passed on, to publish state
ment to that effect in one of your papers
which will tend 10 corroborate my recital
in essential particulars. | would like &c
have fuller knowledge OF the history
of those men when alive and as TO what
disposition was made OF their bodies
Let us always give food to the hungry
and water to the thirsty for il is all from
| the Lord.
WIN. COFFIN REIFF,
Co; H. 9th, P. Y; v,