Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-09-19
What before was confusion grew worse;

deal of execution, but Il made a fearful
noise. II is curious how much louder
guns sound when they are pointed al
YOU than when turned the other way J
And the shell, ,withits long-drawn screech-
ing, though no doubt less terrifying than
the singing minie-ball, has away OF max
ing ones hair stand on ends. Then, too,
every one who has had any experience
in such things, knows how infectious
fear is, how il grows when yieldedto, and
how, when you once begin to run, it
soon seems impossible to run fast enough;
whereas, if you can manage to stand your
ground, the alarm lessons and sometimes
disappears.
Some one suggested that yellow was
the hospital color, and Immediately every
body who could lay hands upon a yellow
rag hoisted il over the house. The whole
town was hospital; there was scarcely
a building that could not with truth seek
protection under the plea, and the fantas-
tic little strips were soon Haunting their
Intellectual remonstrance from every roof
tree and chimney.
When this specific failedthe excitement
became wild and ungovemaole. ltwould
have been ludicrous had il not produced
so much suffering. The danger was less
than it seemed, for Mcclellan, after all,
was not bombarding the town, but the
army, and most OF the shells flew over
us and exploded in the fields; but aim
cannot be always sure, and enough shells
fell short 10 convince the terrified citizens
that their homes were about - be batter
ed down over their ears.
The better people kept some outward
GOODNESS, with perhaps feeling OF mo
blesse oelige;;" but the poorer classes
acted as If the town were already in
blaze, and rushed from their houses with
their families and household goods to
make their way into the country. The
road was thronged, the streets blocked
men were vociferating, women crying,
children screaming; wagons, ambulances,
guns, caissons, horsemen, footmen, all
mingIed-nay, even wedged and iammed
together in one struggling, shouting
mass. The negroes were the worst. and
with faces of ghastly ash color, and
staring eyes, they swamed into the fields,
carrying their babies, their clothes, their
pots and kettles. fleeing from the wrath
behind them. The comparison to hor-
nets nest attacked by boys is not good
one, for there was no flight" shown
but disturbed ant-hilI is altogether in
adequate. They fled widely and camp
ed out of range, nor would they venture
back for days.
Had this been all we could afford TO
laugh now, but there was another side TO
the picture that lent it an intensely pain
full aspect. II was the hurViug crowds
of wounded. All, me those manned
and bleeding fiIgitivesl When the firing
commenced the hospitals began 10 empty.
All who were able to pull one foot after
another, or could bribe or beg comrades
to carry them, left in haste.
In vain we implored them TO stay in
vain we showed them the folly, the sui
eide, oil the attempt; in vain we argued,
cajoled, threatened, ridiculed pointed
out that we were remaining and that there
was less danger here than on the road.
There is no sense or reason in a panic.
The cannon were believing upon Doug
lass Hill, the shells whistling and Shrek
ing, the air full Of shouts and cries we
had TO scream to make ourselves heard.
The men replied that fhe Yankees"
were crossing; that the town was TO be
burned; that we could not be made pris-
oners, but they could that, anyhow,
they were going as far as they could walk,
or be carried.
And go they did, men with cloths about
their heads went hatless in the sun, men
with cloths about their feet limped shoe
less on the stony road men with arms
in slings, without arms, with one leg,
with bandages sides and backs men IN
ambulances, wagons carts, wheelbarows,
men carried on stretchers or supported
on the shoulderof self-denying COM
rade-all who could crawl went. and went
to almost certain death. They could not
20 far, they dropped off into the country
houses, where they were received with
as much kindness as il was possible 10
ask for; but their wounds had become
infIamed, their frames were weakened by
fightand over-exertion; erysipelas, NOR
tificaton, gangrene set in; and long rows
Of nameless graves still bear witness to
the results.
Our hospitals did not remain empty.
II was but portion who could get off in
any manner, and their places were soon
taken by others, who had remained near
er the battlefield, had attempted to follow
the retreat, but, having reached Shep-
herdstown, could go no farther. We had
plenty to do, but all that day we went
about with hears bursting with rage and
shame. and breaking with pity and grief
for the needless waste Of life. The ANA
teur nurses all stood firm, and managed
to be cheerful for the sake OF keeping
their men quiet, but they could not be
without fear.
One who had no thought ofleaving her
post desired to send her sister-a mere
chiId--out Of harms way. She therefore
told her to go to their home, about half
mile distant, and ask their mother tor
some yellow cloth that was in the house,
thinking, of conrse, that the mother would
never permit the girl to come back into