The Washington herald., 1914-09-20
CIVIL WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
Fought Near the Day Before and Its People Were Mnieng to
the Needs Of Friend FO Amid Fean and Aam-Eyey House
Hospital
cwritten expressly for The Washington Herald.>

ness that they had rather have every
friend they had die and die themselves
than have the South submit to a restora-
ton with those whom they esteemed to
be its enemies. believe they meant
what they said. and would abide by Il
to the letter.
Such women as these are influential
enemies. and 1t will be said by many
that they deserve all the insult and harm
they have received in return for their
enmity. do not think so -
Joy Mt Seeing the Flag.
Here and there in the lower valley the
FederaIs had found women devoted to
the Union cause. Some Of them served
as spies for Gen. Sheridan, others had
the courage to display their loyalty TO
the flag among their Confederate neigh
bors. OF such a one a correspondent
wrote:
Il cannot refrain from as much won
der as admiration Of the few among the
many in the valley who preserve devo-
ton to the cause of the Union. One
incident will always be grateful and
thrilling in the memory of this army.
While the troops were passing through
Winchester un August, three young and
accomplished ladies. wearing the colors
Of our flag upon their breasts. and wav-
ing the same banner borne by the march
| ing regiments, stood in front of a single
dwelling smiling welcome.
ITO the officers who stopped to greet
them they expressed a heartfelt joy at
the presence of our soldiers. and to those
officers they babe farewell with trem-
! bling voices. and eyes swimming in re-
| gretful tears"
Whether these girl patriots were there
to greet the Federals when they marched
back through Winchester does not APP
pear.
| Farmers Appeal.
Countless stories were told by veterans
| and correspondents of battle incidents
in which the residents of the valley
| figured in the campaigns Of 1884.
One, falling in the period Of the
army's original advance and retreat. in
early August, was as follows: Scores
Of dwellings bear evidences Of battle,
| gazing at which one is tempted to be-
! lIeve that there is not a rod in the Shen-
andoah Valley which has not at some
time been measured over by the range
| Of a musket ball or at least by the
longer passage of a shell
II conversed with a farmer yesterday
who had been cheerfully convinced, by
the remote situation OF his house from
the usual paths taken by the enemy's
armies, that 1t would never be disturbed
by actual fighting. He was somewhat
startled out of this conviction by the
noise of battle scarcely two miles away.
But as the firing ceased toward night
fall and no gun had been fired near his
doors he slept in peace.
During the night this army retired &c
Halltown. A cavalry skirmish, beginning
at daylight. gradually swept on to his
farm, neared his dwellings, and finally
the enemy's sharpshooters began pro
| fhapnCplVa9 firing
hind its walls. His wife was Ill in heI
bed. The bullets. which battered agains
the logs and upon the stone doorstep
and the discharge Of firearms at tbs
very door, were not the most agreeable
sounds to the ears OF an invalid.
The farmer stepped TO the entrance
and begged a soldier standing there L
go away. IN be damned If do wa
the answer. The Yankees FIRE at Vi
from behind houses. and we must taxi
the same privilege
THE farmer closed the door. but, open
ing It again soon afterward, he appealed
to another soldier who stood near to it
Ny friend, are you a married mann
7 am said the soldier.
"'why7'
! only this responded the farme
pathetically. I've got a wife in her
who is so III that she cannot get up of
| HeF Dcu- AnlS noise Is naI hllllnB nef
II you have any pity. l beg that yor
, will find some other place to shoot from
This appeal was successful, and tn
soldier Immediately took himself else
where"
Scenes like this. but not of such happ
termination, now daily broke the peac
! Of the inhabitants of the valley, ant
wherever the Federals went taIl column
Of smoke rose from burning barns. mill
! and haystacks.
Sheridan was now carrying out wit
: stern face and harsh hand Gen. Grant
order to make the valley a barrei
E waste.
: recommendation PursuIt o.
tcouHsA. pL,