Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-05-31


the various colleges and pathetic TO the
matrons OF the town, excited the mirth OF
the veterans. "The new ISSUE" they
jeered. "Go home 10 mamma" A
band struck up "Rock-a- by baby, and
convulsed with laughter the men accom-
panied it, rocking their guns in their
arms as if putting baby 10 sleep. The
next time they greeted the "babies' it
was with barred heads and shouts OF ap-
plause.
ON TO NEW MARKET.
Passing on through Harrisonburg by
the Valley pike, on the evening OF the
fourteenth they pitched camp within nine
miles OF New Market. The march, sew
enty miles from Lexington, had progress
ed steadily through rain and mud. Warmth
and food were grateful. These sup
piled, wrapped in their blankets, and
unmindiul OF the angel that follows in the
wake OF armies, sleep came unbidden to
youthful eyes.
The old town OF New Market made FAM
Gus by the days valorous fray, struggles
along the Valley pike in a narrow plain
lying between MaSsanutten Mountain and
a bold range of foothills The crest OF
Shirley'S Hill 10 the left OF the pike, on
which the cadets took position about one
O'Clock on Sunday, May the fifteenth, was
perhaps half mile from the first line OF
the enemy. In the intervening space the
hill deScends 10 transverse road, hedged
on one side by stake and-rider fence.
AT that time a stone wall formed the other
boundary and girdIed the slope OF a SIM
liar elevation beyond. On the broad
plateau of this opposite he ght, in little
Lutheran church yard among the monu-
ments of the dead, the FederalS had post
ed a battery in the rear OF their infantry
lines.
Aiming over the heads OF their own
troops, the battery opened fire as soon as
the battalion in which the cadets were
ranged came in sight.
The Confederate troops, about three
thousand strong, under the general COM
mand OF Breckenridge, were disposed
south OF the town. Two thousand OF
these under General Wharton, an old V.
M. |. cadet. were posted on the west side
OF the pike; Echols's brigade, the cadets,
and Colonel Edgar's battalion forming the
second line.
The Federal forces under Sigel were
formed in two lines north OF New Market,
and spread like grasShoppers for multi
tude" from Smiths Creek, mile on the
east, TO the crest OF the hill and into the
woods on the west. Between these op-
posing forces lay the town with pop
ulation sifted OF its able e-bodied males and
composed mostly Of women, children and
old men.
The remaining thousand Confederate
troops, stationed on the pike and east
ward. were made up OF the artillery, ten
pieces with the two cadet guns command
ed by Cadet Captain Minges, and small
body OF calvary led by General lmboden.
This narrative is concerned only with
the forces in position on Shirley'S Hill.
FIRST BLOOD.
II was not General Wharton'S first in
tention 10 use the cadets. as he believed
he could dslodge the FederalS with his
own brigade. Concealed by some friendly
cedars, he went down the hill afoot in
order 10 get better command OF the Sit
uation. Observing that the Federal bat
teries had full sweep of the face OF the
hill, he sent instructions 10 the officers in
charge OF the first line TO advance double
quick down the slope regardless OF order,
haltng and reforming at the road in the
ravine.
This move was accomplished with such
rapidity that the enemy failed TO get their
range and overshot, not Single man re-
ceiving wound. Echols, with whom
the cadets were brigaded, followed at two
hundred and fifty PAGES in The rear. BY
the time this second line had reached the
same ground the Federal gunners had got
the exact range.
General Wharton's directions had not
been transmitted 10 Colonel Shipp, lead
ing the cadets, The command was TO
advance
The battery in the churchyard pouring
deadly tire must be silenced. Down came
the corps with beautiful precision, NOV
ing with The light tripping gait OF the
French infantry, as ii on dress parade.
Double quickp shouted Colonel
Shipp, perceiving their exposure to the
enemy's guns and they broke into a long
trot. But in a moment there was ter
rible crash. A shell had exploded in their
very faces. Captain Hill. tactical officer
OF Company c, and five Of the lads went
down. But as the order was given,
"Close 10, men," they ran together el-
bow 10 elbow and filled the gap.
Leaving their comrades 10 weller in
their blood under the falling rain and amid
the screeching bullets blowing the earth
around them, they pressed on to join the
veterans, and pausing under cover OF the
stone fence only long enough to correct
the alignment, began clamberiug over the
wall and up the bank to the top OF the hill
where the enemy was posted.
THE CHECKED RETREAT.
As they advanced, giving and receiving
a whitening fire, twice the Federal line re-
tired. Captain Town, already quoted,
says OF the battery now doing such deadly
work:
"Von Kleiser's battery consisted OF
four brass Napoleon guns and 1.-TWO twelve
FOUNDER howitzers. II was a good bat
terry, and lis commander was very proud