Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-12-16

S h'ou'h VI James river
The ship Virginia, formerly the Mer.
rimac, having been completed incased
with iron, steamed out into Hsmn,on
Roads, ran into the Federal vessel
Cumberland and then DESTROYED the
Congress and ran the Minnesota
ashore. Others were damaged We
have heard nothing further, but this
is glory enough for one day, for which
we viii thank God and take COURAGE {"
The affection and kindness with
which the Southern women wrote is
proof OF their disinterested interest in
the Negroes welfare. The same writer
continues under the date of July IS:
A number of servants from w and
,. II. lWestwood and Summer HID
homes of DR.. Brockenbrough and Cap
tain Newton, in Hanover county. and
indeed, from the whole Pamunky river
went of with their Northern friends
am sorry for them, taken from their
comfortable homes to go they know moi
where and be treated they know not
how. Our man Nat went, TO whom
was very partial, because his mother
was the maid and humble friend of nv
youth and because | had brought him
up. He was a comfort TO us as a driver
and hostler, but now that we have
neither home, carriage nor horses it
makes but little difference with US; but
how with his slow habits he is TO sup
port himself can't imagine The wish
for freedom is natural, and if he prefers
1t, so far am concerned he is well
come TO it. shall be glad to hear he
is doing we'll. Mothers went off leaving
children-in two instances infants.
Lord have mercy upon these poor mis-
guided creatures"
In October of the same year Mrs.
Mcguire records: Our man Nat. and
some others who went off, have return
ed. The reason they assign is, that the
Yankees made them work too hard"
The diary continues:
"LuXurieS na,. bCln Given NJ long
ago, by many persons. Coffee Is 81
per pound Confederate currency, and
good tea from SIS to $50 ;butter ranges
from Sl.50 to $500 per pound; lard, 30
cents; corn, SIS per buShe, and wheat.
$3.50 per bushel. We can't get muslin
dress for less than Sc or SO per yard :;
calico, Sis, etc. This last is no great
hardship, for we all resort to homeSpun.
We are knitting out own stockings AMI
regret that We did not learn to spin and
weave. The North Carolina home
spun is exceptionally pretty, and makes
a genteel dress"
lairf she states:
We are very NJ ch occupied by our
Sunday schools-white in the morning
and colored in the afternoon" She
writes with touching reverence con-
corning the death of Gen. T. j. Jackson,
and adds: "His body was carried by
yesterday in a car to Richmond. AL
most every lady in Ashland visited the
car with wreath or cross of the most
beautiful flowers, as tribute to the
illustrious dead. An immense con-
course had assembled in Richmond, as
the solitary car, containing the body of
the great soldier, accompanied by a
suitable escort, slowly and splemnly
approached the depot. The body lies
in state today at the capitol, wrapped in
the Confederate flag and literally COW
erd with lilies of the valley and other
beautifunl spring flowers. Tomorrow
the sad cortege will wend its way to
Lexington, where he will be buried, ac-
cording to his dying request, in the
Valley of Virginia.
AN incident connected with Rion
Hall and its looting is given. "The
place was overrun by regiment COM
posed largely of foreigners in the Fed
eral service. Among those then at Rion
Hall was the Rev. E. B. Bedinger and
his family, consisting of his wife and
several small children. Regardless of
the protests of Mr.. BedinGer, the SOL
Giers went into the room of his wife,
who was i'll.
LAS one of the men was riling the
contents Of the bureau, Mrs Bedinger,
with her young baby beside her and
her other terror-stricken children
around her bedside, called to the. man
in the midst of looting:
"'Don't you know that God sees
you and that he will punish YOU for
this?'
"'Achn was the grulf response, after