Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-09-22

thSiI HSCeSSiteS. Inc good women OF
the town and vicinity, like ministerine
angels, set themselves to the task of
making as comfortable as possible the
stricken soldiers. Many family
went without its usual meals the next
day and afterward in order that the
wounded might first be served. The
women made broths and SOUPS and
cooked such provisions as they could
get and then carried them to the places
where the wounded we're Waiting
many of them, oh, so hungry!
There were many pathetic incidents,
OF course. One young fellow, as a good
woman leaned over him and asked
II he wanted some broth, shook his
mead in the negative, and then whis-
pereo IN spent voice, for he was very
near his end, "Please kiss me-" She
took his hand in hers and as she
knelt at his side and kissed him he
smiled, even though the dew of death
was upon his brow. He held to her
hand until his grasp relaxed in death.
Another woman cooked a big pot
full OF fresh beans and potatoes which
she carried to the Presbyterian Church.
where she distributed them among the
wounded. How glad they were to have
the well-cooked vegetables. All too
soon the kettle was empty. AS she
was passing through the rows OF wound :
ed men gentle voice hailed her and
she stopped TO answer. A boy, fair
haired and not more than eighteen or
nineteen years old, was lying over near
the door. She talked with him, and he
told her that he was from Georgia and
was badly hurt-and, hungry. He
asked what she had in the kettle, and
when she regretfully told him that il
had been filled with beans, but that
all were gone, he said, "Won't you
bring more tomorrow and let me have
some?" Eyes, indeed, you dear boy.
will come to you the very first one"
she answered. T'N be waiting fo-
YOU" he said. AS she turned to leave.
after bidding him goodbye, he clutch
ed her skirt and she stopped. "Bring a
whole lott" he said. She assured him
that she surely would. Next morning
as soon as she could get the beans and
potatoes cooked she hurried to the
church and sought the Georgia bow.
Poor fellow! He was lying in the
same place, but his face was covered
with a clotfl-he had passed away
only few moments before. He hadn't
lived to get his beans, and away down
IN Georgia a mothers heart was
breaking.
There were so many injured, tine
surgeons had TO do their work quick
ly, and much dealing with mangled
men had made them callous. There
was one gruff doctor who attended the
wounded who had beeen placed in
Hoffman's carriage shop on Princess
street. The tender hearted women
didn't like him. In the shop was a
soldier who had bullet in his foot.
which was terribly swollen and evi-
Gently badly infected. This surgeon
looked at it and promptly decided to
amputate the foot. The soldier swore
that it should not be done. you'll
die if the foot isn't amputated," said
the surgeon. "I'd rather die," answer
ed the soldier. After more argument
the surgeon passed on. "Go ahead and
die, them" was his parting shot. One
OF the women who had heard the con-
troversy later went out and got sur
geon of different type. He spoke
kindly 10 the injured man, carefully
examined the wound, finally gave a
quick, firm squeeze-and out popped
the bullet! He dressed the wound
properly, gave direction for its further
treatment to the interested woman. and
In week or two the man was lmp-
ing around and ultimately recovered.
In another part of the town another
soldier resolutely refused to have an
arm amputated, though he was told it
meant death not to do so, and he also
recovered and had two good arms.
In the old warehouse near the river
there were many amputations. Bows
from twelve to fifteen years Of age
rendered such assistance as they could
A jolly Confederate soldier, cheerful
in spite of mangled leg, was one of
the patients there. His leg had to he
finally amputated, and two boys car
rled the severed member UP on the
hillside and buried it. They saw the
soldier from day to day, for he lived
through the ordeal, and he complained
that the leg that had been amputated
and buried was. uncomfortable. OF
course the surgeons laughed at such
a thing and the boys were incredulous.
Nevertheless, the soldier insisted that
it hurt him, and to please him the
boys disnterred the leg. They found
that il was not lying in natural state
and that pebble under the toes forced
them into peculiar position. They
removed the pebble and Strengthened
out the limb, and the soldier declared
that he felt immediate relief.
The home of Daniel S. Rentch, on
Main street, was filled with the injured.
But after it was filled room was found
for two wounded officers, Captain At
well, OF Georgia, and Lieutenant Greg
Dry, OF South Carolina. The LATER