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

Last Saturday was the 59th anni-
,ersary of the great battle Of Antietam,
which was fought on September 18th,
1862, at Sharpsburg, Nd, not more
than a couple of miles across country
from Shepherdstown. There are still
living number of persons in this
oommunity who well remember that
dreadful day, for from the time that
the thunder of the first salvo of ar
tllery doomed across the hills right
after daybreak until darkness ended the
day of strife and carnage Shepherds
town was on the fringe Of the battle
and anxiously interested in its tragic
episodes. Not only was the booming
OF the cannon plainly audible, but the
rattle of the musketry and the cheering
and fierce yelling of the combatants
cnud be readily heard. Some of the
town people climbed to the roofs of
the taller buildings in the town to try
TO get a glimpse of the movements of
the troops when the smoke now and
then lifted from the scene of battle,
while others occupied the hills over
looking Maryland. Shepherdstown be-
ing intensely southern in its sympa-
thieS, and many of our people having
relatives in the Confederate army, was
thrillingly interested in the issue of
the battle. Many of the women were,
oh so thankful that Company B was
not in the fight-it had been detailed
for provost duty at Martinsburg, and
so this additional anxiety was spared
our people.
The day is remembered as a partic-
u'arlv warm one, with a hot sun shin
ing from an almost cloudless sky. Ii
was very much like last SATURDAY. in
It's heat and humidity, and il is said
that some of the soldiers died from ex-
haustion without having been wound
ed by any implement of war. By noon.
sick and wounded men began to trickle
into Shepherdstown. Those who were
able to walk found their way across
the fields and roads, while ambulances
brought the more severely injured
AS evening approached, the numbers in
creased and Shepherdstown had be-
come one great hospital by midnight.
Inc churches, the warehouses at the
river, the school buildings, the fac
tories and every other public place and
many private homes were filled with
wounded in every stage of suffering
and manned in every conceivable wav
Officers and privates, old and young,
rom almost every Southern State
After every available space indoors
mad been occupied, wounded and weary
men stretched themselves upon the
porches and in the yards, while manv
more lay along the streets in vacant
Places. AS an illustration of the way
the town was crowded, it is said that
no less than thirty-four soldiers were
at Dr. Quigley's that night-some of
the desperately wounded inside the
LouSe, while others lay upon the
porcheS or in the yard.
x Inc first yellow flag to be run I'D,
eenoting hospital, was over the build
ing on King street near the market
mouse. This was known at the time
aS the drill room-it was in reality
two-story warehouse. Afterward for
many years the Register printing Office
occupied the second floor, while the
hfst floor was used as a school room
ano Tor other purposes. 1t is now
comfortable little apartment house. To
uIS building were brought many Sc
ns'ely wounded men, and the surgeons
were soon busy with their ghastly
SoFk' Arms and legs we're amputated,
ieartul wounds were dressed and al
Ways there was new victim TO take
uIe place OF the poor fellow who had
oIeh carried away to make room for
oIHers. The old cotton factory at the
ttGI"er OF Princess and High street,
ulg three-story building, was filed to
U.sernowing. The Presbyterian Church.
uIe largest church in town, contained
TOW upon row of poor, broken bodies,
an "lIu NE same was true of all the other
Suiurcnes. The large room known as
MouIder's hall, on Main street, over
WIG" ~m"' IS now II. P. Schley's store, was
.e OF the most crowded of the i'm
pssVmptu hospitals. There we're scores
y. oaaiy wounded men here. and their
err0'nS s. and cries were pitiful. Some
~ mem had been wounded at the
ba Sas.Ie OF South Mountain. several days
rs!''e' and not all had been so fortu-
I,g IT.,g rs 10 have their injuries dressed.
.Srr tAe direction of the SURGEONS.
SO women OF the town first of all
tahed and washed the wounds and
Soolned them with warm water pre-
f"'d'ory to surgical attention.
sr ~ course there were not enough
NJ seons, even though the physicians
p,,. me town and county round about
So So tnelr services, and how great the
MY rra. and suffering as the wourded
srs % awaited their turn! The bows
81 .u DID men and the women and girls
os me me town administered to the needs
man,. NE sufferers as best they could and
yonr. y heroic deeds we're performed by
FAM women who. though sick and
forn,sa at tfe sight of bloody and manpled
to bSi h. rought to keep their nerve and
vorE p 'ne doctors in their hurried
reI;Sf All night through, the work OF
went on, and finally euer,, IN