Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1922-08-29


ferson County Camp Of Confederate
Veterans, extracts from which we
will give from time to time.)
MARKER NUMBER THREE
Shephsrdstown Through Four Years
| of War.
Marker No. 3, planted on the pike
south of Shepherdstown near the
cemetery, marks no particular battle,
but we record some incidents worthy
of notice. After the battle of
Sharpsburg, the town was literally
filled with wounded Confederates.
Every available house was occupied
and many private residences as well.
Hospital flags seemed to float every
where. At the time of Lees re-
treat, the Federal artillery threw
many shells over the town, few
falling in it, but not much damage
was done.
Frequent raids were made into the
town by the Confederates, and some
captures made by either side. 'Occa-
sionally Reb would steal into the
town to see the home folks, or the
girl maybe, and be gobbled up and
taken to Fort Delaware or Point
Lookout.
/ The country was without law for
the four years, and robbery was
frequent by men claiming to be sent
/, by the Federal government, which,
in some instances, was true. There
was no recourse.
Several cold-blood murders were
committed by scalawag army follow
ers, and no investigation made.
Most of this was in the vicinity of
Shepherdstown.
Two companies, from the town
and surrounding neighborhood, serv-
ed in the Confederate army from
the beginning to the close of the
war-one a cavalry, and the other,
an infantry company.
The infantry company, known as
the Hamtranck Guards, was organic
ed by Colonel Hamtranck of Mexi-
can War fame. The organization
was kept up, and did service in the
Brown Raid; and when the war came
on it was assigned to the Second
Virginia Infantry as Company B,
and did its part in all the battles
where the regiment was engaged.
J They were as well drilled as regulars
and as loyal to the South as any
troops in the Confederate Army.
/ Very few escaped wounds or
|, death.
Company F, First Virginia Caval-
, ry, organized in peace times before
, the Brown Raid, and commanded
, by Captain Jacob Reinhart at the
time of the Raid, was afterward re-
organized and recruited to about one
!, hundred and twelve men, commanded
by Captain Morgan. This Company
was assigned to First Virginia Cav
| airy at the beginning of the war
} Most of the men We're fine horsemen
and at home in the saddle-well
drilled and equipped.
4 In justice to this Company, it can
be said without question, that no
cavalry company in the Army of
Northern Virginia did more or bette,
service than the First Virginia Cav
airy, which included company F.
commanded by Colonel Stuart, after.
ward General in command of all the
cavalry in Lees army They did
service for the whole army, for q
short while, at the beginning. They
were drilled and schooled by Stuart
in person, in military duties, discip-
/ line, endurance, bravery, and pa.
, triotism which could be seen to the
end of the war. 1t suffered heavi.
ly In killed, wounded, and in prison.
ers taken.
Jefferson County furnished to the
Confederacy five infantry companies
t VIA, B. G, H and K, to the Second
Virginia Infantry; four Cavalry
/ Companies, VIA, B and D, to the
Twelfth, and company F to the First
Virginia Cavalry; and Chew's Bat
terry. Many Joined other commands
The county was about depopulateo
of young men.
These companies did active service
/ In the field, cut off from home the
greater part of the time.
MARKER NUMBER FOUR
Slaughter at the Cement Mill on the
Potomac.
Confederate Marker No. a. is
planted at the crossing of the Shep.
herdstown and Harpers Ferry and
the Trough roads, locally called
Showman's Shop. At this point A
I. Hill, on the early morning of the
Twentieth of September, 1862, plac
ed his division in line of battle, with
sklrmlshers, to the front, extending
east and west and on the north
; side of the Shepherdstown and Har.
pers Ferry road. Three brigades OF
the division were advanced to the
front, and the other forces followed
IN reserve. There was little oppor.
tunity for artillery on the Confeder.
ate side, as these three brigades were
advanced at the double quick. and
never halted until the field was won
The Battle of Sharpsburg was
fought on the Seventeenth of Sep.
TENDER; both armies lay inactive on
the Eighteenth, and Lee recrossed
the Potomac on that night.
Lawton's and Armisted's brigades
with forty-four cannon were posted
on the Virginia bluffs to guard the
lord. Lees withdrawal was accom-.
pllshed without loss. By early dawn
OF the Nineteenth, the Federals had
placed cannon on every available
position on the Maryland bluffs, and
heavy cannonading commenced and
continued for several hours, with
some losses on both sides. The in
fantry sharpshooters exchanged shots
across the river with little effect.
The artillery was withdrawn, and the
infantry quietly followed. Two dis
abled cannon and caisson were
abandoned (not captured). Briga-
dier-General Griffin, with four regi-
ments of infantry, crossed over to
the Virginia side after the with
drawal of the onfederates, with no
opposition except from the rear
guard. They remained several hours.
then recrossed, taking the disabled
guns with him.
Longstreets's Corps moved on to
the Valley pike, some twenty miles
away. Jackson's Co,ns MOS rao-