Clinch Valley News

WAR REMINISCENCES.
(By J. W. Baker.)

Boissevane, Va., March 14.

Many times I was told that General Lee was not in favor of making war across the Potomac. Two men in Richmond out ranked him. One was the commissary General. Unfortunately he was a dyspeptic, a crank, and a visionary. One person in the whole south thought this man was a military genius of the highest order. Many of the soldiers, nearly all of them before the war closed said he should be placed against a wall and shot. When General Lee asked for rations to feed his army this commissary General replied there was plenty beyond the Potomac.

The army waded the river at Point of Rocks below Harpers Ferry. We then marched to Frederick city-a beautiful town, located in a very fine farming section. This was the home of Barbara Fritchie--I may not have the name right, but it will do-the poet writes that this woman bubbling over with patriotism, seized the stars and stripes, ran into the street, and at the risk of her life waved it in the faces of the rebels. And this stuff goes to the future as history. Southern soldiers never anywhere made war on women. At no time was the old woman in more danger than I am scribbling at a desk. While at this town I became hungry and went to a farm house to get me a good dinner. The ladies were kind and ate with me. During the meal it came out that three of them--fine handsome young women -had husbands with General Banks at Harpers Ferry. They were exceedingly troubled. I told them they need not be alarmed, that in three days we would capture Harpers Ferry 'that the captives would be paroled, and in a short time they would see their husbands. This was paying for my dinner, and it about came true. The next day, or day after, we were ordered to march. I mean General Jackson was ordered to march. As we passed through Boonsboro I walked into a store to get food. Raisins was the only thing they had to eat. That day I marched on raisins.

On the route an exhausted soldier gave me two very large chickens and frying pan. I never asked where he got them. That day we waded the Potomac at Williamsport and went into camp at North Mountain Station on the B. O. R. R., having marched thirty five miles since sunrise. The march was distressing in the evening as we had to pass over a mud road after a heavy rain. About ten o'clock and very dark and cloudy when we went into camp. Four or five of my mess were present. They said they were worn out and would go to sleep. I told them I would cook my chickens first. I felt around and found a dead apple tree. Ran my hand into the hollow and pulled out some dry wood. Soon had a fire. Dry picked my chickens. No bread, but had some salt and a little meat skin or two. With this outfit I put my chickens in the pan, scorched them, burnt them some, warmed them through, shook the boys, and told them supper was ready. We ate raw meat that night and picked the bones. The thing you need when you go to the table is an appetite.

The next day we were at Harpers Ferry. Captured 73 cannon, about 14,000 stand of small arms, 11,000 soldiers, 400 wagons. Suppose the ladies who gave me such a good dinner saw their husbands about on time. This came off September 15th, 1862. On the 17th after an awful march we were fighting at Sharpsburg. Before the fight commenced I was sent into the village of Sharpsburg. While there the enemy opened on the town with cannon. A day or two after the newspapers said the fire was from three hundred guns. The shells tore through houses and stone fences and plowed up the ground. At one time I did not think my life worth 30 cents. And it was no use to dodge as you were just as likely to dodge in the way of a ball as to dodge out of the way. I don't know to this day how I got out. Pieces of shell, particles of rocks, dirt were flying everywhere, but I did not receive a scratch.

Finish his fight next week.