.
The buildings were hit many times and perforated by two shells. But amid
the danger, Miss Sheads was as calm and self-possessed as in her
ordinary duties, and soothed some of her pupils who were terrified by
the hurtling shells. From the grounds of the Seminary she and several of
her pupils witnessed the terrible conflict of Friday. The severe
exertion necessary for the care of so large a number of wounded, for so
long a period, resulted in the permanent injury of Miss Sheads' health,
and she has been since that time an invalid. Two of her brothers were
slain in the war, and two others disabled for life. Few families have
made greater sacrifices in the national cause.
Another young lady of Gettysburg, Miss Amelia Harmon, a pupil of Miss
Sheads, displayed a rare heroism under circumstances of trial. The house
where she resided with her aunt was the best dwelling-house in the
vicinity of Gettysburg, and about a mile west of the village, on Oak or
Seminary Ridge. During the fighting on Wednesday (the first day of the
battle) it was for a time forcibly occupied by the Union sharp-shooters
who fired upon the rebels from it. Towards evening the Union troops
having retreated to Cemetery Hill, the house came into possession of the
rebels, who bade the family leave it as they were about to burn it, in
consequence of its having been used as a fort. Miss Harmon and her aunt
both protested against this, explaining that the occupation was forcible
and not with their consent. The young lady added that her mother, not
now living, was a Southern woman, and that she should blush for her
parentage if Southern men would thus fire the house of defenseless
females, and deprive them of a home in the midst of battle. One of the
rebels, upon this, approached her and proposed in a confidential way,
that if she would prove that she was not a renegade Southerner by
hurrahing for the Southern Confederacy, he would see what could be done.
"Never!" was the indignant reply of the truly loyal girl, "burn the
house if you will! I will never do that, while the Union which has
protected me and my friends, exists." The rebels at once fired the
house, and the brave girl and her aunt made their way to the home of
friends, running the gauntlet of the fire of both armies, and both were
subsequently unwearied in their labors for the wounded.
LOYAL WOMEN OF THE SOUTH.
We have already had occasion to mention some of those whose labors had
been co
|