Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-02-26

nave" said he, in a magisterial tone, ssplaced
your horse in the Confederate army
Soon after this occurrence the Union troops
came and encamped about a mile from Mr..
Piggott's house. They also visited the old
gentleman, but treated him and his family
with uniform conrtesy. On their conduct Mr..
Piggott makes in his manuscript this com
ment; 'sTheir speech and manner are so diff
ferent from the others that they seemed like
gentlemen compared to a band of thieves"
Rebel re-enforcements speedily arrived.
Our forces in that quarter were compelled to
retire to better position. The whole neigh
borhood being thus left to the ravages of tthe
rebels, the most diabolical outrage soon be-
came the order of the day. His former expe-
rence had taught him that the rebels would
not, on account of his extreme age, save him
from outrage, and Mr.. Piggott fled His wife,
having much trust in human nature as TO
think that even Southern chivalry would ex-
empt from Insult a tCOmQR sirty gears old. re-
NAMED for short time in the home of her
childhood Her new experience runs thus,
according to the manuscript in our possession.
''The next day, the rebel troops arrived Il
600 strong, and halted before our door. Mrs.
Piggott was informed by a neighbor that she
was unsafe, that he had heard threats against
her house and its inmates of the most desper-
ate kind on account of the Union troops hav-
been succored there. She had heard the same
thing, and also overheard the officer in com
mand giving orders to surround the Union
troops, and designating the routes the differ
ent divisions were TO take to eHectuate that
object. 1t was raining dreadfully at the time.
She, however, deeming it abso iutcly necessary
TO seek safety in flight, disguised herself as
wei as she could and passed through the pick
cts undiscovered then travelled six miles on
foot to the Union camp.''
From Information communicated by her,
the u niOn troops profted muct they changed
their position, thereby avoiding contemplated
descent on them by the rebels and winning the
advantage in one two Skirmishes where the
rebels had counted on surprising them una
wares.
The husband and wife soon found each 9TH
er; and, having been perfectly satisfied that
their small share OF Southern hospitality was
but fragment of the great Southern court
eous plan of treatment OF unOffendiDg strang-
ers, they determined to come to the North,
where people OF every age and color are treat
ed as human beings and wherea lady OF so and
gentleman of even more years than that can
never fail OF kind, respectful, manly treatment.
with no single thought being given to their
political opinions.
Before they reached New York they were
informed that their beautiful country house
had been burned to the ground.
The natural suspicion was that the premises
had been fired by incendiary hand. and
MI Piggott addressed to Gen, Cox our Gen
eral Commanding in that Department, let |
ter on the subject.
Gen. Cox, in reply to Mr.. Piggott's inqui-
ries said-''That the house was burned by ac-
cident by sparks from lighted pipe falling |
into some straw lying near it-expressed re- |
gret for the accident and hoped that the |
government would remunerate him for the |
loss caused by the Incidental passage of troops |
near the house-but did not know how he |
would reach the destruction caused by the |
rebels.''
This, in short, is the story of two Unonists |
whose years and white hairs secured no re- |
spect from the s'Sonthern chivalry,' and |
whose aged sorrows are now for the first time |
made known 10 u Northern audience.