Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-09-20
A Terrible story of the Rebellion.


dates from Springfield, Missouri, tells the follow,
ing sad tale of the consequences of rebellion:
"The tender mercies Of secession are cruel.
have just heard the sad story of a widow who has
buried two sons and daughter since the ont
break of rebellion. Her three children all Eel
by the hand of violence.
She lived in the White River country-a land
of hills and ignorance. In that country, she and
her family stood almost alone upon the side oi
the National Union. Her neghhors were advo
Gates nf rebellion. aud even before the arrival OF
our army in Springfield oil loyal citizens were
warned that they must leave their homes or die.
1t was little that the poor widow had to leave-a
miserable log cabin and small patch of hill
side but. such as it was, she was preparing to
abandon il, when her son Harvey left her, in
search of employment She packed his bundle
with heavy heart, took a silk handkerchief
from her neck, gave 1t to him, and kissed good
by. never expecting to see him again.
He had not been gone many days when her
persecution began. Her little boy was one even
ing bringing in wood for the fire, when u shot
was heard-a bullet struck the log under his
arm. and he dropped it with scream. The ball
had just missed his heart. Joy at his escape from
death was henceforth mingled with gloomy ap-
prehensions
Next she heard of the death of Harvey. He
had found n home, and fancyng himself secure,
was alone at work in the field. The family with
whom he lived were absent. When they returned
at noon, they found his dead body in the house
pierced by n ballet. His torn cap aud other
signs witnessed the severity of his struggle be-
fore he yielded to his murderers.
From this time the family OF Mrs. Willis lived
in constant fear, One day gun was fired at
them as they sat at dinner Often they saw men
prowlng about with guns, looking for the young
men. One man was bold enough to come into
the cabin in search Of them. AT night they all
hid in the woods and slept. The poor woman
was one day gathering corn in the garden aud
William was sitting upon the fence.
Don't sit there, William said his mother,
you are too fair mark for n shot,
William went to the door and sat upon the
step
William said his sister, you are not safe
there. Come into the house,
He obeyed. He was sitting between two beds,
when suddenly another shot rang upon the air.
and the widows second son, Samuel, whom she
had not noticed sitting by another door, rose to
his feet. staggered Il few steps towards his mother
aud fell u corpse before her.
Il never wished any one in torment before
she said, but did wish the man that killed him
was there
Her three eldest sons at once left the cabin
and fed over the hills. They are all In the Ma
tonal army to day. Samuel's sister washed the
cold clay and dressed it for the grave. After
Two days the SECESSION neIRHDOfS came to bury
him. At first the frantic mother refused to let
them touch bis body. At last she consented
The clods were falling upon the coffin, each sound
awakening an echo in her aching heart when
whippoorwil huttered down, with its wild, mel
ancholy cry, and settled in the open grave. The
note terrified the conscience stricken, super
stitlous wreiches, that for moment they fled in
dismay.
Two Of her children were now in the tomb
Three had escaped for their lives. The unhappy
woman was left with her two daughters and three
small children, helpless and alone. She was
obliged to go thirty miles on horseback to the
mill for food, and afterward to return on foot,
leading her horse by the bride. with the sack Of
meal upon hs back. On her return she met her
children about u mile aud half from her own
house. In her neighbours yard her two boys,
aged ten and twelve years, were digging another
grave-the grave of an old man. murdered in
her absence for the crime Of loyalty to the Union.
Together with white headed patriarch, who tot
tered with age, they placed the corpse upon the
board, rolled 1t, unprcparcd for burial and un-
colIincd. into the shallow pit, and then covered
IL with earth. Such are The trials Of loyal citi
zens in the border slave States, and wherever
rebellion has been in power.
The widow now escaped for refuge to this city.
And here, TO crown her sorrows, in the absence
of her three eldest sons, drunken soldier Of
the Fifth Kansas regiment, shot her daughter
Mary az she was standing in the door Of her
house. Is il any wonder that this w0mans hair
is gray her forehead full of wrinkles or that
she should say, with tremulous tones, I" | feel
that shall not live long. The only thing which
sustans me is the love OF Christ "