Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-29

"a alltH
-r From the Springfield Republican.
MAJOR GONI'S GUIDE:
Or, A Heroine Of the War for the Union
On the morning of the oath day of October,
1861, somewhat novel scene unrolled itself
before the door of quiet farm house. about
two miles from Sp ringfeld, Missouri. Two
women and three young lads had just raised
very modest little flag; and the wind float
ed IT gracefully in the air, they gave three
cheers for the Stars and Stripes-cheers which
if not loud were certainly hearty. The youn-
ger of the women, Lucy Dudley, mother of
the boys, stood gazing, her face put on look
OF stern determination, and she murmured
low, between her almost shut teeth
ssIt shant come down again while live. I"
ayes twill, mother,'' broke in one OF the
boys, ssfor the seceshers are in town again,
and they II make you." VI
His mother did not notice him, but turning
to the other woman, said: s.For William s
sake, mother, We'll keep il ups
Even before she had done speaking the
sound of horses feet were heard, and the
youngest boy clnging to h r dress, tried to
drag her into the house, crying out !: ':There
they come @, mother, run!'' while the old
grandmother, retreating behind to door. trem
bled visbly but the mother stood firm,
waiting the men she knew only too well. On
Iy one little month before they shot down her
husband like dog. because he said his house
was his own, and should hoist what flag SEEM
ed to him best over it. t5aa' 81
They shot him before her eyes, and his
hearts blood had sprinkled the very ground
where she stood, and wonder not that the
look in her eyes scarcely womanly. Down
the road they come, a dozen Confederate ruff
fans, called soldiers by courtesy, and .schival
ry,'' by Mr.. William Russell. They were we'll
armed and mounted ard they thundered up
to the door the leader shouted s.Down with
that damned Yankee rag; if you don't I'll
blow your brains out. }di - tssHe gai
No notice was taken; the women might as
we'll have been stone.
.sLucy Dudley, don't yon hear me 7'' and
be pointed his revolver at her. aisf 17s..5 .sr51
ssI hear, Bill Armstrong. ''t4ts; It sars 5di
ssBlast ye, then why don't We mind ''' ...h
ssBecause, WON'T .FF,5. +tfs
s.You won't, won't you rs and be fred, but
missed. He swore madly at his horse for shy
ing, and as he did so, she said
s.Ttis is my house and this is my flag; L
want it here and shall have it here. You can
shoot me down and then pull it down you
certainly won't before.''
One man shouted ..we amt cut-throats we
don't kill women and children r'e
.You have killed women and children more
than once was the taunting answer. Sew
eral old neighbors of hers felt the thrust, and
quailed before her eyes, while the others drew
their pistols; but the leader throwing up the
weapon nearest him went on-iI,io 81 ,.f.,.,as
nWal, Lucy victuals aud drink we've got
to have, and won't go under that cussed flag"
..Victuals and drink can't help You hav-
ing, but if 1 am going to get them for you,
you must come in through this door,
Evidently her look daunted them for bold
as they were, they were bad and they knew it !:
SO with rude laugh the captain dismounted,
shouting, sCome on, boys" and leaving their
horses in the care of the children they, one
after another, went, into the kitchen, and
drank eagerly of the whisky set before them.
AS they thus drank they became wonderfully
communicative and listening eagerly. Lucy
heard that they had been sent from Spring
field, with some fifty others, to see if anything
could be seen of the advance guard OF Fre-
mont's army. who were supposed to be in that
vicinity. She found that this party bad been
stopping at one house and another, drinking
and devastating, and very naturally had divi-
ded, and that Armstrong meant to wait till
the rest came up, and start for the town from
her house. She likewise learned that they
had not seen anything OF the Lincoln soldiers.
She gave them their fiji OF liquor, she let them
eat the best her house afforded, und as she was
taking pitcher to get more liquor her ears
caught the sound Of distant fife.
Armstrong heard it too, and, with an oath,
said them lazy lubbers of his were at last COM
ing and the old woman must bring some more
dodgers along. IH;f aa.8 - Eks "a
Lucy had taken the pitcher, and closing the
door behind her, almost flew out into the ard,
and taking the oldest boy by the shoulder,
said in terribly hoarse voice, s.Tom, run for
your life over the moving, through the lane.
and tell those men you meet to take down
their flag, stop playing Yankee Doodle, and
come up through the lane with you and they
can get every one of these men. Don't let
the grass grow under your feet, my boy"