The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-09-04
Terrible story of the Rebellion.

A correspondent of the N Y. Times,
who writes from Springfield, Missouri,
tells the following sad tale of the conse-
quences of the rebellion:
The tender mercies of secession are
cruel. [ have just heard the sad story of
widow who had buried two sons and a
daughter since the outbreak oc the rebel
lion. Her three children all fell 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 of the National Union.
Her neighbors were advocates Of rebellion,
and even before the arrival of our army in
Springfield, all loyal citizens were warned
that they must leave their homes or die.
1t was little the poor widow had to leave
"a miserable log cabin and small patch
Of hillside but such as it was, she was
preparing to abandon it when her son
! Harvey left her in search of employment.
| She packe ed his bundle with heavy heart,
took a silk handkerchief from her neck,
gave it to him, and kissed him good bye,
never expecting to see him again.
He had not been gone many days when
her persecution began Her little boy
was one evening bringing in wood for the
fire, when ii 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 apprehension.
Next she heard Of the death of Harvey
He found home and fancying himself
secure, was alone at work in the field
The family with whom he lived were alb
sent. When they returned at n ,on they
found his dead body in the house, pierced
by bullet His torn cap and other signs
witnessed to the severity of his struggle
before he yielded to his murderer.
From this time the family Of Mrs.
Willis lived in constant fear. One day a
gun was fred at them as they sat at din
Der. Often they saw men prowling 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, and William was sitting
upon the fence.
mother, you are too fair a mark for a
| 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, aud the widows second
son, Samuel, whom she had not n,ticed
sitting by another door, rose to his feet,
staggered few steps toward his mother;
and fell. corpse, before her.
Il never wished any Que in torment
before" she said, "but l wish the mau that
| killed him was there"
| Her three oldest sons at once left the
cabin and fed over the hills. They are
all IN the National Army to-day. Sanlu-
ELS sister washed the cold clay, and dressed
! it for the grave. After two days the Sc
cessior neighboIs came TO bury him. At
! first the frantic mother refused to let them
| touch his body. At last she consented.
The clods were falling upon the coffin,
each sound awakening an echo in her
heart, when whipporwill fluttered down,
with It's melancholy cry, and settled IN the
open grave The note so terrified the
conscien ce-stricken wretches that they fled
III 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
90 thirty miles upon horseback to mill fol
food, aad afterwards to return on foot
leading her horse by the bride, with the
sack of meal upon his back On her re
turn, she met her children about mile
and "A half from her own house. La hen
| neighbors yard her two boys, aged ten
and twelve years, were digging another
craye-the grave Of an old man, murdered
in her absence for the crime of loyalty to
( the Union. Together with a whlte headed
patriot, who tottered with age, they placed
the corpse upon board, rolled it, unpre
pared for burial and uncoffned, into the
shallow pit, and then covered IT with
earth Such are the trials Of loyal citizens
in the border slave States, and wherever
rebellion has been In power.
The wiGow now escaped for refuge tC
this city. And here, to crowa her sorrows
in the absence OF her three Oldest remain
ing sons, drunken soldier shot bel
daughter Mary, as she was standing in the
door OF her house. Is it any wonder ii a,
this woman's hair IL gray, her fsfsheao