Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-01-23
MAJOR ZAGONYl'S GUIDE. b,
OR HERO OF TiE WAR FOR rne UNION
Frsm the s,rnva.,d no.,,,,..,

Frsm the 81 rngneld Republican.
On the morning Of the oath dav of last
October, a somewhat novel scene unro.led
itself before the door of quiet farm. house
about two miles from Springfield Missouri.
Two women and three young ladies had lust
raised a very modest little flag and as the
wind foated it very gracefully in the air, they
gave three cheers for the stars and stripes-
cheers which ifnot loud were certainly hearty.
The younger of the women, Lucy Dudley.
the mother of the boys, stood gazing, her
face put on stern determination, and she
murmured loy, between her almost shut
teeth, ut shan't come down again while |
live"
"Yes, t will, mother" broke in one of the
boys, 'fer the secesbers are in town again,
and they'll make you.' a'5 t.l s-.. =
His mother did not notice him, but turn
ing to the other woman, said, "For William 8
sake mother, we'll keep it up" Even be-
fore she had done speaking, the sound of
horses feet were heard, and the Youngest
boy cinging to her dress, tried to draw her
into the house, crying out, "There they
come; o mother, rum while the old grand.
mother, retreating behind the door, trcmb.
ling .visibly; but the mother stood firm,
awaiting the men she only knew too WELL
Only one little month before they shot down
her husband like dog, because he said his
house was his own, and he should hoist lust
what flag seemed best over it. 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 was scarce womanly. Down the road
they came, dozen Confederate ruffians,
nv &C ,
by Mr.. William Russell. They were all
armed and mounted, and as they thundered
up to the door the leader shouted: "Down
with that damned Yankee rag; II you don't
Fll!blow your brains out" - - ..... r-
No notice was taken; the women might
as well been stone. ''.".
Lucy Dudley, don't you hear me ?" and
he pointed his revolver at her. ... Fl. ..se-G
81 hear, Bill Armstrong. .... -.... r..,.. -.
Blast ye, then, why don't ye mind ~
Because | won't"
"You won't, won't your" and he fred but
missed. He swore at his horse for shying.
AS he did so, she said, "Ths is nv house
and this is my flag want it here and shall
have it here. You can shoot me down and
then pull it down; yon certainly won't be.
fore" s -.,.r' '-ua f,a.da a.I,' -,
One man shouted 1--WE ain.t cut. ut.throats--
we don't kill women and children"
"You have killed women and children
more than once" was the taunting answer.
Several old neighbors of hers felt the thrust,
and qualcd before her eyes, while the Others
drew their pistols but the leader, throwing
up he weapon nearest him, went on.
"Wal, Lucy, victuals and drink we've GOT
to have, and won't go under that cussed
flag" .f... t.t, ~. n
"Victuals and drink can't help yorr hav.
ing, but il ] 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 thew
knew it; so with rude laugh the captain
dismounted, shouting "colne on, boys" and
leaving their horses in the care Of the chill
dreD, they, one after the other, went into the
kitchen, snd drank eagerly of the whisky Sc,
before them. ....-
AS they thus drank they became wonder
fully communicative and, listening eagerly
Lucy heard that they had been Sent from
Springfield, with some fifty others, to see il
anything could be seen of the advance guard
or Fremonts army, who were supposed te
be in that vicinity. She found that this
party had been stopping at one house and
another, drinking, and very naturally hai
divided, and that Armstrong meant to wai
TIL the rest came up, and start for the towr
from her house. She likewise learned tha
they had not seen anything Of the Lincolr
soldiers. She gave them their fill ofliquor
she let them cat the best the house afforded
! and as she was taking pitcher to get NOR
lqnor her ears caught the sound ofa distan
fife: Armstrong heard it too, and, with a,
oath. said them lazy )ubbers of his were
last coming, and the old woman must tax
some more dodgers along.
| Lucy had taken the pitcher, and, closin,
the door behind her, almost few out into tn
yard, and taking the Oldest boy by the shoul
! der, said in terrible, hoarse voice. ..Tom
run for your life over the moving. through
the lane, and tell those men you meet to tax
! down their flag, and stop playing Yanke
Doodle, and come up through the lane will
you, and they can get every ono of thos
men. Don't let the grass grow under you
feet. boy" fa
j The winds had brought to her cars wha
it never whispered to those drunken mr,,