The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-05
cave Life i'm Vicksburg.

The wife of Confederate officer, who
was confined within the wall of fire
which surrounded Vicksburg during
the memorable days of last April and
June, has written an entertaining
volume on the scenes and incidents
which there transpired. Like most oil
her companions she was compelled to
seek shelter from the deluge of iron
hail in the caves so often alluded TO-
Caves were the fashion-the rage
over beseiged Vicksburg Negroes,
who understood their business, hired
themselves out to dig them, at from
thirty to fifty dollars, according to the
size Many person, considering differ
ent localities unsafe, would sell them
TO others, who had been less fortunate,
or less provident and so great was the
demand for cave workmen, that a new
branch of industry sprang up and be
came popular-particularly as the per
sonal safety of the workman was Sc
cured, and money withal
Her faithful servant, George, who al.
ways remained with her, came near
being killed at one time by the
Yankee shells"
One night could scarcely sleep, the
explosions were so loud and frequent.
Before we retired, George had been ly-
ing without the door, l had arisen
about twelve o clock, and stood looking
out at tha different courses of light
marking the passage of the shells, when
noticed that George was not in his
usual place at the entrance. On look
ing out, I saw that he was sleeping
soundly some little distance of, and
many fragments Of shells falling near
him. l aroused him, telling him to
come to the entrance for safety. he
had scarcely started when huge piece
of shell came whizzing along, which,
fortunately, George lodged in time, and
it fell in the very spot where he so late
ly slept
On another occasion a shell penetra-
ted the cave, to the great horror of the
occupants
1t was about four o'clock, one We'd
nesday eYening-the Smelling during
the day had gone on about as usual
was reading in safety, imagined, when
the unmistakable whirring of Parrot
shells told us that the battery we so
much feared had opened from the in
trenchments. / ran to the entrance to
call the servants in; and Immediately
after they entered, a shell struck the
earth few feet from the entrance,
burying itself without exploding. ran
to the little dressing-room, and could
hear them striking around US on all
7 81 I,
wall, for I did not know at what
moment one might strike within the
cave. A man came in very much
frightened and asked to remain until
the danger was over. The servants stood
in the little niche by the bed, and the
man took refuge in the small ell where
was stationed. He had been there
but a short time, standing in front of
me, and near the wall, when q Par
rott shell came whirling in at the en-
trance, and fell in the center of the
cave before US all, lying there smoking.
Our eyes were fastened upon it, while
we expected every moment the terrific
explosion would ensue. | pressed my
child closer to my heart and drew near
er to the wall. Our fate seemed almost
certain. The poor man who had sought
refuge within, was most exposed of all
With a sudden impulse, l seized a large
double blanket that lay near, and gave
it to him for the purpose of shielding
him from the fragments and then we
remained for a moment, with our eyes
fixed in terror on the missile of death,
when George, the servant boy, rushed
forward, seized the she'll, and threw it
into the street, running swiftly in the
the opposite direction Fortunately the
fuse had become nearly extinguished,
and the shell fell Misunderstanding
near the mouth Of the cave, as a trophy
of the fearlessness of the servant, ard
our remarkable escape.