The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-12

and, if far outside the lines, a guard
sometimes went also. There were, SO
far as we knew, no regularly organized
band of Confederates within thirty
miles of us; but the ground between
our lines and theirs was not unfre-
quently roamed over by stragglers
from either camp, and one or two
minor skirmishes had taken place..
One day a delegation waited upon
the General with an invitation rather
out Of the ordinary. The delegation
was composed Of four of the most pro-
minent citizens of W, and two very
rich and influential planters, living
some dozen miles out. They repre-
sented that entire quiet reigned in
their neighborhood, and, indeed, had
reigned since the beginning of the
war. The citizens of that section were
to give grand barbecue and s'saw.
DUST ball during the week then at
hand, and the gentlemen present, on
behalf of the Union-loving people of
their region, begged the General to
honor the affair with his presence. 1t
happened that a scouting party had
come in the night previous and report
ed the country absolutely clear of the
enemy for twenty miles around in ev-
cry direction, and wishing to please
the people, and particularly the gentle
men who brought the invitation and
whom believe to have been very sin
cere, the General consented. The
third day after their visit was the date
fixed for the festival, and was direct
ed to prepare to go also. Nothing 10th,
I made the necessary arrangements,
and very early on the day named, in
company with a large and gay party Of
citizens from W, we started for
the scene.
OF course I enjoyed it hugely, what
young man would have not, and drop
ping back to the Generals side during
the trip expressed the opinion that
we had missed great deal in not going
into society before. He acquiesced,
and we rode gaily on. The twelve
miles were very long ones, and what
with one delay and another, it was
nearly 10 clock when we arrived on
the grounds. Preparations had been
made for a grand time, and great
crowd were in attendance. A shower"
had been built over 100 feet in length,
the ground under it smoothed and COW
cred with sawdust, and when we arriv-
ed the fiddlers perched in a little pull.
pit at one side and were saving away
with all their might, while the coun-
try girls and boys dashed through the
dance with All energy and vim that
would have astonished the graduates
of one of our terpsichorean academies.
Two immense tables had been erected
also, and these were already covered
with eatables, the contributions of
those who had come in. An OK was
being roasted by experts away to one
side, and altogether this gigantic pic
mic presented scene very picturesque
and attractive. Unjust say that I was
lost in enjoyment from the moment we
arrived, and it hardly needed the en-
couragement of the General to $50 in
Biles' to make me very active in the
affair. Before fifteen minutes had
elapsed I was whirling away with 4
tall blonde, who had waist like a
wasp and eyes that were always trying
to look languishingly into mine. The
General was taken in hand at once by
the chief dignataries, and finally, at
their earnest request, danced a cotillion.
his partner being chosen from the most
distinguished of the ladies present, and
who, was Informed by my slim COM
pinion, wore lace on the occasion which
had belonged to her great grandmother.
Now and then ayoung man OF woman
manifested their dislike of the "mean
Yankees by curl of the lip, a sheer,
or sullen frown, but these were rare
exceptions, and the hours passed gayly
and pleasantly until dinner, which was
served at l o'clock, There were
good many people present there for so
wild and thinly populated a country,
but the supply of provisions was GER
tainly sufficient to have fed three times
the number. The tables literally
groaned with good things, and found
myself wishing half.dozen times that
our regiment could get at them for
quarter of an hour.
The General was forced to make
speech at the table, which he did very
we'll, although unaccustomed to post
prandial eloquence, and finally the
dancing was resumed and went on mer-
rily until an hour or more had elapsed.
Having finished my waltz about three
O'Clock and seated my partner, I
stepped to the edge of the pavilion,
wiping the perspiration from my face,
when I was attracted by the queer
actions of a negro waiter near me. He
acted something like man with the:
St. Vitus dance, and yet I felt at once
that he was endeavoring to attract my
attention without having other persons
notice it. I went carelessly near
where he stood, and spoke to him.
''Well, SAM saidI, show do. you like
this g He took off his ragged hat in
true plantation style and replied: