Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-09-24
About a Demiiohn.
A GEORGIA woMAN's "REMINISCENCES
OF THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE WAR.

AltnOuSn was IN nearing OF me Dat-
ties of Chickamauga and Missionary
Ridge, and in tie yer, thick of the fight
at Resaca, and lived for two years in
constant dread end terror Of having to
face Federal soldiers, owing 10 my home
being within the lines of military opera
tons, yet, strange TO say, l never met
this object of my terror till the close Of
the war, whom was a refugee in middle
GEORGIA. Here. at last, met my first
b.. -coat, aud, drclly enough, he is as
sociated in my mind with demijohn.
1t was in lie spring of 'G5. Gen.
sherman had made his march TO the sea,
and Gen. Wil,On had started on araid-
ing expedition through Georgia to cap
ture Columbus and Macon, places Sher-
man bad passed By. This, Of course,
threw the country through which he
passed INTO the drest confusion. All
the population that could fed from their
h mes and betook themselves to the
swanips. leaving their homes in charge
Of their negroes.
As luck would have it, the friend with
whom | was staying lived directly on
the route taken by Gen. Wilson on his
march from Columbus to Macon. To
face party of raiders in a town Is not
pleasant but to face them in the coun-
try is absolutely fearful one has then
such lonely, unprotected feeling; and
if face them | must, would have much
preferred to have returned to Macon aud
there await the dread interview.
Bat Mrs. Willis, the friend with whom
l was staying, entreated l would not
desert her. Her husband was off with
Gen. johnson in North Carolina, and
she and her four little children were
alone on her plantation. 30 l promised,
and we rode over 70 her brothers. plan0
tation TO hold a council of war with him.
He was at home on crutches from a
wound received III one Of the battles
around Atlanta.
By him it was decided that we had
better follow the example of our neigh
bors, pack up all our portable property,
take all the mules and horses and those
negroes that would 60 and betake our
selves to the swamp, ; andno time was
to be lost IN making our arrangements.
Ii was dusk when we reached home'
but Mrs. Willis sent a runner to the
quarter to tell the negroes that she
wished TO see them. There are two
scenes in this. my last campaign, that
are indelibly photographed IN my mind
one is the adventure Of the demljohn.
which l will tell little further oil. and
the other is Mrs. Willis first effort at
stlImp-speaking.
To this day l can see that double-row
of stalwart blacks. their dark faces lit
up by the red glare of the torches held
by squad Of half-grown negro boys
while groups of negro women, with ba-
hies in their arms and little children
clrnging to their skirts fitted around
But all eyes turned to the young and
nrettv woman who stood on the steps.
telling them that she had TO leave her
home and asking who would 90 with
her. reminding them that when their
master had gone to the wars he had
nlaced her and his children and all that
he had in the care Of his four head men,
and they had promised to be faithful
At this appeal Adam, the shoemaker
here literally the first mau, stepped ou'
of the ranks saying, Il will 90, Miss
Fanny.' Adam was Mrs. Willis own
personal property, and prided himself
on comm from de Gibbs family
(Cibbs was Mrs. Willis maiden name
At this Jasper, the blacksmith, most
majestic colored man, stepped 10 Tue
front and made bow. He was VIII
lie negro. Whereupon Adam. not to be
outdone, hoped upon the bottom step
waving his hat, This burst OF enthusl
asm brought out Scott, the third heat
man, and captain of the hoe-gang ano
cotton -pickers. Scott was as stupid al
the day vas long, but as faithful as ne
was stupid it had Just then entered IN
to his head what was wanted OF hirn
So he stepped out OF ranks, dragged OF
a black thing which he called his hal
and scratched his head, This act OF al
legiance carried all before it. The oth'
er negroes, following the lead OF then
head man, offered TO 90 with their mis-
tress even Mingo, one Of the cargo o
the Wanderer (who was so pleased VIII
clothes, that adjunct of civilization o
which he was ignorant till he reached
Georgia, that he never could get enough
bright colors to wear), all promised Il
cast in their lot with her. All but AL
fred. one of the head men, who said h'
was too old TO 90 on such a jauns, bu
would stay and look after the womer
and children. Alfred was an old bache
lor. an uncommon thing with negro
and his affections were fixed upon
tremendous gray mule, called W hit
Nike will here state that Alfret
proved recreant to his trust and fie'
away the following night on the back
his idol to join the raiders. They, hay
ing no sentiment, confiscated white
Mike, and put him to pulling artIiler.
out Of The mud, and what became 9
Alfred | meyer heard, for he was asham
ed ever to return.
The next day, under the management
of three head men, the house was dis
uantled and the furniture hid IN th