The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-12-01

the streets, between the blazing walls OF
fire, wildeyed, white faced, uttering no
word of remonstrance or entreaty at any
indignity or outrage done them By the
lawless soldiery.
Never shall 1 forgot those silent and
despairing faces. How deaf they seem
ed TO the taunss Of the soldiers usually
so singing tc Southern women!
"What now do you think of seces
sion ?" or ''You fear us now eh ?'' or
"We'n show you !-this is nothing !
Wen burn the very stones of South Car
DINA I'VE mean to wipe you out alter
lyt"
To this not a muscle moved, Lot
a word was responded; those pale and
ghostly women slowly struggled through
the burning streets in mute despair.
When the Convent was kindled and
! the flames leaped out from windows
and DOORS and their forked red tongues
reached up - the REDEEMED sky like SER
penis swapping at the stars, it was a sight
to see the Mother Superior, in her robes,
come out at the head other hooded nun
and the one hundred young girls under
| her charge. What became of those hun
dred young girls? Whittier went they
that awful night? I never knew. hur-
ried from place to place wherever there
were indications of outrages done, OF
violence going on, to citizens or soldiers.
A pistol shot or a dagger stroke ended
many poor soldiers life that night. One
of our officers asserted his belief that we
lost more men in the sacking and burn
ing of Columb ia than in all the fights as
they approached the city. AS the streaks
OF light began to appear il the east, vio-
lence and crime become less frequent
and the blaze of the fires abated.
Early on that Saturday morning, Gen
eral Sherman issued orders for the ar.
rest of the fire; this order was induced
by the loss of our own men more than
In mercy to rebel city.
AS the fire and the taunts went on
from street to street, despair had the eff
feet of making many of the citizens ut
terly reckless of personal safety. They
shot and stabbed Union soldiers, know
ing the next instant their lives would
pay the forfeit.
Heart sick, weary in mind and body
and disguised at the demonish deeds O
men, about eight in the morning I lay
down to rest for moment on pile o
chairs and pillows and other household
goods, which had been franticaily tori
from house before it succumbed to the
fire. Without intending to sleep, I die
sleep soundly and profoundly. When
lay down there dozen women and chill
dren were around. suppose the goods
was resting on belonged to some of them
When 1 awaked no human was in sight
the locality was abandoned; the chairs
tables, pillows, etc which had been hur
riedly flung from some endangered
dwelling, were still piled in heap, NJ
owner to claim or protect. True the ar
ticles were of but little value, broken a
they were, and of the humber sort a
they had been at the first, yet der
ed at the owners abandonment. Or
looking about and finding myself alone
also wondered who had walked me?
was quite confident hand had slappe
me on my right shoulder. I was lyin
on my left side, and voice had said
''Get up; you are wanted"
1 was certain of this-I looked up an
down the little ally, it hardly could b
called street, and round the corner {
, the heap of ashes and fallen bricks, an
behind the chimneys left standing in tn
midst of the ruins yet warm and smou
dering. Not a living thing did I see.
I started at brisk walk to join my con
panions, and turned once more to loo
back, half expecting to see some one lurl
ing near The rubbish on which had rest
ell. As Hoo ed, for the first time sine
the evening before, the scene of the dea
rebel on the couch. in the center of
pretty bed chamber, the kneeling wife
the grim and upright yellow women, an
the lovely little thing cooling to her life
less father, flashed upon my mind; an
, a strong impulse to return to that sol
rowful cottage, and know the fates of il
inmates, took possession of me.
I found my horse, attended to the du
l ties of my office, and then galloped on
f on the road by which we had entere
= the city. It was a short ride; alasl too sool
= as approached the house, saw that
!; also was burned to the ground. Oni
3 the tall chimneys were left lone sent
/ nels over the ruins.
3 Where were the mother and child an
the slave wOnaO9 Not q LIVING craetuT
D was to be seen, save a singed cat, whic
!, dismally mewed in myrtle tree. TIL
g myrtle tree itself was scorched. TIL
/ limbs and leaves nearest the house wer
l crisped and el1owed by the fire.
= There were one or two out houses sti
s standing in the yard in the rear of tn
Y DIV cling house; the wind had blown tn
a flames away from these houses, evident
: ly the cottages of the slaves of the famil.
e 1 visited these cottages, they were aban
i dPned. The humble furniture was sti
in the cabins, the beds, chairs, cookin
n utensils, &C.; but no signs of the inhabl
| tants. A painful dread began to force il
\ self on me that the whole family, blac
r and white, had persisted in the flames
So horrible was tn suspicion that 1 wan
-, ted to flee from it. I set spurs to NJ
horse and started away from the place
What was the use of suffering painful az
= prehensions when I was powesless t
,, prevent, alleviate or atone for wrongs en-
dured or cruelty wrought?@ With an ir
= ward resolution to drive off dissgreeabl
tboupbts and make the best of had thinr