The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-07-26
For tAs Argurr and Mechanic
Interesting Reniniscence Of
longstreet's Siege of Suf-
folk

We think Il mas u tru.y -.li that one
oi the most intensely distressing scenes
OF the whole war ~ rIrtct urar the town
II Suffolk. \ "a ia the month oi Apru.
le6a while Gen. i.JuS,tvect wAs iuse e.
IN that towu.
Gu the memorable day IN question.
heavy skirmIshlng was gong on IN the heid
of Mr.. Geo. " Smith. IN the >ubIrbs.
and hard hIhung continued on either
j le 0. the buildings The family being
taken BY surprise, all remained IN the
house, father, mother. aud ssven chil
dren. The Oldest son, William H., was
serving as gallaut soldier IN the 10th
Va. Infantry, elsewhere
Let Us look in upon that family. We
first see them take shelter IN the cellar;
but presently :, shell bursts through the
house over their heads, scattering the
sphnters ia every direction. At length,
they seek safety by running towards the
woods, across the carefully TILED fields,
amidst the whistlIng bulle's, and the ter
rltying roar of canton. Alas when al
most at the haven of safety, see the de
voted wife. with an infant child in her
arms, tumbled headlong beneath the ia
tai ball See her bleeding and dying,
amid the corn rows, struck down IN all
the vigor OF health and beauty; for she
Was a lovely woman The fight still
RACES See those seven happlesS chill
dren scattering like brood OF paltridgcs,
each III wild de, pair flying 10 the woods,
lodging hlther ana thither, As the poor
sparrow would fly from the eagles talons /.
See their home bursting Into flames aud
ln few short hours every vestlge Of the
estate swept trom existence See th )se
motheress children, ole an infant, re-
duced from plenty and comfort. to beg
gary, and actual starvation, but for the
timely rescue Of few kind friends,
See the devoted husband taking the
lifeless corpse OF his wife and hauling 1t
in rude cart, like some slaughtered OK,
to Suffolk, for burial AS he passes down
the street number of gentlemen are
standing in line. preparatory to being
marched to Norfolk, as citizens prison
crs, or ''Southerncrs among them is
Hon. John X. kilby, the brother Of this
noble dead woman
| La contemplating these distressing
scenes the heart sichens over the fate of
cruel war. But the scene does not close
here. On the same day the mother OF
| IulS ucdT WOlUdU, WHO was NIuON duu
| lived three miles from Suffolk, was also
burned out; destroying nearly all of bel
effects; and she, in the most intense ex,
element had to fly to town for safety
Knowing nothing Of the fate Of hel
daughter, she reached the house of hcl
son, where the corpse lay, and seeing hel
upon the bier, exclaimed-"l Is she sick
or faint?" No one had the heart tC
answer the question, and upon raising the
cloth, she discovered the dreadful fact
her beloved daughter was dead
The scene was ore that cannot be de
scribed For awhile the aged mother
was wild with frantic grief; but through
the strength of her christian virtues, anc
the assistance of divine providence she
survives the dreadful shock, and lives OIL
to mourn the loss of her dear child
Oh, cruel was the deed that destroyed
\ her life She was one of the best Of wo
men, AS a wife, a mother, and friend
without a fault. All who knew her knew
her but to love her. j 4. L.
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC
The Raleigh delegation to the A. VI
+. Sunday School Conventions at Hills