The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-14

she ever discovered the danger she was
| in. her knees would give way under her
and I would have the pleasure of carry
ing her the rest of the way.
THE Goss1PINa OLD LADY.
At last ne reached the other bank ane
we're under cover of the railroad EN-
bankment. Then the officer in charge O
the pontoon came up to speak to US. HI
was an old friend Mrs. Mitchell had moi
seen for years, and she greeted him cor
daily.
"How do you do, Capt. Harris am
80 glad to see you. How is your wife r
"She is very WE'LL" said the astonisheo
Captain, looking first at the old lady and
then involuntarily at shell flying over
head.
She was 80 busy tattling to the Captain
that she had not noticed it.
"And your sisters, how are they p
every we'll, T thank you," he said
| politely, not wishing to be outdone in
GOODNESS.
"And our friends, the Turners-have
you seen them lately 2"
| E[e gazed at her in astonishment. The
forest trees around were being riddled by
shot and shell, but she was so busy talk
ing about her neighbors she did not
notice them, their whistling sound being
drowned in the louder noise of the can.
nonading. Men were lying around
| wounded and dying, but she did not see
very we'll, and she probably concluded
that they had assumed those postures to
escape being hurt. I believe had she
known the real state Of the case she
would have died of fright.
While she was prattling thus with her
old friend noticed little group not far
of-a squad of soldiers with woman
in their midst, and horse with side.
saddle on it, standing near. I judged
that she had just ridden there, for she
stood, with her face dropped in her
hands, by the side of a man who lay stiff
and stark upon the ground; while the
group around, by their looks and ges-
lures, testified their sympathy. Did she
come too.late?' wondered.
While thus mused the wagons cross.
ed and we were hurried into them and
continued our fight till we reached CAL
houn, some six miles distant, being kept
| on the alert all the way by the shells
crashing among the tree.tops.
On reaching Calhoun it seemed almost
as if we had jumped from the frying.pan
into the fire, as the town was being
shelled and the citizens were flying for
their lives in every direction. A fierce
fight was going on. The Federal cavalry
we're trying to cross the river and the
Confederates were trying to prevent
them. We could stand in the street and
witness the fray, as the town was right
down on the river. But here we had to
give up our wagons, 30 We all dismount-
ed, glad to be relieved from our cramped
position, and from the four cat captains,
who had escaped from their bag and had
been disporting themselves on the backs
and shoulders of the company. We took
refuge in a little deserted house from
which every one had fed.
Excitement is q very good tonic, but
it can't keep one up forever. We had no
breakfast and were all extremely hungry.
The cook, provident soul, had come off
with large basket of bread. Some
other thoughtful creature, just before our
fight, had turned all the milk into the
water bucket, thinking thus to save both.
This idea had met with Capt. Mitchell's
warm approval as he chased up and down
the house, hurrying everybody.
"a very good notion" said he, "l'll
see to that being taken care of, myself"
So the milk was consigned to his
charge, and when every one clamorously
demanded these 'viands, the captain said
he would enjoy drink of milk.
II take great credit to myself for saw
ing it," he added complacently.
The cook produced the bread. The
milk, ah +! where was it? Nowhere to be
found The last known of it was when
it was seen on the hall table just before
we left home, and make no doubt some
thirsty Confederate had long since con-
sumed it. A battery of reproacbful eyes
were levelled on the captain, who looked
extremely foolish.
"You would never have made good
butter.milk ranger. You are unfit for
the position" said Daisy severely as she
sorrowfully devoured her dry bread.
STILL UNDER FIRE.
But the fury of the fight around us
soon diverted our minds from our private
| sorrows.
Some officers climbed very high hill
in front of our little house for the pur-
pose of accommodating, and the Federala
opened fire on them in fine style. The
shells came whistling over our heads
striking the houses and sh;vering the
trees across the way, causing The officers
to beat hasty retreat. As for old Mrs.
Mitchell, I thought she would have had
spasm. It was the frat time she real.
lied she was in any danger. AS every
shell burst, she leaped up crying, "Lord
preserve me p and as they burst every
minute or two, she came nearer obeying
the Bible injunction to "pray without
ceasing" than any one I have ever seen
By night the dear old lady was very sick
and we were all feeling quite anxious
about her.
Early in the day Capt. Mitchell left
| US, alter giving sIrlcG OruefS tuaG WE
were to remain closely indoors, and no,
expose ourselves to the gaze of the SOL
diery, who constantly passed to and frc
before the door. As he seemed very
anxious and worried, we thought it bes,
to faithfully promise to obey him; but
just as soon as We made sure he was out
of sight We sailed forth and stationed
ourselves upon the fence, or any where
else that we could get good sight Of the
fighting going on. We could be in nc
more danger in one place than another
and preferred to be shot out Of doors tt
have the roof come crashing down upor
our heads. As for Daisy, who had sc
long desired to see a battle, she hung
upon the gate, and being anxious to helE
in the good cause, handed water to every
thirsty soldier who passed. 1t was really
strange to see how many of them wert
athirst.
Commonness of interest did away with
ceremony. We frequently asked how
went the fight, and many a soldier