The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-08
OUR WOMEN IN;ilHE WAR.
A SAD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A Sc.
CLUDED HOME.

A SAD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A Sc
CLUDED HOME.
Mrs. En,nsa Stroud, of Havana, Ala., ~
Charleston Weekly Neaus.
In 1862 I was living with my husband
and children on Walnut Bayou, about
twelve miles from Vicksburg, Miss, and
Ave miles from the Mississippi River.
Soon after Grants arrival in front of
Vicksburg he commenced cutting his
canal, which was not far from my home.
The cannonading from the batteries at
Vicksburg Jared the windows OF my
home, and the morning drums could be
distinctly heard. We lived in constant
dread, for we hourly expected visit
from some scouting party sent out from
their encampment along the canal.
ihad carefully hid away all the fire.
arms in our possession, consisting of
shotgun and brace of fine pistols. My
husband was greatly attached to his gun,
which be called sold Betsey," and had
ordered that it be hid where no Yankee
could find it.
One evening crowd of Federal SOL
diers surrounded the house, and rushing
into my room, with pistols in hand,
demanded all the firearms on the premi-
ses.. -
certain that they would not find any.
The house was thoroughly searched,
and they we're about to leave when
Yankee, who was prowling around my
back, yard calling me, asked where my
poultry yard was situated.
You can hunt for it," answered,
getting little angry as I thought about
ihy chickens; which he would probably
con6scats.
He dashed off to hunt the yard, and
after an absence of several minutes re-
turned, not bringing with him the chick.
ems, as expected, but dear me! "Old
Betsey" and the pistols. .
"Your ducks and turkeys sit on formi-
dable eggs" he said, with comical grin
on his swarshy face.
L told him that only wished every
Southern turkey; duck, chicken and hen
could hatch such "eggs," and that each
one could be made useful in killing q
Yankee, adding that was ready to at
tend such hennery when it was started.
thaH setretga the pist6ls under d sit.
ting turkey hen, lifting up the straw Of
the nest, and under it placing the pistols,
replacing the eggs aud turkey. envel.
ope,i "Old Betsey" in blanket, and laid
her quietly to rest under long row of
ducks nests. My plan of concealment
would have been success, but for the
treachery of my DINING room servant,
who had watched me, and revealed the
hiding place to the Yankees.
After some months of constant vista
ton by scouts from Grants army, my
husband proposed that we leave our
home, take our slaves that we're left, aud
move thirty miles further west, to plan
tation owned by US and managed by an
overseer. Consenting at once, the move
was made. and we found ourselves snug
ly, and to all appearances safely, en-
sconced in our new home on Bear Lake,
which was ten miles distant from Milli-
ken's Bend on the Mississippi River.
We did not think the Yankees would
ever find US in that wilderness-looking
country.
UNwELcoME VISITORS ON CHRISTMAS
EVE.
We had been living in our happy Be-
clusion only few months, when on the
Christmas evening of 1862 my daughter
and myself went to visit a neighbor
across the bayou. 4 sl,ve of mine fer
ried US across in skif, and immediate
" returned home, with instructions to
return for us later in the evening. As
ne were returning home we could not
help feeling joyous, for it was one of
those beautiful evenings that are peculiar
to our Southland. We had no thought
of the sorrow and fear awaiting US at
home. Ny husband had remained at
home; my only son was in the army.
We were surprised to find our skiff
awaiting US, but no servant with it, and
my youngest daughter understanding the
rowing of boats put US safely over.
Nearing the house / saw the yard full of
YaEkess, and as I entered the gate my
cook caue running down the walk, cry
ing and greatly excited.
master has been carried of, God
knows where, by some Yankees" she
exclaimed breathlessly.
Almost paralyzed with fear, I tottered
to'the steps of my house, for i feared my
husband would be killed. knew what
astaunch Rebel he was, and that he did
not hesitate to express himself freely on
the subject, and knew that no torture
the Yankees could invent would make
him take the oath of allegiance to the
Federal Government.
Entering the house I found trunks
broken open, drawers pillaged, furniture
turned over, in fact, everything scattered
around, while the Yankees hunted for
money and jewelry. My pantry was
/. robbed of all my Christmas cakes, my
dairy of milk and butter, my smokehouse
of all its meat. We had just slaughter
ed forty-nine hogs, and every pound of
the meat was taken.
I appealed to an officer in the yard,
who was drinking whiskey with my
slaves, to protect myself and daughters
from the insults of the drunken crowd.
He replied with terrible oath, "that It
vas not his business in the South" pro.
tecting women and children.
turned away in utter misery. No
one to, call upon for aid, myself and
daughters alone, and entirely at the mer.
cy of this uncivilized drunken crowd of
two hundred soldiers and nearly a thou
sand negroes from adjoining plantations
who were going along with them. Going
to 9 cavalryman belonging to Captain
Montgomery's command, inquired why
my husband bad been carried away.
"Oh be will be back soon they only
want him to take the OATH"
/ we'll knew that if his return depend.
ed on his taking the oath he would never
come back. :
THE GALLANT FEDERAL OFFICER.
It was several miles to the nearest
neighbours house, and I was afraid to go