The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-03
bearing dastardly sergent to take it off,
or he would, which he did not do, or
I either, and there was glory for me.

political. Oh, 1t rankleQ OSep I.QOu
know as I have outgrown it yet, while fpl
twenty wears T have been culkvatingI
genuine Christian charity for North and
South and the whole broad world, recog
nizinc The, rights of each as man, ane
BROTHER and the same good God as Judge
and ruler over all. Yet somehow a blue
dress trimmed with red braid and a bon
net decked with red and blue roses rile:
me now. illuminate our house when 8
Democratic victory comes, but [ don't
stick little Union flags out and all about
Law all of these together on the shelf
dear heart, and go on digging for charity
till our crops bear fruit, covers up and
hides eternally all of the colors.
Still in the unhappy days of old the
Southern girls held their own and no REQ
was admixed with blue. They shunned
those that did wear the hated color, and
SO the barrels grew. Contempt was
shown on all occasions possible, dearest
friendships ruptured. We stood as toe
to foe and wished it known. When
Beast Batler assumed the command al
Fortress Monroe he said he'd stop it
He. had UNANIMOUSLY tried 10 stop it at
New Orleans. He beganiby compelling
all heads o f families TO take the oath Of
allegiance to the United Stats. The
silver item, I should mention, proceeded
this. The order was that all silver and
plate had to be weighed in order to be
taxed. ALI such as belonged 10 Confed.
crate officers and soldiers, when found
was con6scated. Honorable warfare
Meum and Tuum had lost the savor OF
the golden:rule. 3. Teaspoons were hidden
and dear old priced shotguns Of grand
fathers, intended 70. the only great.
grandson, had to be hidden by ripping
up the planks in: the floor and secreting
them. Up. to this time many honorable
men who stayed at home, some honora'
bly discharged from Confederate service,
old men and feeble ones, had held aiooi
and given up all business, as such could
only be conducted by Leyalists. Even
doctors could not practice without this
oath of allegiance. The order came
from Butler, with only ten days grace,
or they would be thrown into prison.
The men submitted. ;.
Time rolled by and another "Whereas"
was called forth, because the first order
applied to male members or heads OF
families and they were the only ones who
recognized it, for the female portion
were as defiant as ever. No Union
officer, it was asserted, but vas liable to
their public gibes or silent contempt: l
wonder they expected otherwise, since
hot blood and daring spirit fred the
hearts of our women who had brothers,
sops and husbands on the battlefield.
Shame on the order that Benjamin 7.
Butler issued to compel women and girls
from 16 years and upwards to take the
oath of allegiance to the United States,
and to swear they did it, not from com.
pulsion but from love of the Union All
were ordered to the courthouse to register,
and at the end of three weeks detailed
men were sent around to every house,
and the heads of families sworn to facts:
If any in the house of 16 years and
upward had not complied, notice was
given that on such day flag of truce
would be sent up the road and the hap
less ones would be carried out of the lines
and left to sink or swim according to
their helplessness. Such a war against
women and children ! No doubt many
signed such an oath without punctillious
misgivings; yet. many signed it with
tears and fears, and no towards either:
Weak ones with no alternative, and
there no questions were asked, accepted
the situation and obeyed. But some did
not take the oath and bravely as we'll as
conscientiously went up and registered
as those declining the oath. To this day
I do not rue it.
INCIDENTS, GRAVE AND GRAY.
Several strange incidents occurred
during those days. One day an agec
lady, bent with years, her two sons in
the Southern army, came up to sae pro
vost:
"Do you wish the Federals to conquer
in this war or the Rebels?" aked an
aLet Gods will be done" said the
good old saint. as she was.
"You go home, old lady," Aid the
officer aWhen you come down Eere and
say you want the Rebels whipR&, we'll
swear you in, and not till then"
Such coarseness rasping on the delicate
sensitiveness of our Southern ladies', do
you wonder that it rankles yet?
Of course the order included male as
we'll as female, and the boys of Is years
SO an estimable matron appeared before
Gen. E. G. Vielle and asked ''if the boys
of ,l6 years and upward would be sem
South by flag of truce if they declined
the OATH"
"Madam, do you suppose We intend te
reinforce Lees army?" No madam, We
send those to prison until duly exchang
ed"
Oh, the Spartan mothers sending un.
tried boys away to their duty 1 think
the dutiful and honorable boys were
among those three hundred who left
Norfolk and Portsmouth by running tht
blockade and joining the fortunes of the
South already at an ebb.
I must acknowledge l was one of tht
favored ones during these stirring times
Born with the traditional silver spoon
and having never known want, buoyant
with the hopes of my eighteen summers
conscientious in my Methodist faith
with will that some called obstinacy,
dared go South to earn my living. In
vain did my guardian, who was my uncle
expostulate. He could not deter me il
he wished, for the Generals orders were
that no compulsion be used. wa:
reasoned with: "Your property will be
confscated," they said. I had no val
uation or such, my answer was. Il an
q minor, added, Sand the Yankees Cal
not touch it." "But might is right il
these times of lawlessness," was urged
No answer. Down in my heart 1 fell
that the wealth of Cresus could mol
tempt me to such an enormity, much les
the few thousands upon which I placed
a too little estimate. had known nc
privation, or perhaps I had been mor'
sordid. But youth and hope go hand il
hand, and since l would 60, the same
uncle made it as easy as possible by hir
ing private conveyance; and my aun
went with me to Gen. Vodges, whos'
headnuarter were lust opposite our home