The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-26
OUR WOMEN IN THH WAR.
.TnE COSTUMES OF War TIMES.
Mrs. l. " Franklin, Of augusta, Ca, IN
Charleston Weekly Ne,cs.

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Charleston Weekly Ne,cs.
War times War days How long ago
it sill appears, after the lapse of years
full of recollection and "reminiscences !
So far back, it seems, those days so
eyentful then, and so historic now, must
have their birth from eternity. Yet often
memory brings back very vividly al! the
tumultuous emotions of those exciting
hours, and even yet, often in social meet
inps, friends who suffered together in
those anxious years will converse linger.
ingly over the war and its manifold ex-
periences.
There are many whose glowing pens
will portray strange and sad events,
aiying histories replete with pain, death,
privation, wrong and exile. Homes lost
like ga leaf in the storm" as Ouida calls
the desolation of "a village during the
times of the Commune, to hundreds in
the South, can never again be seen, save
in delusige dreaming. Noble lives given
up on crimson fields have left that tender
silence upon hearts that held them dear,
which must ever bring back, most sor-
rowfully, and thought of var, and to
these writers a vivid reality in descrip.
ton must be given, as the ablest writers
are those who feel most deeply.
I could write of Sherman's march,
telling Of Atlanta with her blackened
chimneys standing like grim sentinels
over the ruins beneath. could tell Of
'.The City BY the Sea-" looking over the
waters with ruin in her walls, and picture
the anxious days and months with the
enemy encamped about the islands near.
Years after the shells had ceased to star
tie the alarmed air / stood upon the
Battery alone, and'in the peaceful silence
saw vet evidence Of war. In the moon.
light / wandered by the ruined Cathedral,
and saw the Circular Church wreathed
with creepers, all silyered by the light,
which softened but revealed the ravages
of bursting she'll. The ocean dimly
murmured far away with an unquiet roar,
as if the troubled waters could sing in
monotone story of the sorrow bone
over the foamiDg waves in those blood.
red days, the days of hatred and OF strife.
Let me bring back some other themes in.
connection with Confederate life less
sorfowfhl.
Well do I remember, though but
little slip Of girl, the wild excitement
over secession, when all fierce, rebel
maidens wore the badge of sympathy.
NV BchooI books were never taken unless
the badge adorned the left shoulder for
the street. On all sides nothing was
discussed but the subject OF secession.
There was feverish excitement pervad-
ing the atmosphere of the school-rooms,
and I remember rebel concert given
in which every pupil wore distinctive
costume of Confederate colors, songs OF
Southern zeal and full of battle spirit
were sung to the roll .of a drum, which
was supported BY child who IVES draped
in q banner. The widest enthusiasm
prevailed when the two hundred girls
sang in chorus of their love for the
Southern land, for her brave soldiers and
for their valor, yet to be proven. Gen.
r. r. r. Cobb was present on this ocea'
sion, and was at the time full of field.
THE SERIOUS SIDE OF WAR.
Years after / saw one memorial day
procession of young girls placing upon
the soldiers graves laurel crowns and
emblems Of 3 warriors deathless fame.
Nv interest became more intense when
I saw, in my widowed mothers face look
which reateds there for years. Her boys
eagerly rushed to the battle call, and
there camea day when in every hone
the leave.taking was universal. Often
now I recall the going of our soldiers lar
from home and tender love to battle and
to death, and Imagination cannot create
q more gallant picture of the soldiers
than our Southern youths afforded. 1t
was marvellous how brayely they bore
the life of danger and exposure. Among
old letters I read with unabated iDteres:
still the details of fight, skirmishes and
battles, in which those dear to me bore
active part, and amazement ILLS me to
observe there was never one murmur over
privation and wounds.
The battles of Seven Pines and around
Richmond brought anguish to many
homes, and in my own home anxiety be.
yond words filled us. when, after long 81
ience, message was brought, summoning
aid from home to those who lay at deaths
door. from terrible wounds. Never can
I forget the history of that journey
which q loved one took. The fight was
raging near Richmond, and hourly hun.
dreds of the wounded were brought
within the limits. All day long, outside
the building, which was filled with dead
and dying upon the floors, could be seen
the cotfins in construction, and the rude
hammering filled the sir. The food at
this time of panic consisted solely OF
buttermilk and blackberries, in this es.
peciai building, and the sufferers were
almost perishing for water. Fortunately,
assistance was soon rendered. Expert
ences full of suffering were endured by
members of my family, ia following the
army, to join the wounded, and to render
nursing attention. But these are stories
Of horror, and I will instead give some
glimpses of home life in those demoral-
lied times.
By this time the Confederacy was filled
with battle songs, breathing the very
spirit Of music, aud oyeraowing with
sentiment and pathos. "We'll conquer
orwell de-" "When this cruel war is
over" and "My Maryland" were the
familiar household scnps, and Father
Ryan's poems, and those of many others
scarcely less gifted in this line, were
recited with a depth of feeling unknown,
save in days of warfare. Soon "The
Vacant Chair" and songs in the minor
key prevailed, for sorrow enveloped the
land IS veil. Literary cultivation was
almost classical, for few novelists existed
then in our borders, and ancient works
were re-read and borrowed freely. The
texture of Confederate newspapers was
something marvellous, and the columns
were filled only with war and rumors of
war.
I received once collection of papers
and illustrated monthlies from Virginia,
sent ae by an officer whose command
had surprised the enemy's encampment
and routed them to take possession of all
they precipitately LEFT. The val yaluablss ss
tLov, a,pocio1Iv raluahle wss sl1pppstiOns