The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-08
bur- WOMEN IN; THE WAR.
SAD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A Sc.
CLUDED HOME.
W., Emma Stroud, Of Hdudna, dia, IN
Charleston Weekly Netrs

1 NJ, Emma Stroud, Of Hdua,a, Ifia., i,
Charleston Weekly Netrs.
In 1862 WAS living with my husband
and children on Walnut Bayou, abou,
8welve miles from Vicksburg, Miss, and
7Aye miles from the Mississippi River
Soon after Grants arrival in front oil
N'icksburg he commenced cutting his
fanal, which was not far from my home
sThc cannonadng from the batteries al
Nicksburg Jared the windows of my
shomc, and the morning drums could be
distinctly heard. We lived in constant
dread, for VIC hourly expected q visit
from some scouting party sent out from
Sheir encan,pment along the canal.
a had carefully hid away all the fire
Arms in our possession, consisting of a
aho,gun and brace of fine pistols. NY
husband WAS greatly attached to his gun,
shich he called sold Betsey," and had
.Srdered that it be hid where no Yankee
Sould find it,
4 One evening a croY of Federal sol.
;iers surrounded the house. and rushing
into my room, with pistols in hand
demanded all the firearms on the premi.
ses. -.
'"Take all you can find," 1 said, feeling
gerlain that they would not find any.
8 The Rouse was thoroughly searched
End they were about to leave when q
Yankee, who was prowling around n.y
Aack yard calling me, asked where my
Aoultry yard was situated.
you can hunt for it," / answered
Seting a little angry az thought about
by chickens, which he would probably
SonfisCate.
lie dashed oil to hunt the yard, and
.9fier al absence of several minutes re-.
burned, not bringing with him the chick.
sns, as l expected, but dear me "Old
Betsey" and the pistols.
4 "Your ducks and turkeys sit on formi-
liable eggs" he SAID, with comical grin
in his swarthy face.
q l told him that only wished every
;oulhern turkey, duck, chicken and hen
build hatch such eggs" and that eaeh
Die could be made useful in killing a
3ankce, adding that was ready to at
bud such hennery VIII en- it was started.
had secreted the plst6ls Under i sit.
Ssng turkey hen, lifting up the straw Of
s3e nest, and under it placing the pistols,
3placing the eggs aud turkey. enyel.
bed "Old Be,sey" in blanket, and laid
Or quietly to rest under long row of
bcks' nests: Ny plan of concealment
Gould have been success, but for the
seachery of my DINING room servant,
Sho had watched me, and revealed the
lding place to the Yankees.
81 After some months Of constant vista
pn by scouts from Grants army, nv
ashland proposed that we leave our
spme, take our slaves that were left, and
sAloye thirty miles further west, to plan.
Stion owned by US and managed by an
s3erscer. Conscnting at once, the move
1ps made, and we found ourselves snug
81, and to all appearances safely, en-
onced in our new home on Bear Lake,
sshich was ten miles distant from Milli.
4n's Bend on the Mississippi River.
73e did not think the Yankees would
Ger find us in that wilderness.looking
9luntry.
sSwELCoME VISITORS OH GEIRIsrAAs
s. EVE.
4 We had been living in our happy Sc.
s.nslon only few months, when on the
FF,r:stmas evening of 1862 my daughter
aad myself went to visit neighbor
ross the bayou. A slave of mine fer
ed us across in a skif, and immediate.
8 returned home, with instructions to
Rturn for US later in the evening. As
"a were returning home we could not
dip feeling joyous, for it was one of
zEose beautiful evenings that are peculiar
our Southland. We had no thought
the sorrow and fear awaiting us at
s9me. My husband had remained at
9me; my only son was in the army.
Ae were surprised to find our skif'
3alting US, but no servant with it, and
n youngest daughter understanding the
wing OF boats put ia safely over.
ssea1lng the house saw the yard full Of
ankees, and as entered the gate my
Aok came running down the walk. cry
. aud gisa,ly excited.
Master has been carried off, Col
bAows where, by some Yankees" she
claimed breatblessly.
"A lmost paralyzed with fear, tottered
the steps of my house, for feared my
sband would be killed. I knew what
s4taunch Rebel he was, and that he did
~ hesitate to express himself freely on
p subject, and knew that no torture
% Yankees could invent would make
n take the oath of allegiance to the
deral Government.
Entering the house found trunks
pken open, drawers pillaged, furniture
sfned over, in fact, everything scattered
|spund, while the Yankees hunted for
pney, and jewelry. My pantry was
9s9oed OF all my Christmas cakes, my
S2ry of milk and butter, my smokehouse
all its meat. We had just slaughter
iorly.nine hogs, and every pound of
g meat was taken.
s. appealed to an officer in the yard,
80 was drinking whiskey with my
ssSes, to protect myself and daughters
sam the insults of the drunken crowd.
" replied with q terrible oath, "that it
sNc not his business in the South" pro.
ng women and children.
~ turned away Ia utter misery. No
9 to call upon for aid, myself and
slghters alone, and entirely at the mer-
fof this uncivilized drunken crowd of
~ hundred soldiers and nearly thou.
go negroes from adjoining plantations
5So were going along with them. Going
q cavalryman belonging to Captain
ntgomery's command, Inquired why
husband had been carried away.
oh he will be back soon they only
sSnt him to take the OATH"
we'll knew that ii his return depend.
on his taking the oath he would never
SNne back.
ySasfiiE yySs GALLANT FEDERAL OFFICER.
~ was several miles to the nearest
ghbor's house, and I was afraid to 60
|sIar ut night while the road was filed
IN soldiers. Therefore, ciasping my
Sldren In my arms kneeied down in
;s piazza and. prayed, as had never
ne before, that God would not torsake
al In ~ Asns,kl.. Qo.-.alx. hnA. fh