The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-12
OUR WOMEN IN THB WAR.
9 cHARIEsToNsDUR1Ne i On THE SIEGE,
a GRAPHIC STORY OF LIFEN TEE
!. 2 CrTY BY THE SEA N wAR TIMES.
Hrs. Paas;se DuJors, Of Charleston, S. c., in
ChdrLeston Weekly NetgS.

Mrs. Pauline Duf0ft, Of ChGfteston, .. u, an
chGleston Weekly Ne,gs.
lJdwthat years have passed since the
sulleh clouds Of rfratricidal war have
rolled back and the azure sky of peace
again droops like liquid canopy over
our Southern, sunny land, it we'll becomes
the patriotic women Of the South to en-
balm in song and story the: heroism OF
their sex during that terrible struggle, as
we'll las to narrate the appalling incidents
which we're of almost daily occurrence
during the latter part Of the struggle for
Southern rights. Our family, like many
Others in Charleston, we're compelled to
fly from the city just before the memora.
ble battle of ecessionyille, which took
place June 13, 1863, and take refuge in
the capital of the State. The family
consisted of my mother, two married
sisters and myself. My husband, having
been previously assigned to duty in
Charleston, could not accompany us to
Columbia, and, !, not being able to recon.
Gle mqSelf to the separation, with his
consent Ireturnesl TO the city for short
visit with my children, but never left it
afterwards. One 6f my sisters also re:
moved to Graham SiIle her husbands
company being stationed near that place
and later my mother returned to my
home in Charleston. Ny other sister,
having no children, remained in Colum-
bia with her husband until, after the
burning and saekingsby Sherman's troops
the horrors Of which they have never
forgotten. !.
II Our home in Charleston being situated
in the extreme northern section, of the
CITY. and consequently ont of reach of
the shells it became q refngs for many.
NV parlor.was given mp to an old gentle
man afflicted with paralysis, and to his
wife. At the same time a lady and her
daughter we're occupying my brothers
room. he, like all other patriotic
southern men, was in the service OF his
country. Those occupying apartments
in mYshouse had been driven from their
homes By the shells, and were remaining
with me until they could find more com.
Portable shelter. They remained several
months, and shortly after they left an old
lady with her niece and an afflicted son
came to beg permission to remain in my
home for the night. She did not ask for,
q bed, butla shell had struck the house
where she resided, and the danger was
too great to return. I at once assigned
her to my brothers. room and gave her
the use of "a lnmber-room, suitable for
the storing away of household articles,
for her furniture, which was costly and
beautiful. The three remained with me
for several mouths before being able to
get better quarters.
These facts are mentioned to show the
condition Of the people in the central
portion Of the city. Whenever more
powerful ordinance was brought to bear
against the city, the shells would be
thrown higher mp and in this way hum
dreds of persona we're continually COM.
PEELED dtnmoye from one place to another
and throw themselves upon the mercy of
rthose whose homes we're out of rangs.
The entire lower portion of the city was
deserted, save by 9 few who were too poor
to find shelter elsewhere, or who, like
tho proWler Themardier among the dead
at Waterloo, remained to pillage the un.
occupied houses.
SO lA SCENE AT CHURCH.
One Sunday while attending Divine
service at ST. Joseph's Church, was
then organist, and that day We had q
number of Louisianians assisting in the
choir-a scene occurred that almost beg
gars description. During the sermon,
which was delivered by a chaplain on
furlough from his regiment, the alarming
Whiz of shells and the bursting of the
missiles in close proximity struck terror
in our hearts, but we remained at our
posts. Suddenly there came tremen-
dous crash, shaking the church to its
center, and q young lady of the choir,
frenzied through fright, shrieked out, ga
she'll ! a shellp' A great commotion
and almost panic followed, but the
brave chaplain, as calm and composed as
the priest before the altar at Saragossa,
when he traced the air with the symbol
of forgiveness and uttered the "Et Sane.
ts Spiritus" ere he closed his eyes forever,
requested all to keep quiet for the danger
was over. The calm, however, did not
last long, for within few minutes time
another she'll struck the Elliott Mansion,
Immediately in the rear of the church,
and the stampede became general. With
the assistance of my husband | gathered
together my music, and as we hurriedly
left with the retreating congregation l
could distinctly hear the priest endeavor-
ing to calm the fears of those within. A
few brave ones remained with the pastor
until the services were concluded. Ten
DAYS after this she'll struck the east
corner. of the church tearing the organ
to pieces. twas only after this that the
pastor, the good and brave Father Fill
lion, could be persuaded to leave his
home.adjoining the church. He remain.
ed with ns for a short time, until he could
find home in our locality.
Church service was sometimes conduc-
ted under great difficulties during this
period. Many are familiar with the
accounts of the midnight masses in the
mountains of Ireland, with sentinels on
the lookout to keep of the blood hounds
of the law, and during the siege OF Char,
lesion there we're some queer, quaint and
curious impromptu places for Divine
worship. The dissecting room at the
.Almshouse was the best place the good
Father could get for Divine service
which was arranged every Saturday by