The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-02
OUR WOMEN TN THE WAR.

00R WOMEN TN THE WAR;
STARVATION IN THE VALLEY.
Sad Scenes Under the Shadows Of Massa'
mutton Mountain.
Shenandoah, of Warren Co.. Va., IN Charles
ton Weekly Nsus.
During the late war there was perhaps
no section of the country subject to such
continued and varied trials as the north
western portion of the Virginia Valley
1t was "debatable land" lying near the
dividing line of the armies, and knew
not to-day whether tomorrow would find
it under the dominion of the Blue OF
the Grey. Scattered through the country
were farm houses, Inhabited at this time
solely By women and children and old
men too decrepid to handle weapons in
the field or implements of husbandry at
home. These were dependent upon their
own exertions for the necessaries of life.
Too far from the Potomac to run the
blockade and obtain supplies by trading
across the border, and levied upon for the
sustenance Of each army in turn, their
condition was most unenviable. All that
could be prudently spared, in the first
place, had been patriotically donated to
the support of the Southern army. Then
came that inhuman order of Sheridan's !:
"The Shenandoah Valley must be de-.
vastated till the crows passing over it will
have to carry their rations with them" I"
This edict was carried out with zeal
worthy better cause. Midnight skies
were livid with the flames from burning
mills, where was being consumed the
breadstufs gathered for winter stores by
each little neighborhood. Helpless wo.
men and children looked on while grana.
ries, meat.houses, hog pens snd hen.
houses were rided of the meagre stores
that had been collected with much labor
and privation. Cows were driven of,
sheep there were none, and every horse
that could drag a plough or draw cart
was impressed for the use of the Federal
army or shot to render them useless to
the Confederates.
Then came the vital question to these
sorely tried people: What are we to do ?
Without .lorses to till the ground or haul
fuel for winter fires, how can we keep
our children from freezing and starving Z"
Up to this time the ladies, many of whom
in ante. .bellum days had never learned to
use the broom-frail, delicate women
had, with the help of and-fathers and
children, or the desultory aid of freed
men, managed to cultivate enough of the
pasture lot and garden to supply the
family needs for food but even this
without horse power would become i'm.
possible. Equally: impossible without
some mode of conveyance was it for
these unhappy people to seek food and
protection within the Southern lines.
There seems nothing left for them to do
but to subsist as long as they could on
the herbs and roots from their little gar
dens, and after that death by starvation,
or deliverance by the Southern army.
The latter hope seemed a forlorn one,
and the approaching winter was looked
forward to with feelings that will long be
remembered IN the valley.
WIDOWS WOES.
1t was at this period and in this locali
ty that the incident which I am about to
relate occurred. Mrs. B., widow lady
and relative Of the writer, lived on
snug farm, washed on one side by the
quiet Shenandoah, and overshadowed on
the other by the blue Massanutten noun
tains. Her only two grown sons we're in
the army around Richmond, and she was
left in her lonely, isolated home with
house full of children to support and
protect. Up to this time they had strug-
gled along bravely enough, even after
their old servants had deserted them.
The boys, though young, managed 10
cultivate the garden and some small
patches of grain. The girls milked the
COWS, fed the pigs and poultry and helped
With the housework generally. The
cooking stove and wash-tub took the
place of sewing machine and piano in
the once cozy sitting-room, yet despite
their privations they kept brave hearts
and always had wholesome meal and
cheerful words tor any Confederate that
might pause at the hospitable door.
But at last came woeful day when
these means of livelihood at one fell
swoop were taken from them. A band
of blue coated cavalrymen came to "clean
'em out" and the meaning of this phrase
can only be understood by those who
have suffered the process. Everything
eatable, dead or alive, was confscated.
One of the little girls, hearing the pierc.
ing squeals of The butchered hogs, ran
out, and with streaming eyes begged for
small porker that was about to be sac
ri6ced. The rough soldier had soft
spot, las who has not?) and touched by
her entreaties gave piggy into her keep
ing. The rescued innocent was thence.
forth domiciled in an outer room and
christened "Job" because Of the affections
it had seen in the wasting of its house.
hold. They were fortunate enough to
have concealed in the kitchen "loft"
few bags of grain, intending to send
them to the mill little later. By
parchiDg and pounding this they man
aged to make cakes that could be eaten,
and upon this, with little sorghum
molasses and dried fruit that had been
hidden away, they subsisted fora time.
"JoB," THE PET PIG.
In all these days Of death "Job" never
failed in his portion; his little mistress
faithfully divided her rations with him,
and he grew and fattened as only such an
admired animal could. Indeed, he be-
came quite an important member of the
family, following his owner from room to
room like dog, and seeming to realize
his dignity as one Of the only two four
footed beasts remaining on the place.
The other quadruped was superannuat-
ed horse, blind in one eye, and SO clearly
unfit for the commonest duties that the
Yankees had not thought "Old Bet"
worth killing. They little guessed the
abilities buried in that old skeleton.
On one occasion some Federal officers