The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-08

ne QepIeCldCeQ Lue uIauuci !u utSu nA.
army treated Southern people, and statee
to me that if he had known the South
had to be conquered by such cruelties al
he had seen inflicted on defenceless ole
men, women and children, be would new
er have enlisted for the Union. Hi
whole demeauor indicated his refined
sensitive feelings, which were shocked a
the lawless plundering propensities oi
his army, which he was powerless to con
troll. This man was as brave as he wa;
noble; for be was subsequently, killed or
the Yazoo River while leading his mer
in an assault upon fort.
The next evening my husband return
ed home. The Joy felt by all in being
together again soon made US forget oul
harsh treatment. He had been hurried
before the officer at Milliken's Bend, who
insisted that he take the oath. This he
politely refused to do, at the same time
declaring his. allegiance to the South, tol
he had sent his son to the army and al
his sympathies were with the confedera
cy. As the old man warmed up with hi;
subject he informed the officer that "he
would die before he would swallow tina,
OATH" Although treated with kindnes:
by the commanding officer, he was dis
missed and sent home on foot, this Officer
keeping his horse, which was a fine
spirited animal.
After this adventure we decided te
move further west, although my husband
disliked so much to abandon his planta
ton, for he knew his dwelling houses
would be burned in his absence: Late
in the spring of 1868 We determined te
send the most valuable of our slaves tc
Texas, believing implicitly that the
South would be victorious. The bottom
lands of the Mississippi were entirely
covered in water, and to move required q
number of fat boats and skiffs. These
were built and everything made ready fol
the move on the following morning; still
the secret had been kept from the
negroes. The night before the contem'
plated move my husband called up his
foreman, Reuben, in whom he had the
greatest confidence, and explained mat
tiers to him, at the same time asking his
assistance in getting the negroes away.
"Dat is right, Mars ALT" Reuben re-
piled, II will do my best for you"
My husband Informed me- of his con-
versatiou with Reuben, but / could not
sleep, as believed something would 90
wrong before morning, and I had ex-
pressed my belief in Reuben's treachery.
I accordingly awaited anxiiouslY I'd the
early morning for the servants to come
and kindle fires, commence house clean.
ing and breakfast. No one came and my
husband called our waiting girl, but no
reply.
DESERTED BY THEIR SERVANTS.
eyes, they are gone, aud knew it," 1
said.
"You knew the COW ate the grind
stone" my husband answered, laughing.
ly, hurrying on his clothes.
Going down along the negro quarters
he found them deserted-not a negro was
to be seen anywhere. Returning hurri.
edly to the house he rushed into our
room.
"Wife wife /" be exclaimed, "every
negro is gone to the Yankees"
Woman like, I could not resist the
temptation of saying word.
"Who believes now that the COW ate
the grindstone?"
ooh! wife, out upon that 'grindstone.'
What shall we do 2"
The poor man was greatly distressed,
as he could not bear for any one to even
hint that slaves would leave him, he
being an indulgent, kind master, treating
them as children. I threw my arms
around him, and told him we could work,
and still be happy, without the negroes
that it was only question of time, when
they would be free, and that the present
was good opportunity to begin to learn
to wait upon ourselves.
After Reuben's conversation with my
husband the previous evening, the color
ed traitor had collected all the negroes
on the plantation and explained to them
masters move," at the same time advis.
ing them to take the boats and make all
speed to their "deliverers"-the Yankees.
Filling the boats with their household
goods, men, women and children, pushed
across the inundated fields to Milliken's
Bend. l afterwards learned that most of
them died of disease while living with
their "deliverers." One orphan. girl
about eight years of age was sleeping in
the house. My little daughter, being
attached to her, claimed her as her wait
ing maid and would not allow her to
remain in the quarters. The negroes left
her in their flight.
After the storm came the calm, and we
busted ourselves about some breakfast.
My husband cut some wood and started
a IRE in the stove. My daughter, Miss
Tradewell, and her grandmother, Mrs.
Traywood, refugees staying with us, and
myself, marched in body to the kitchen,
and, by exercising our combined culinary
knowledge, prepared breakfast, but it
was not worth Dragging about, as we were
hungry, and we ate in silence this our
first meal prepared without the assistance
of any "Aunt Chloe"
THE MIDNIGHT RAID.
Our slaves, after reaching "their
friends" the Yankees, informed them
that cold Master" had lots of silver and
gold buried under the "big house," and
that "Old Miss" had bushel of silver
ware hid in the house. So much glori.
Gus information aroused their thieviDg
faculties, and visions of "boxes of gold"
floated through their brains. Accord
ingly, armed With guns and pistols, a
party of twenty "Union soldiers" accom-
panied by crowd of negroes, stole away
from their camps at night to attack one
old man and his family and make them
"disgorge" their gold. 1t was past mid.
night and all were sleeping unconscious
of any danger when these "brave men"
noiselessly surrounded the house, placing
guards at every window that no one
might escape. Three of them stood at
the front door, which they kicked furi-
ously, yelling at us, "Wake up! you
confounded Rebels, and open the door
Wake up! or we will kick it down p
Startled out of sleep and frightened be-
yond physical control, l hurriedly threw
a wrapper around myself and attempted
to light candle. My hand trembled SO