The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-06-04
uHDrR rsRE
. rHrr ponpsn 'roAr or THE war.


some time before The gar rresbytsri
aa clergy man nom Ses Hampshire sen
BcutA, sssA liz family for The bepebi Q
his health. He purchased little farm il
Virginia. about three miles from Wash
ingtcn. ID, G.. access 70 which Was had b,
the vsy Of Georgetown and the Aqueduc
bridge. He gradually failed in health
however. and died. lesviss ~ijow -Nrs
Cages asd tso sirls sad tuo boys Al
the breaking ont Of The war in 1861. Mrs.
Gsyss snd her elder daughter. vho vAs
about 10 years Of age, took decided stand
Ia favor Of The Union cause. II required
no. little moral courage TO do this; but
there vas no element Of fear ia the n lke-
up of any msnbsr Of The family. A. first
their homo was within the limit Of the
confederate lines. and communication with
washisgtsn ~ vssy dimeslt and hazard
eua. Mst. 0syss ~ ddIonlsd. and soms-
times threatened. bus Il availed nothing.
After the confederate lines were driven
hack lev miles in 1861. fortihcatioOs we're
constructed around Washington for the
protection Of the national capital. They
consisted of chain Of forts arranged ia
nearly circle. Tbs lino crossed the Po-
tomac nssr Chain bridge above George
towp. extending thence down 10 Arlington
Heights aud some distance below. rscross.
ing the river about half way Long bridge
and Alexandria. aud 30 on around until
the circle was complete. Within this
Iine, and about mile aud half from
Fort Smith. situated on little cminence.
va Mrs Gsyes' modest home. protected
nov from the enemy, but suffering more
perhaps, from her friends. Many reei.
menls were encamped near BY, and little
by little her timber and fences and stock
and crops disappeared, until there was
nothing left save tho house and land.
Even the cook stove was missing one morn.
ing. Very frequently at night she was
aroused by the beating Of "ths long roll, "
the shoutings Of words Of command, and
the tramping Of regiments as they swiftly
formed in line Of battle to meet the ex-
pected enemy. On such occasions all the
OF the family would hastily
dress. secure about their persons what
valuables they had, and patiently wait
During oil these trying years she and her
we're devoted friends Of the
Union cause, and their willing hands we're
untiring in doing something for the sold
iers
II was . midsummer morning in 1864.
Out in the fields and over the city II was
scorching hot. Butin Mrs. Cages house,
protected as it was from the rays Of the
sun by the abundant foliage Of the great
oaks which surrounded it, the heat was
not oppressive Mrs. Gayss was in the
sillisg roon seading newspaper The
slder daughter wss In Washington. Char
10y tho elder son--who was then u years
old, was playing with the dog on the
porch. 1t was peaceful, quiet picture Of
Virginia life. Suddenly there came a
loud, Whaling. screaming sound followed
BY ! terrific explosion directly over the
house.
"Whyr' calculated Mrs. Gayes, as she
started from her seat. what heavy clap
of--" thunder she was about to say, but the
able humming, twansipg sounds
which followed Close upon the exposion,
With the falling Of leaves aud broken
branches from the trscs, told her II was
,hell from some heavy gun.
rs it possible tho rebels are making "a
lstacki" she said.
The children now came running Ia froa
heir play, and one Of them cried ont,
Oh. msmms, the lightning has struck
he trees.
Mrs. Cages went out on tho porch and
ooked and listened. but nothing unusual
sould be seen nor heard.
1T was she'll" she said. II expect .
run at one Of the forts went Oh acciden-
ally"
well" said Charley. "when they load
heir suus ! wish they'd point them to-
ward Richmond. They ought TO bel
ashamed Of themselves.
II don't think We shall be troubled any
more" said the mother, ~ she returned
10 the sitting room. followed by the chill
iren. She had Just resumed her seat
shen another shell buried itself in the
larth few rods from tho house and burst,
throwing up clouds Of dust and dirt
"whst can It mesn?" said Mrs. Gayes,
j little frightened.
II know what II mean. mamma cried
Charley. That New York regiment
which has just been sent over 70 Fort
smith hss put mp target in our field.
md the fellows are firing as it, wish !
ras ageneral. Id put every one Of them
q the guard house"
Tho boy va right in his surmisc. and
a few moments another missile thrown
rom one Of The huge siege guns with
vhich tho fort vas armed, strnck, quar-
er Of . mile away. and came bounding or
icccheting toward the house. striking the
Iround At short Intervals in it, mad course.
. stone when thrown vio-
emily upon the xatcr skips upon the
urface. With a shrek like demon Il
,lupged through the garden. destroying
10 its path. filled the cir with
lust. gave tso or three more skips and
creeches. aud fualIy bnrst ovrr near this
cal. Mrs Gsyes turned pale.
Come down into the cellar with me,
n 81 you." sbs said; and they ol~ved
si,h alacrly. After she hsd qui~isd Eli
i. the negro woman. Who was alternately