Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-05-21
UNDER FIRE,
A True Border Story of the War.

cnascu llttle iarm in Virginia, about
three miles from Washington, d. c.,
access to which was had by the way
of Georgetown and tho Aqueduct
Bridge. lie gradually failed in health,
however, and died, leaving n widow
Mrs. Gaycs-and two girls and two
boys. At the breaking out of the war
in 1861, Mrs. Gaycs and her elder
daughter, who was about fifteen years
OF age, took a decided stand in favor
of tho Union cause. 1t required not n
little moral courage to do this; but
there was no element of fear in the
makeup of any member of the family.
AT first their home was within the
Confederate lines, and communication
with Washington was very difficult
and hazardous. Mrs. Cages was ridi-
culcd. and sometimes threatened, but
ii availcd nothing.
After the Confederate lines were
driven back few miles in 1861, forti-
iicatiOns were constructed around
Washington for the protection of the
National Capital. They consisted of
chain of forts arranged in nearly n
circle. The line crossed the Potomac
near Chain Bridge, above George
town, extending thence down to Ar
lingtOn Heights and some distance
below, rccrOSsing the river about half
way between Long Bridge and Alex
andria, and so on around until the cir
Gle was complete. Within this line,
and about mile and n half from Fort
Smith, situated on little cmincnce.
was Mrs. Cages modest home, pro-
tected now from the enemy, but suf-
ferIng more, perhaps, from her
friends. Many regiments were en-.
campcd near by; and little by little
her timber and fences and stock and
crops disappeared, until there was
scarcely anything left save the house
and the land. Even the cook stoyc
was missing one morning. Very fire.
qucntly ut night she was aroused by
the beating of "the long roll,n the
shouting Of words of command, and
the trampng OF regiments as they
swiftly formed in line OF battle to meet
the expected enemy. On such occas-
ions all the members of the family
would hastily dress, secure about their
persons what valuablcs they had, and
patiently wait. During all these try
ing years she and her daughter were
devoted friends of the Union cause,
and their willing hands were untirng
in doing something for The soldiers
1t was u midsummer morning in
1861 Ont in the field and over in the
city it was scorching hot. But in Mrs.
Gaycs' house, projected rs 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. Cages was in the
sitting room reading paper, Tho
elder daughter was in Washington.
Charley, the elder son who was then
near twelve years of age, was play
ing with the dog on the porch. ltwas
peaceful, quiet picture of Virginia
country life Suddenly there came
loud, whistling, screaming sound, fol-
lowed by Il terrific explosion directly
over the house.
Why calculated Mrs. Cages, as
she started from her seat, "what
heavy clap Of" thunder, she was
about to say, but the unmistakablo
humming, twanging sounds which fol-
lowed close upon the explosion, with
the falling of leaves and broken
branches from the trees, told her it
was shell from some heavy gun.
"ls it possible the rebels are making
an attack" she said.
The children now came running in
from their play, and one of them cried
out, "Oh, mamma! the lightning has
struck the trees" Mrs. Gayes went
out on the porch and looked and lis
tened, but nothing unusual could be
seen or heard.
1T was n SHE'LL" said she. 81 cx.
pcct gus at ono of the forts went on
accidentally"
"Wcll," said Charley, "whcn thcy
load their guns wish they'd point
them toward Richmond. They ought
TO be ashamed of themselves.
II don't think We shall be troubled
any more" said the mother as she re-
turned to the sitting-room, followed
by the children. She had but Just re-
sumcd her seat when another shell
buried itself in the earth u few rods
from the house and burst, throwing
up clouds of dust and dirt.
what can ii meanP" said Mrs.
Cages.
81 know what it means, mammam
cried Charley. That New York regi-
mcnt which has just been sent over 10
Fort Smith has put up target in our
field, and the fellows are firing at it.
! wish was general I'd put every
one of them in the guard housen'
The boy was right in his surmise,
and in u few moments another mis-
Silc thrown from one of the hugo
siege guns with which the fort was
armed, struck, quarter of mile
away, and came bounding or ricochet.
ing toward the house, striking the
ground at short intervals in its mad
course, something rs stone when
thrown violently upon the water skips
along the surface. With a shrek like
a demon it plunged through the gar
den, destroying everything in its path,
Ii led the air with dust, gave two or
three more sklps and screeches, and
finally burst over near the road. Mrs.
Gayes turned pale.
"Come down into the cellar with
me, all of you," she said; and they
oboycd with alacrity. After she had
quieled Eliza, the negro servant, who
was alternately praying to "de good
Lord" and to "Missus Cages" to save
her. she said:
Charley, you must run up to MIR.
Persons just as fast as you can, and
ask him to 60 around to the fort and
have the firing stopped. And you re-
main at Mr.. Persons until send for
you. Don't come back. You are not
afraid to go, are youp"
"No, mamma, I'm not afraid"
answered the brave little fellow as he
clasped his mothers hand little
tighter.
~ knew you would not be; and
now as soon as the next shell comes |
want you to CO." When it came she
kissed him and said, "Now my brave
boy, runl'
OIL ...z..IJ n.la a., hoxn n.n,,a havnale