The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-02
UNDER FIRE.
A True Border Story OF the War.

Some time before the war IresDy-
terrain Clergyman from New Hampshire
went South with his family for the ben.
eft of his health. He purchased lit.
tie farm in Virginia, about three miles
from Washington, ID. c., access to
which was had by the way of George
town and the Aqueduct Bridge. he
gradually failed In health, however, and
died, leaving q widow-Mrs. Cages
and two girls and two boys. AT the
breaking out of the war in 1861, Mrs.
Cages and her elder daughter, who was
about 15 years of age, took decided
stand in favor of the Union cause. 1t
required not little moral courage to
do tbs; 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 COM
munication with Washington was very
difficult and hazardous. Mrs. Cages
was ridiculed, and sometimes threat
ened, but it availed nothing.
After the Confederate lines were
driven back few miles, in 1861, forti-
fications were constructed around
Washington for the protection of the
national capital. They consisted of a
chain of forts arranged in nearly cir
Gle. The line crossed the Potomac near
Chain Bridge, above Georgetown, ex-
tending thence down to Arlington
Heights and some distance below, re-
crossing the river about halfway
between Long Bridge and Alex
andria, and so on around until
the circle was complete. Within this
line, and about mile and half from
Fort Smith, situated on q little emf
nence, was Mrs. Cages modest home,
protected now from the enemy, but
suffering more, perhaps, from her
friends. Many regiments were en-
camped 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-stove was miss
ing one morning. Very frequently at
night she was aroused by the beating
of "the long ROLL" the shouting OF
words of command, and the tramping
of reg ments as they swiftly formed in
line of battle to meet the expected
enemy. On such occasions all the
members of the family would hastily
dress, secure about their persons what
valuables they had, and patiently wait.
During all these trying years she and
her daughter were devoted friends OF
the Union cause, and their willing
hands were untiring in doing some
thing for the soldiers.
1t was midsummer morning in
1864. Out in the fields and over in the
city it was scorching hot But in Mrs.
Cages house, protected as it was from
the rays of the sun by the abundant
foliage of the great oaks which sur
rounded it, the heat was not OPP
pressive. Mrs. Cages was in the sit
ting-room reading paper. The elder
daughter was in Washington. Charley
- the elder son--who was then near
twelve years of age, was playing with
the dog on the porch. 1t was peace
full, quiet picture of Virginia country
life. Suddenly there came a loud,
~histling, screaming sound, followed
by terrific explosion directly over the
house.
why" calculated Mrs. Cages, as
she started from her seat, "what a
heavy clap Of" thunder she was
about to say, but the unmistakable
humming, twanging sounds which fol-
lowed close upon the explosion, with
the filling of leaves and broken branch
es'from the trees, told her it was shell
from some heavy gun.
as il 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, mammal the lightning has
struck the trees"
Mrs. Cages went out on the porch
and looked and listened, but nothing
unusual could be seen or heard.
1T was a shell" said she. Il expect
gun at one of the forts went off acct
dentally."
"Well," said Charley, "when they
load their guns / wish they'd point
them toward Richmond. They ought
to be ashamed of themselves"
Il 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 resumed
her seat when another shell buried it
self in the earth a few yards from the
house and burst, throwing up clouds of
dust and dirt.
What can it mean?" said Mrs.
Cages.
Il know what it means, mamma u
cried Charley. "That New York regi-
ment which has just been sent over to
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 housed"
The boy was right in his surmise,
and in few moments another missile
thrown from one of the huge siege guns
with which the fort was armed struck
a quarter of a mile away, and came
bounding or ricocheting toward the
house, striking the ground at short
intervals in its mad course, something
rs q stone when thrown violently upon
the water skips along the surface. With
a shrek like demon IL plunged
through the garden, destroying every.
thug in its path, filed the air with
dust, gave two or three more skips and
screeches, and finally burst over near
the road. Mrs. Cages turned pale.
Come down into the cellar with me-