Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-18
A WAR "REMINISCENCES.
The Lady In Silks and Jewels--A Thrill
ing Experience.
FROM tAe Marietta journal.


From the Marietta Journal.
We heard lady living in Marietta re-
late an incident of the late war which
may not be devoid OF interest.
Gen. Johnston's army had fallen back
to the entertainments in front Of Kenne-
saw mountain, and the Federal forces
closely confronted him. The signal corps
occupied the summit Of Kennesaw
mountain and kept up constant commu-
nication with the Confederate forces
along the line. Marietta was garri-
sOned by company of a Tennes-
see regiment under command of Capt.
st. John, Lieut.. Kitchen and Lieut.. Wig
gins. These officers had formed the ac-
quaintance Of a number OF our Marietta
ladies, and invited a few of them to visit
kennesaw mountain and watch the fight
Ing of the two armies, stretched across
fields and hills and woods. Two wagon
loads of ladies', chaperOned by these Off
GERS, went up to kennesaw one day, and
they had the opportunity of witnessing
brisk fight. The booming cannon and the
rafting musketry kept time to their beat
ing hearts. Three dwellings, in the dis
lance between the two armies, were seen
to be in blaze at once. 1t was grand
sight to them. The signal corps kept their
flags waving, and every movement OF the
Federal forces were carefully watched
through the telescopes and faith
fully communicated. During the visit
there appeared among them hand
somely dressed lady, rObed in silk and
decked In Jewels, which was IN rare con-
trast then with the Marietta ladies, who
were costumed in homespun. She was
accompanied by a well-dressed Confeder-
ate soldier. She mingled with the Mari
eta ladies, listened and took part in the
conversations, and read the signal flag dis
patches. Her rich costume and actions
excited the suspicion OF the Confederate
officers, who came to the conclusion
that she and her companion We're
Federal spies, and they were ar
rested, but their papers on ex-
animation were found to be all
right, and nothing could be done but turn
them loose and watch their actions. In
the meantime Federal officers had,
through their glasses, discovered the
ladies on top of kennesaw, and they had
determined to give them a scare by turn
ing their artillery fire in thai direction.
The Confederate officers had noticed the
preparation, and notified the ladies that
they must get ready to leave auOnce; that
the wagons were then in waiting for the
return trip. They had no sooner started
to descend the grand old mountain before
the shells began TO burst around Jneul.
Some would go over the mountain, others
would fall on the sides, and others would
fail to reach it. The ladies' were greatly
frightened and no cOncealment of their
fears needed to be made, for they were in
great danger. One shell fell very close to
one of the young ladies, who now lives in
Atlanta, and when 1t exploded it tore a
log all to pieces. During this brisk bonn
bardment the lady in the silk dress and
jewels quietly disappeared.
When the Confederate army fell back
and Marietta was occupied by the Fede-
raj forces, some of these ladies who went
on that trip on that memorable day were
visited by a smooth-faced young gentle
man, in his suit of blue, and to their
startling CONSERVATION he revealed the
fact that he was the "lady in the black
silk dress and flashing Jewels" on Kenne-
saw mountain when their visit was so OPP
perfume for his appearance. The lady was
in reality a Federal spy, and he was that
lady. He had a list of the names of all
the ladies in that crowd and it seemed TO
afford him great deal of pleasure TO Gre
ate the sensation that he did, for these
ladies were nervously apprehensive that
he would have them arrested. But such
an event did not take place, and these
ladies now talk over their thrilling eXpe-
rence WITH good deal of interest to the
''young Americans" who listen and ask
questions innumerable.