The Evening critic., 1885-05-06
UNDER FIRE.
A TRUE BORDER STORY OF THE
WAR.

Some time before the war q Presbyterian
clergyman from New Hampshire went
South, with his family for the benefit Of
his health. He purchased little farm in
Virginia, about three miles from Washing
ton, d. g., access to which was had by the
way Of Georgetown and the Aqueduct
Bridge. He gradually failed in health,
however, and died, leaving widow-Mrs.
Hayes-and two girls and boys. At the
breaking out of the war In 1861 Mrs.
Hayes and her elder daughter, who was
about 10 years Of age, took decided stand
in favor Of the Union cause. 1t required
not little moral courage to do this; but
there was no element of fear in the make
up 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.
Hayes was ridiculed, and sometimes threat
oned, but 1t availed nothing.
After the Confederate lines were driven
back few miles in 1861, Qualifications
were constructed around Washington for
the protection of the National Capital.
| They consisted of chain of forts arranged
in nearly a circle. The line crossed tho Po-
tomac, near Chain Bridge above George
| town, extending thence down to Arlington
| Heights and some distance below, recross-
| ing the river about half way between Long
Bridge and Alexandria, and so on around
until the circle was complete. Within this
line, and about a mile and a-half from Fort
Smith, situated on q little eminence, was
Mrs. Hayes modest homo, protected ncV
from the enemy, but suffering more, pA-
haps, from her friends. Many regiments
were encamrod near by; and little by 1T
Ito 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 missing one morn
ing. Very frequently at night she was
aroused by the beating of "tho long roll"
| the shouting of words of command, and the
trampipg of regiments as they swiftly
| formed in line Of battle to meet the ex-
| pected 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 something for tho soldiers.
1t was q midsummer morning in 1864.
Out in the fields and over in tho city it was
scorching hot. But in Mrs. Hayes house,
| protected as IL was from the rays Of the sun
| by the abundant foliage of the great oaks
| which surrounded 1t, the heat was not OPP
| pressive. Mrs Hayes was in the sitting
| room reading paper. The elder daughter
was in Washington. Charley-the elder
son-who was then near 12 years Of age,
was playing with the dog on the porch. 1t
was peaceful, quiet picture of Virginia
country life. Suddenly there came loud,
| whistliDg, screaming sound, followed by a
| terrific explosion directly over the house.
why !" calculated Mrs. Hayes, as she
| started from her seat, what heavy clap
Of" thunder, she was about to say, bat the
unmistakable humming, twanging sounds
which followed close upon the explosion,
with the falling of leaves and broken
| branches from tho trees, told her 1t was
| shell from some heavy gun.
as 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, ooh,
mamma! the lightning has struck the
trees" Mrs. Hayes went out on the porch
and looked and listened, but nothing un-
usual could be seen or heard.
| at was she'll" said she. ~ expect a
| gun at one of the forts went Off accident
ally"
"Well,' said Charley, when they load
their guns wish they'd point them to-
ward Richmond. They ought TO be- ashamed
| Of themselves"
Il don't think we shall be troubled any
| more said the mother as she returned to
the sittipg-room, followed by the children.
She had but just resumed her seat when
another shell buried itself in the earth
few rods from tho house and burst, throw
ing up clouds of dust aud dirt
what can it mean 20 said Mrs. Hayes.
| II know what 1t means, mamma" cried
Charley. THAT New York regiment which
| has just been sent over to Fort Smith has
put up a target in our field and the fellows
are firing at it, / wish l was general. I'd
put every one Of them in tho guard house."
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 rico
| cheting toward the house, striking the
| ground at short intervals in its mad course,
something as q stone when thrown violently
upon the water skips along the surface.
With shrek like demon it plunged
through the garden, destroying everything
in its path, filled the air with dust, gave
two or three more skips and screeches, and
finally burst over near the road. Mrs.
Hayes turned pale.
Come down into the cellar with me, all
of you" she said; and they obeyed with
alacrity. After she had quieted Eliza, the
negro servant, who was alternately praying
to "de good Lord" aud to "Missus Hiyes'
to save her, she said:
"Charley, you must run up to Mr.. Pier
sons just as fast as you can, and ask him to
go around to the fort and have the firing
stopped. And you remain at Mr.. Pierson' s
until send for you. Don't come back.
You are not afraid to go, are your"
mo, mamma, I'm not afraid, answered
the brave little fellow as he clasped his
mothers hand little tighter
| II knew you would not be; and now as
soon as the next shell comes l want you to
CO." When it came she kissed him, aud
said, "Now, my brave boy, rum"
She would gladly have gone herself, but
he thought it better to remain that she
might be with the other two children in
case the house should be struck and burned.
II cost her a struggle to send her son forth
on such perilous erraud, and her face was
very pale as she kissed him. Away sped
Charley through the garden, glancng with
wonder at the great burrows the shells had
ploughed, climbed the fence aud started to
run with all his might toward Mr.. Pier
sons house, which was half a mile distant.
He had scarcely left the garden fence how
ever, when another shell came tearing
through the shrubbery he had Just passed
and burst close to the house. The mothers
heart stood still for an instant,-aud there
was cause for it. o. of the flying frag-
ments struck poor Oh, by, and he fell to
the ground with cry 0f "Oh, mamma "
Down in the cellar the mother heard the
cry of her wounded boy, and in moment
she was kneeling by his side 1t was a sad
sight for mother to look upon. The
cruel piece of iron with its ragged edges had
stripped great piece of flesh from the
back of his ankle upward, completely
severing the cord and laying bare the bone.
He was lying upon his face, and the blood
was already staining the green grass where
he had fallen. Speaking words Of en-
couragement, she removed his shoe and the
fragment of stocking, and hastily bound
up the wound with strips torn from her
clothing. In this way she stanehed tho
flow of blood and duieted his fears, though
she could not alleviate his pain.
"NOw, Charley, must go up to Mr.. Pier
annla inusnlf for q shnll may shrilre the