The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-13
For the Farmer and Mechanic,
r "reminiscences OF ~ Years Ago.

FOR the Farmer and Mechanic
"Reminiscences OF ~ Years Ago.
Time rolls.ts ceaseless course, the race
Of yore,
Who told our marveling boyhood Ie-
gends store
Of their strange ventures happe'd by
land or sea,
How are they blotted from the things
that be -
This April day brings along with its
budding leaves and flowers, and the
twittering of the birds, painful memories
Of another April day when the startling
announcement was made at our quiet.
happy breakfast table that a raiding par
ty of 1000 Yankees was within few
miles of our home.
Our fathers house was situated on
the public road, or at the fork of the
roads rather which lead respectively
to the Court House, and to the Apo
mattoX River, crossed by a substantial
bridge. Lower down the river was an
other, railroad bridge, which if in the
possession of the Yankees would have
been of inestimable value to them.
Their plan was to send a strong force
through the country from Petersburg
which was scarcely forty miles distant,
to seize this bridge in an unguarded
hour.
| The terror which overcame us on hear
inc that this body Of cavalrymen were
to pass by the gate in short time, can
scarcely be imagined by those who were
less accustomed to the roar of artillery.
and the many excitements incident to
nearness to the opposing armies. We
pictured in our minds's eye many ills
which would necessarily follow in the
wake of a ralding party lead by General
K. Now and then colored man
| from neighbors would come in the
most excited manner to tell of some
| depreciation already committed by them
on a near plantation. Father being the
only physician in reach for two or three
| counties. our house was made a rendeZ-
vOus on almost every occasion OF inter-
est to the people. News of the danger
to Mattoax bridge, had been sent
throughout the two counties which it
connected, and though it had seemed to
Us that every available man was already
in arms" by twelve o'clock there had
been a considerable number of old men
and literally boys collected at the bridge,
and it had become quite little fort in
| few hours. Having seen father and the
oldest of our brothers (whO was only
! fifteen years of age) leave for the scene
of action (tO be) mother gave general
orders to the servants in regard to
place Of concealment for the horses and
other matters of Importance, and en-
Joined On the household composure and
self possession.
| We had not to wait very long for
sight of the "blue coats" for they had
reached another turn in the road, which
was in sight of US. There they halted,
and were to await the return of re-
connoiteling party, who hoped to tiud
the road leading by our house to the
county bridge uninterrupted, for that
was the most direct route to the rail-
road bridge. Two officers rode up to the
gate and enquired for father, and on be-
! inc informed merely that he was absent,
they rode down in the direction of the
bridge to ascertain if it was DESTROYED as
they had heard.
| On finding that it had indeed disap-
peared, they became incensed, believing
that in order to save his flour mill situa-
ted at that place from the ravages OF
this party father had had it destroyed,
| but. such. had not been the case; treshet
in the river had been the cause, and the
fact was hardly known to him at that
early hour.
| They threatened to burn houses as
we'll as mill, and rode back to the gate.
Perhaps the loyeliness of our home and
the quiet peacefulness which always
seemed to pervade the beautiful grounds
shadowed by many grand old oaks, may
have disarmed them of their intentions,
for they dismounted, and sent a mes
sage to mother that they wished to
search the house for men, and fire arms.
She turned the key in the lock OF the room
which we were gathered III, and stood
in the upper hall near the door hoping
that her presence would be of some pro-
lection to property, if indeed there was
any refined instinct in the men. The
calm exterior did not betray in the
slightest degree the workings of trou-
bled heart In her anxiety lest they
'should carry into execution the threat
which one had made to burn the house
too. she did not know that peeping from
behind her, was one of those reckless
little boys whose safety she was careing
for! The clashing of those arms as they
ascended the steps, seem to resound IN
our ears now. 1t seemed to have been
ages before he reached the hall (for
only one of the officers came up staIrsl
His salutation was respectful.
1t was returned, | do not doubt by
mother, whose dignity was never for
gotten.
A very broad window overlooked the
the yard from this hall, and as he took
his stand there for a few minutes, (per-
haps with a sufficient amount of the true
gentleman in him to have made him feel
the improperly Of the intrusion, and to
awe him into silencel, he scrQtlni4ed the
the place carefully. His comment was.
l"This is beautiful place, and | shall
make it my headquarters on my return
from MattoaX."
Mother handed him her keys, remark
ing as she did so, that he would find it less
troublesome to use them, if he wished
to make a search for fire arms or yal..a-
bles. He took them, but, after passing
through several rooms, he returned then
to her, saying he was satisfied. Atte
ordering through the dining room ser
want, dinner for his party, to whicl
several had been added in the mean
time, he demanded the carriage horses
to be brought him directly, describing
them so well that it was evident he ha,
posted himself. The ignorant seryan
thought he must COME ior permission
from mother first, but was sent off in
stead with yolley of oaths and threats
following him so close that he soon re
turned bringing them, and we lost il
them, handsome and valuable pieces O
property. Two mules were taken in tn
same way, and we were relieved to Sc
quite company of soldiers leave tn
the yard to follow up the command
Already cannonading had been going ol
betw cen the Reserves and the Yankee
at Mattoax, and we were in distress les