The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-20
For the Farm or and Mechanic.
"reminiscences of ~ Years Ago,
Concluded from last Ueek.

For the Farm or and Mechanic.
"reminiscences of 20 Years Ago.
Concluded from last geek.
If some of the Northern people could
have known how faithfully severa! of the
negro men hung around the back doors,
and quietly set on the steps waiting to
know if Misses would need them, and
anxiously guarding silver and jewelry
whlcI had been entrusted to them, their
eyes would have opened in astonishment.
Liberated as our homes was on the
public road, our minds were kept con-
stantly awakened to the fact, that war
was golt G on, ever tho the booming Of
artillery about Richmond, may have ceas,
ed for days, by the continual passing and
repassing of soldiers to and from the
army. Cavalry men they were generally,
who hoped for recuperation, for both,
horse and rider, after a short visit to
their homes in the adjacent counties Am
etra, Goochland and others. SO tired and
worn did most OF them appear as they
would "homeward plod their weary way"
Although mounted, their horses seemed
scarcely able to reach the point of desti-
DatIoo.
In the absence Of our father who con
stantly was plactlcing medicine in the
several counties, he wished it always
understood by the men who kept the
keys Of the barn and corr crib, the best
of provender must be furnished any sol
der who needed it for his horse during
the time.
Scarcely a day passed hat we had not
the pleasure of announcing the fact to
mother that a soldier had turned in at
the gate and wished for a nights lodging,
or for a glass of buttermi k, which they
sometimes said was suggested by the
cool, grf en- grass and the p~rettily kept
grounds generally around Us. We kept a
record, or Il diary amongst us, who were
children at the tune OF the number and
seeming characters of our transient
friends: for we We're sometimes allowed
to forget that children should be seen
and not heard" and would ask many
questions regarding theul.
We had numbered 9Sl who had taken
some meal with us, between The months
OF April and October, but, to our regret
since, we became tired Of the interesting
sun in addition, and left off. The scene
was very picturesque after, as the weary
soldier would lie ASLEEP on the grass
whilst his horse was grazing around him,
before he set off for excitement, and
disCOmfortS of the army. Particularly
were we enthusiastic on one occasion,
when eighty cavalrymen, whose regi-
ment had been disbauded for a few
weeks, stopped to ask for necessary
food for men and horses, which the Col
Onel certainly expected, and offered Ie-
Enumeration for, but which was, (as on
every other occasion) refused. The sew
eral bridges over the A~ppomattoX river,
were guarded to some extent pretty
much of the time, and we recall the good
nature and general considerate depart
ment of the Messrs. Goodman, 3 BROTH
ers of North Carolina. who were station
ed near fathers mill for some time. and
feel sure that if they survived the war,
they have passed around the fireside
many jokes on the sorghum ginger cakes,
and the dried apple pies which accompa-
MED the pitcher of milk then regarded as
| ururtes by some neighbors every morn
ing. The duty assigned to them princi-
pally was to keep on the alert for deser
ters, who too frequently passed over the
bridges at night, having concealed them
selves during the day. After the evac-
uation of Richmond and a large portion
of the army had passed on, the retreat
towards AppomattoX G. H., a soldier
evidently exhausted came into the yard,
and asked merely to be allowed to re-
main undisturbed regardless to the ru-
NOR that a body of Federal soldiers
would soon come up. Father having spent
some days and nights in caring for the
sick and wounded who had been brought
by, had necessarily to leave for duty.
Mother felt much concern at the thought
Of the soldiers being captured by the
Yankees. and ~endeavOred to devise
some means by which he might proceed,
but she soon saw that he was desper-
ately i'll, and, there was a in the
office Furnished for soldiers especially
as comfortable as possible, n had him
placed there. He was much OF the time
in an unconscious state, but she learned
from HIM his name (Which was Froney.
berger) and that his home was in North
Carolina. In a few days he died, and
his remains were taken to the grave
yard of the Episcopal church near by.
There was but almost similar to the
burial of Latane) one man IN the neigh
borhood at the time. for toe army had
" llICu bCCu uIo OiudCd, ~ bliC
cortege consisted of females altogether.
The night of his death two Yankees.
who were supposed to be stragglers
came in saying they wished to stay
They were informed that the remains
of a Confederate soldier were lying IL
the only spare room, and they might
lind lodging elsewhere. But they re-
manned. and retired easily, much to the
relief of the family, who in an uneasy
state of mind and DESTROYS to pay the dut
respect to the dead soldier would MOI
leave the parlor during the night.
The announcement of President Lin
coins assassination was made by these
Federals, who seemed to have been sui
ticiently troubled in consequence as Il
conduct themselves in a seemly man
ner at fathers. But, after leaving tn
next morning, they committed severa
~outra.es in the neighborhood, by wa,
of carrying OFT horses and pillaging resi-
dences which were occupied by defence
less women and children. One of then
was overtaken in a few days by som
miners in the adjoining county, and wa
hung. The retreating army had dis
possessed father Of several valuable hor
ses, and 20 much provender, as well a