The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-07-09
UNDER FIRE.
4 True Border Story OF the War.

some ume before the war PresDy-
terrain 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 Washington, D. 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 a widow-Mrs. Cages
and two boys and two girls. At the
breaking out of the war in 1861, Mrs.
Cages and. her elder daughter who was
about Is years of age, took decided
stand in favor of the Union cause. It
required not little moral courage to
do this; 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 anil hazardous. Mrs. Cages
was ridiculed, and sometimes threat
ened, but it availed nothing.
After the Confederate lines were
driven back a few miles in 1861, forti-
tications 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, OK
tending thence down to Arlington
Heights and some distance below, re-
crossing the river about half way be-
tween Long Bridge and Alexandria,
and so on around until the circle was
complete. Within this line, and about
mile and half from Fort Smith,
situated on little eminenee, was Mrs.
Gayes's modest home, protected now
from the enemy, but suffering more
perhaps from her friends. Many
regiments were encamped near by; and
little by little her timber and fences and
stock and crop disappeared, until there
was scarcely anything left save the
house and the land. Even the cook
stove was missing one morning. Very
frequently she was aroused by the
beating OF the "long roll," the shout
ing of words of command, and the
tramping Of regiments as they swiftly
formed in line Of battle, to meet the ex-
pected enemy. On such occasions all
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 the soldiers.
1t was a midsummer morning in 1864.
Out in the fields and over in the city it
was scorching hot. But in Mrs. Gayes's
house, protected as it was from the rays
of the sun by the abundant foliage of
the great oaks which surrounded it,
the heat was not oppressive. Mrs.
Cages was in the sitting room reading q
paper. The elder daughter was in
Washington. Charlie-the elder SON
who was then nearly II years of age,
was playing with the dog on the porch.
It was peaceful quiet picture of Vlr-
ginia country life. Suddenly there
came a loud, whistling, screaming
sound, followed by terrific explosion
directly over the house.
''Why! calculated Mrs. Cages, as she
started from her seat, "what heavy
clap Of" thunder, she was about to
say, but the unmistakable humming,
twanging sounds which followed close
upon the explosion, with the falling of
leaves and broken branches from the
tress, told her it was shell from some
heavy gun.
us 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. Cages went
out on the porch and looked and lis
tened, but nothing unusual could be
seen or heard.
1T was SHE'LL" said she, II expect a
gun at one of the forts went off acct
dentally"
WELL" said Charley, "when they
load their gun wish they'd point them
toward Richmond. They ought to be
ashamed Of themselves"
II 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 just resumed
her seat when another shell buried it.
self in the earth few rods from the
house and burst, throwing up clouds of
dust and dirt.
"What can it mean?" said Mrs.
Cages.
II know what it means, mamma p'
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. I
wish was general. I'd put every
one of them in the guard house!'
The boy was right in his surmise, and
in few minutes another missile thrown
from one of the huge siege guns with
which the fort was armed, struck, a
quarter of mile away, and came
bounding or ricocheting toward the
house, striking the ground at short in
tervals in it's mad course, something as a
6lOAo "ICu Uu4ONA SAOACAUAy uPOll OAC
water skips along the surface. With a
shrek like a demon it plunged through
the garden, destroying everything in it's
path, filled 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,
all of you," she said; and they obeved
with alacrity. After she had quoted
Eliza, the negro servant, who was al
ternatelv praying to "de good Lord"
and to "Missus Cages" to save her, she
said:
Charley, you must run up to Mr.:
Persons just as fast as you Ecan, and
have the firing st6pped:' And you re.
main at MIR. Persons until I send for
you. Don't come back. You are not
afraid to 60, are you?"
mo, mamma; I'm not afraid, answer