The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17
WAR DAYS III THE SOUTH.
ny ROB soy-Eo. V.

A conspicuous character within the 5outh-
EN- lines, not accorded the n tics he msrits
in The wars history. was the refugee. His
relation to the military service was that OF
avant courier to the Union armies. Aud it
was easily ascertained from the gait OF the
refugee about hon near the invaders were
Ii he WAS apparently contented with the To-
comotion OF bis mule or OK tsam. Sherman
was some distance behind him. Bat when
the refugee was observed applying the whip
to his team, the while casting an uneasy
glance backward over his shoulder, il might
be de pended on that Sherman was in mo-
ton.
The rfugee's first start was. perhaps, from
Kentucky. TIE Yankees were marching
in the direction of his house, SO he bundled
up the bedding and set wife aud children
upon it in a covered wagon and struck
southwark. The negroes were along also,
he women and children in another wagon,
the men and boys driving the stock and
cattle. Tie wagons contained 3mmisssry
supplies and cooking utensils, while q
cocop of chickens vas suspended to the rear
end of enc of them. The old watch dog was
member Of the caravan and the children
had brought along their pet kittens. Tie
refugee had not started for any particular
Place. He had left bone temporarily until
the C0nfederates should discover the in
vaders aud drive them back across the Ohio.
So be proceeded a distance OF fifty miles or
so and camped near 3 telegraph station
where he might get the news of the enemy
having bsen routed, after which his party
would return home. But after q while he
found the Yankees were approaching the
legraph station, and with q number of his
new neighDors swelling the procession he
extended his trip fifty miles further. Bat
the boys In blue continued to follow, and tn >
refugee found bimse ELF and family and Pos
sessions in Tennes es. and then in Gsorgia,
and finally down by the Atlantic where,
b!cci ade vessels forbiddlng an attempt to
swim across, he camped on the sands, where
Sherman at last overlook him.
The refugee class which went South from
kentucky, Tennessee ard Virginia, nu II
beYed tens of thousands. The object of ma ~
in moving was TO prevent their slaves from
armies. Othels desired their famii IS safely
distant from possible danger. Ac,uated by
the latter, some Hho had no slaves 10 lose
and who were very poor, joined the refugee
ra, Ks. By 1864 Georgia AID Alabama were
overrun by these immigrants. Then as
Sherman advanced toward Atlanta the
population on his lire OF march abandoned
thair M I'D tnr 10 Afcht of l.
1t was there that the term ''runagee" was
coined. This Was intended to distinguish
bstween these who emigrated ia good time
and those others who waited until the enemy
were in sight and then scur-ied away. In
nothing else was the faith OF the people In
General J. E. Johnston bstter illustrated
They believed with each day that Johnston
would drive Sherman back on the next, an
so very many of the villagers and towns
people between Chicsmsuga and At.
lanta sat upon their packed
trunks deferring moving in the vain hope
that Johnston would, now, repel his antsg.
onist and they be privileged to sta at home
Bot anon, word would como that General
Johnston was falling back, and then the
household goods would be dumped into the
wagon and the household g,ds and goddessss
seated among them, when the drivers whip
would crack, snd with regretful chances at
the good home which was to bs in ashes be
fore their return to the spot, the "runsgses"
we're away on q tour Of uncertainty and
heIdships.
The little city of Rome was declared by
he L. S~1~
ger line-Sherman might reach Dalton, Ring
gold and even Calhoun, but there were too
many mountains and warehouses; protect
irg the namesake of the Eternal City.
Among the noble Romans was one Charles
n. Smith, lawyer with numerous and
interesting family. Ad ping for pseudo
nym the name of a ha'f-wit.ed bat
good humored fsllow.townsmsn, "Bill
ArD," Mr.. Smith gave to print a
series of carica'ure letters upon occurring
events which brought smiles upon many a
face that had cause to be wrinkled from care /;
for those we're dark and porientous days.
"Bili APPS" experience as THE Roman
Runsgee" should be in permanent print in
some volume of humors. The Romans were
told positively up 10 certain day that
Johnston would staad ct Adairsville a I'D
that sherman would be sent pell-mell north
ward. But suddenly news came that John
ston was sgain retreating and Rome to be left
unguarded. Then the fathers. Arp among
them, went down and burned the bridges
spanning Rome's Tibsr-the Etowah-and
kneeitd upon its southern bank to express
gratitude over its bang thus saved from the
foul invader" for the stream was too desp
to be forded. But in the midst OF their de.