Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-06-05
UNDER FIRE.
A True Border Story of the War.

A true BOfuef STORY or the war.
Some time before the war Presby-
rian clergyman from New Hamp-
hire went South, with his family, for
ie benefit OF his health. He pur-
Chased little farm in Virginia, about
three miles from Washington, ID. G.. i,
access to which was had by the way
of Georgetown and the Aqucduct
Bridge. He gradually failed in health,
however, and died, leaving a widow
Mrs. Gayes-and two girls and two
boys. At the breaking out of the war
in 1861, Mrs. Cages and her elder
daughter. who was about fifteen years
of age, took decided stand in favor
of the Union cause. 1t required not a
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 communica ton
with Washington was very difficult
and hazardous. Mrs. Cages was ridi-
culcd. and sometimes threatened, but
it aNailed nothing.
After the Confederate lines were
driven back few miles in 1861, forti-
Washington for the protection of the
National Capital. They consisted of
chain of forts arranged in nearly a
circle. The line crossed the Potomac
near Chain Bridge, above George
town, extending thence down to Ar
lington Heights and some distance
below, recrossing the river about half
way between Long Bridge and Alex
andria, and SO on around until the cir
Gle was complete. Within this line.
and about mile and half from Fort
Smith situated on little eminence.
was Mrs. Cages modest home, pro-
tected now from the enemy, but suf-
ferng more, perhaps, from her
friends. Many regiments were en-
camped near by; and little by little
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 morning. Very fire.
quently at night she was aroused by
the beating of ''the long roll,' the
shouting Of words of command, and
the tramping OF regiments as they
swiftly formed in line OF battle to meet
the expected enemy. On such occas-
ions all the members of the family
would hastily dress, secure about their
persons what valuables they had, and
patiently wait. During all these try
ing 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 field and over in the
city it was scorching hot. Butin Mrs
Cages 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 paper, The
elder daughter was in Washington.
Charley, the elder son who was then
ing with the dog on the porch. 1t was
q peaceful, quiet picture Of Virginia
country life Suddenly there came
loud, whistling, screaming sound, fol
lowed by a terrific explosion directly
over the house
':Why!' calculated Mrs, Cages, as
she started from her seat, "what a
heavy clap Of" thunder, she was
about to say, but the unmistakable
humming, twanging sounds which fol-
lowed close upon the explosion, with
the falling Of leaves and broken
branches from the trees, told her it
was q shell from some heavy gun.
sis 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, "Oh, 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 ex-
pect gun at one Of the forts went on
accidentally.
"Well.' said Charley, "when they
load their. guns I wish they'd point
Thorn toward Richmond. They ought
to be ashamed OF themselves.
any me 'e,' said the mother as she re-
turned % the sitting-room, followed
by the children. She had but just re-
sumed her seat when another shell
buried itself in the earth few rods
from the house and burst, throwing
up clouds of dust and dirt.
"What can it meanp" SAID Mrs.
Cages.
II know what it means, mammal"
cried Charley. That New York rogi-
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. moments another mis-
sile 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 ricochet-
ing toward the house, striking the
ground at short intervals in it's mad
course, something as stone when
'thrown violently upon the water skips
along the surface. With shrek like
demon it plunged through the gar
den, destroying everything in it's path,
Fl led the air with dust, gave two Or
three more sklps and screeches, and
finally burst over near the road. Mrs.
Cages turned pale. @,s@A
''Come down into the cellar with
me, all of you," she said; ana they
obeyed with alacrity. After she had
quieted Eliza. the negro servant, who
was alternately praying to ''de good
Lord" and TO ''Missus Cages to save
her, she said:
Charley, yon must run up to Mr..
Persons just as fast as you can, and
ask him to 60 around to the fort and
have the firing stopped. And you re-
main at Mr.. Persons until Isend for