The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-07-21
WITHIN TIE LINES.
THE EXPERIENCES OF \ HOUSEHOLD
OF SOUTHERN LADIES.

OF SOUTHERN LADIES.
Whnt They Underwent During Bn,tIc--h Stril-
ing Story of the Confederate War.
(Frcm tho Philadelphia Times.)
1t was IN July, 1868, time of so
much interest to all Virginians, when
the tide of battle cbbcd ana flowed
like an angry flood over our love-
ly valley, leaving dcsolation and sor-
row in its path. Our home, known as
Fountain Rock, was about one mile from
the Potomac River, directly on the turn
pike between Shcphcrdstown and Kcar-
ncyyillc, q point on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad.
July l6 was an unusually quiet day.
No Federal soldiers were to be seen rid
ing over the country. Consequently our
tears were aroused knowing, as we did,
from experience that calm always came
before storm. The next morning We
found that our fears were not oround-
less, for largo forco under General
Gregg had crossed the Potomac and
some were cncampcd on the turnpike
and somc on the road leading to Mar
tinsburg.
UNwELCoNIING VISITORS.
Stragglers, mostly from Col, Grcoo,s
regiment, began to swarm nll over the
pace Numerous and outrageous were
the dcPredations they committed. Hear
ing humping mt the back of the house
we went III and found two men in the
Pan'ry. What arc you doing here?"
S;ld my mother, with dignity. One of
them rmpudcntly answered: ooh We
I!lst came to sec what sort of style YOU
ilycd IN, and added, mockingly: "Tll
tlkc mat ham, II you please" Turning
around she found he had already done
so, ne then reached over and said: 'Ill
take tcsc preserves, too" "No" sbc
said, "I don't think Won will y" .T'I
IKE 70 Know who i'll the h will prevent
me, ne answered. 81 will" she said,
very quietly, and, leaning forward, she
p,t out her hand and gave little push,
winch sent it to the floor with a crash
He lotcd startled for momrnt bnt
quickly recovered aud sncercd: ooh
y y
walk out of this house 1t is a pity Won
had no mother to teach Won not TO breok
INTO houses and steal" This reference
to his mother seemed to rouse him and
ne SAD; II have mother, and as good
u one as you, II you arc right good
looking woman. Nevertheless he walk
ed very meckly out. ~
ASKING FOR GUARD.
so great were the nvaocs committed
that my young sister and cousin from
Baltimore went into town to ask for n
guard. When the complaint was hid
before General Gregg, he turned to m
officer and said, "Icll Colonel Grcro
that have heard nothing but complaintS
OF ms regiment this morning, and if
needs be he must take onc-half of his
men to keep the other half in order" I
doubt If the order was ever delivered
while he was speaking courier came in
and reported "a large body of rebels adj
yAncing on the turnpike from Lcetown )"
The girls anXiously to be Mt home. asked
Tor an escort, for the soldiers had been
very lmpcrtincnt to them op their wav
INTO town. An escort was readily o,nntnI
and although our house was near tho
oout-posts he came all the way to tbc
door and there received NV mothcr,s
thanks for his courtesy. She also asked
nm his name, which at first he refused
to give, but upon her reminding him
that he knew not what dov m;nht
bring fourth he gave it, "AIaior Gast0n.
of General Grcgg's staff" None but
those who have seen and fcIt i non
realize our feelings as we saw the cncmv
advance 4 sIlnh nr1n,.
knowln8 as we did that only few miles
further on they were to meet orr forces
among whom were many friends near
and dear Soon n few stray shots wcrc
heaSd, then The hrla beat and all stIag-
gers were drawn III and quiet reigned
Tor little while. Then came the Whirr
nna siirck OF the shells as they passed
over the house, and the villainous "zip"
OF the minnie balls as they cut the leaves
rom the hedge around our door. All of
us retreatcd to the cellar. The family
consisted OF my mother, her two daugh- |
ters, her nleco, her two little grandchil |
dfen' whose mother was III Baltimore; !
y negro woman and terror stricken
dog.
FIGHT TO BE REMEMBERED.
All that evening the battle ragged, The
federal wounded were brought from the
held and laid upon the lawn before and
under tho protection OF the house until
they could be taken away, some few in
ambulances, Others on horses or on
stretchers. [ shall never forget the sight
OF white horse, his whole forcQuarter
stained with the liio.blood Of hun who
was lying dead across his back. The
frlng never. ceased until late in the
night. On house was kept closed and
perfectly dark. The troops had no time
to tarry, and ! heard them, as they passed
TO and from the spring, wonder where
the women of the house were. All night
we Ral.ea ~ tLo darkness, each with a
candle, a few matches and n piece of
chocolate IN our pockets. These had
thought that time had come. 1t was
truly z night of horror b. lpo or /
three O'Clock all Tho Fbdrrals 6od gone