Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-15
UNDER FIRE.
NV Nnrk Irihmne !

u " lLlt L lbh-
New York Tribune
Some time before the war Presby-
terian clcrg man from New Hampshire
went south with his family for the benefit
of his health He purchased Il little farm
in irginla. about three miles from " ash
lngtOn, - G. access to which was had by
the way Of Georgetown and the aqueduCl
bridge. lie gradually failed iD- health.
however. and died. leaving widow
Mrs Gaycs and two girls and two boys
At the breaking out of the war in lN6l.
Mrs q ayes and her elder daughter, who
was about II Years of age, took decided
stand in favor OF the Mon cause. Ii
required not little moral courage to do
this but there was no element o. fear in
the make up Of any member Of the family
At nrst their home was within the Con
fcderalc lines. and commune anon with
Washington was very difficult and haL
ardous Mrs GaycS was ridiCuled. and
sometimes threatened, but 1t availrd moth
ing
After the COnfederates were driven back
a few miles IN 1851. fOrtitiC CatiOns were
constructed around Washington for the
protection of the national capital They
consisted OF "A chain of forts arranged in
nearly circle The line crossed the PO-
iona near hahn bridge. above George
town. extending thence town ~ Airing
ton 1cIghrs and some iii tanCc below. re
crossing the river about nAlf way between
| Oug bridge aud Alc' andria. and 50 on
around until the circle was complete
" Nithn this line and about Il mile and
half from orr Smith. situated on little
cmIuen e was Mrs caves modest home.
pro eClcd now from the enemy. nut suffer
ing more perhaps from her friends
MANY regiments were cnCampCd near by
and little 10y little her timhrr and fences
ard stock and crops disappeared. until
there was scarcely anything left save the
house and the land Even the'cook stove
was missing one morning. y ery FIRE uently
at night She was aroused Toy the beating of
the long roll the shouting of words of
command. and the tramping of regiments
a. they swiftly formed IN line II battle to
meet the eXpc ted enemy on such Oc-
casions all the members Of the family
would hastily dress. secure about their
persons what ,aluables they had. and
patiently wait During all these trying
years she and her daughter were devoted
friends of the | Mon cause, and the. will
ing hands were unit ing in doing some
thing for the soldiers
Ii was midsummer morning in 1854
Out in the fields and over in the city it
was scurChing hot But in Mrs Gaye>
!, use, protected as it WAS from the rays
of the sun by the abundant foliage of The
great oaks which surround it, The heat
was not oppressive. Mrs GayeS was in
the sitting room reading paper. The
elder daughter was i'll Washington.
Charley-the elder son-who was then
near l: years Of age, was playing with
the dog on the porch 1t was peaceful.
quiet picture OF Virginia country life
suddenly there came loud whistling
screaming sound. followed by terrific
explosion directly over the house.
why" ,acuIated Mrs. Gayes, as she
started from her seat what heavy c ap
Of, thunder She was about 10 say but
the unmistakable humming lwanging
sounds which followed close upon the eX
plosion with the falling OF leaves and
broken branches from the trees. told her
it was a shell from some heavy gun.
1t 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.
- h. mamma the lightning has struck
the tree. Mrs. Gaycs went out on the
porch and looked and listened, but
nothing unusual cuuId be seen or heard
IL was shell, said She Il expect
gnu at once of the fort, went off acci
dcniallv
We'll. " said Charley. when they load
their guns wish they'd oint them
toward Richmond They ought 10 be-
ashamed of themselves
Il don't think we shall he troubled
and more. laid the mother as she
returned to the sitting room followed
by the children She had but Just
resumed her seat when another shell
buried itself in the earth few yards
from the house and burst throwing up
clouds of dust and dirt
w hat can il mean" said Mrs Caves
Il know what it means. mamma" cried
har.ev. That New York regiment
which has been sent over to Fort Smith
has put up q Target in our field and the
fc lows a. firing at il | wish | was a
guard house
The boy was right in his surmisc. and
in few moments another missile thrown
from one of the huge siege guns with
which the for; WIS armed struck "A quar-
ricnchrrinr rnwaTi IN. L,msc .Irit nG ,I..
nronnd NJ ,hnrr ;n,,ryai. in i. ,,'', IC
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;n!7 =, ~. ,r,nd ori~ o,,j I"''H Ia a,IP; pay
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