St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-05-06

freshing in the midst of this desert
spot. The children gathered them in
delight, the little negro guide spread
himself out in the broiling sun for a
nap; my nurse, girl of IS, cried quiz
city under her sunbonnet for her
s'mammy," whom she knew she would
never more see, and I tried to school
myself and to be resigned to whatever
fate awaited me.
Well, drove up to Mr.. MarshalPs
gate on the evening of the Goth of July,
and found the house to be a modest
cottage surrounded by fine shade
trees, but fairly crowded with refugees
from the neighborhood of Alexandria.
Not one word was said about our go
ing further, however. Mr.. Marshall
and his beautiful, accomplished wife
received us with that genuine kindness
that dwelt in the bosom of true Vir-
GINA gentleman 'sCould we OCCUPY
the tool house ~ ''Ah, that we could,
and gladly; )" it was soon swept, the
tools removed to the rafters above us,
some mattresses spread down and for
the present our journey was ended. 1t
would not probably interest my read
ers to know of all that transpired dur
ing the three months that we dwelt in
the tool house. But never can | for
get the unwearied kindness received.
Concerning the battle of Manassas, on
the 2lst of July, we knew nothing un-
til the day after, when many were
weeping for the dead. The citizens
who fingered on the edge of the bat
tlefield brought us news of friends and
dear ones engaged in the fight. Many
went in voluntarily with any conven-
lent weapon and fought the day out.
Among them was boy of IA years,
young Carey, grandson of Lord
Thomas Fairfax. He mingled with
the men, put in his strokes and escaped
without scratch. The day succeed
ing the battle black, drenching rain
fell during the whole day. 1t poured
in torrents, cold, pitiless rain, as
though the heavens wept over mans
cruelty. We learned on that day that
those of JOhnstOn's men who had fall
en- by the way still lay in the reads
and at the Piedmont depot exposed to
the fearful weather.. l was deputed to
look after them, and to bring back
with me few men who were not suf-
fering from infectious diseases. Dem
Johns of tea and baskets of bread and
butter were placed in the carriage and
[ set off
RumOrs for once had not exaggerat-
ed the truth. Hundreds of men were
lying around the depot, on the roads,
in the fence corners, on the depot plat
form, and every available spot within
the building was occupied by pros
trate form. Those exposed to the
weather we covered with whatever we
could find to shelter them. Pieces of
sacking, blankets, boughs of trees, old
mating or anything that would tenn
pOrarily shelter them. Some were past
caring for war or weather. Many were
dying, some in delirium and others
calmly yielding up their souls to the
inevitable, the sudden summons. 1t
was fearful phase of the war. Who
could care for them all ? Our tears
fell with the rain over these brave
men. | say brave, because every man
who possessed his senses was calm and
thankful so grateful for the tea and
milk, though only a very few could
take the bread. 1t was a narrowing
sight, and often, even now when the
black rain is pouring | seem to see
those forms writhing under their mis-
cradle coverings. Would to God that
| had never seen it or that l could for
get it. 1t was with great difficulty [
found three soldiers not afflicted with
infectious disease to take with me for
nursing. Three with sore feet were
put in the carriage, grimy and dirty,
and transported to that small house
whose owner possessed so capaciOus a
heart. But in a few days one of them
developed measles and thirteen chill
dren took the infections; but death
took away only one of the lambs of
this numerous flock, and, sad to re-
late, it was the little daughter of our
generous, large-hearted host.
In October | once more looked on
the ruin of our desolated home. The
hill on which [ stood was paved with
broken china, torn garments and ruin
ed furniture. The hired servants left
to preserve the house told me that the
articles were piled on the floors and
broken up with axes. These servants
soon after decamped with the little
that remained, and the walls of the
house were pulled down to build win
ter quarters for some of the Federal
soldiers, of what command | know not.
A few bodies of confederate dead lie
on the hill now. They are the silent
occupants of a spot noted for its beau
ty, and which was once musical with
the songs of birds and the laughter of
children Marion R. Brown in Phila-
delDhia Times,