Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-19


many a sure foot soldier had succuuOeu
20 the fatigue and lay dead ana dyihs on
T the desOlate stony road below Ibe AZ tu0
valley. But / was 10 learn more Oh euebi
in the near future. And What was = st-
ting desOate on the brow Oh Jhe Loet
Mountain" but mere atom IN INC huee
mass of humanity that was surglng TO-
wards the mountain stronghoids Tor
REFUGEE II would not have been worth
the telling here had suffered alone. The
pity OF il was that hundreds were swept
from the amphitheatre Of war that men
might have their fill OF blood and carnage.
/ Well. drove up 10 Mr.. MarsbalPs gate
on the evening Of July 20, 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 going further, however. Mr..
Marshall and his beautiful, accomplished
wife received us with that genuine kind
ness that dwelt in the bosom OF true
Virginia gentleman.
AHAVEN AT LAST.
"Could we occupy the tool houseV
"Ah, that we could and gladly; 1t 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 readers to know Of all that transpired
during the three months that we dwelt IN
the tool house. But never can forget
the un wearied kindness / received from
the family, some of whom were then un-
known to us, lingering on the borders OF
another and better land, passing from the
turmoil and war that was thickenlng
around us to quiet graves under the
shadows of the blue hills of Virginia.
Concerning the battle of Manassas on
July u we knew nothing until the day
after, when many we're weeping for the
dead. The. citizens who fingered on
the edge OF the battlefield brought
us news Of friends and dear ones
engaged in the fight. Many went in vol
unfairly with any convenient weapon and
fought the day out. Among them was a
boy Of IA years, young Carey, grandson
Of Lord Thomas Fairfax. He mingled
with the men, put in his strokes and es-
capped without a scratch. The day sue
ceeding the battle black drenchIng rain
fell during the whole day. 1t poured in
torrents. a cold pitiless rain, as though
the heavens wept over mans cruelty.
We learned on that day that those of
JOhnston's men who had fallen bv the way
still lay in the roads 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 suffering from infectious diseases.
DemijOhns of tea and baskets OF bread
and butter were placed in the carriage
and / set of.
SAD SCENES.
Rumors for once had not exaggerated
the truth. Hundreds of men were lying
around the depot. on the roads, in the
fence corners, on the depot platform and
every available spot within the building
was occupied by PROSTATE 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
temporarily 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 ineV-
liable, 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 one who possessed his
senses was calm and thankful; so grateful
for the tea and the milk, though only a
few could take the bread. 1t was bar
rowing sight. and often ever now when
the black rain is pouring, / seem to see
those forms writing under their misera-
BILE coverings. Would to God that l had
never seen il. or could forget it. 1t was
with great difficulty l found three sol
dIers not afflicted with infectious disease
10 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 capaci-
Gus heart. But in few days one of
them developed measles, and thirteen
children took the infection; but death
took away only one of the lambs Of this
numerous flock and, sad to relate, it was
the little daughter of our generous, large
hearted host.
HOME DESTROYED.
In October l once more looked on the
ruin ofOur desolate home. The hill on
which stood was paved with broken
china, torn garments and runined furni-
ture. 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 5000 after de-
oamped with what little remained, and
the walls OF the house were pulled down
to build winter quarters for some of the
Federal soldiers, OF what command l
know not. A few bodies OF Confederate
dead lie on the hill now. They are the
silent occupants of n spot noted for its
beauty and which was once musical with
the songs of the birds and the laughter of
children.
This is a tale that can be repeated
through the length and breadth OF the
land. Blessed is the memory that treas
ures no greater loss than house and be-
ongings; sad is the heart that mourns for
a lite cut short in manhood's prime; tear
tul is the eve that watches the manned,
the crippled semblance Of a man.
The end of October, 1861, found US a
nearly united family in the hospitable
town OF Cheran, S. Z. Thus the scene
was changed from the dOwn-trodden
battle-fields of Virginia to the hospitals
established at Cheran and Florence.
Every soldier therein had his history.
What pen could relate them all? Their
forgotten record is above, aud without
doubt N any stainless one.
APATHETIC STORY.
But here i feel compelled TO tell Of one,
a mere child of IA years, who, according
TO his own showing, had strayed away
from home in the far South without per-
mission. He was brought TO the Florence
Hospital extremely i'll. Alter be was
bathed and his bleeding bare feet anOint-
ed, he was asked If he wanted anything.
"Nes," he said, III want pair OF shoes.
| can't march any more without shoes,
and l won't be in time for the fght;" ana
then he began TO cry.
We pacifed him as we'll as we could
with half promises, for truly we did not
feel certain that his wish could be graft
fed. And IL was almost certain be would
never need them more. Day after day
passed: he continued to grow worse al