New-York tribune., 1888-08-26
A WOMAN'S STORY.
THREE DAYS OF REBEL RULE


That mark the lines of battle to Round Top, Devips
Den and other notable points bnt while these arc the
well known and well marked centres of conflict, there
arc miles of out lying country that werc held In
possession by tho armies and were the scenes OF
brave decds and interesting incidents. The busiest
part OF battle covered the ground from the seminary
on the west of the town to Roand Top, southwest;
thcEce to Cemetery Hill south; thence TO Cups Hill
and the of the great cavalry fight on the south
east but the ground actually occupied by the immense
numbers of men, with the necessary concomita ants
of such host, IS hard TO estimate accurately. 1t is
no exaggeratlon to say that at least twenty miles
of country lying close around the town were takten
up by the manifold and murdcrcus agents of the fight;
men, horses, cannon, wagons, ambulances and hospi-
tails all actors in or attendants on the tragedy
Meade's army lay south Of Gettysburg. Lees army
was spread around long curve embracing The turn
on the northwes., north and northeast. In iarm-
house situated In this region, north Of the turn and
three miles distant from 1t, then lived as I've now
and great deal of the army but nothing Oh the
fighting.
From the time that Lees army had crossed the
Potomac we knew there trouble ahead for US
not that thought battle would be fought, Tor we
felt about people do about dying-it may como
to everybody else, not to us-but we dreaded the
reckless raiders and thcr foragng excursions to barn
and stable and field So when It seemed pretty sure
that this was what would happen to us my husband
took our horses and in company with several neigh
bors and their horses went off to York County hoping
TO save them They started FRIDAY afternoon. tho
Goth of June and had only bccn gone little while
when We heard sharp firing about half a mile from
tho house. l very much frightened then, moro
so than at any other time, for afraid they had
met the rebels and some one had been killed But
/ went to neghbor's later and found IL
was Confederate skirmishers firing on couple
of companies of cavalry that had been sent out 10
reconnoitrc. On Saturday greatly dlsturocd'
vpnt IN
ever and tried to have Sundayschool in our schoot
house. but had dismiss 1t because the rebels were
about On Monday my husband came back, bringing
the horses. i sorey put out when saw 'hcm'
for felt therc safety here; he said thcrc was
no safety in York County, the enemy was securing
that region. So determined where we wouid
hide them in case the danger grew and all day TUES
day VIC watched and wondered, for We knew the
enemy was very near We could SEQ their camp
fires all along the mountains and were constantly
hearing of them in the neighborhood You see that
hill over there? Well there never was much timber
on 1t and It frstratc place for a lookout oh
Wednesday morning. July l. hurried through with my
work and thought II there anything TO be seen
could see 1t rom there; and got there bright ana
early and found most Of my ncghbors before me- Ior
we were very anxious. But there was notnihS 10
be seen of anybody's army. The day was very warm,
the sun shining, and oh II was so still wish
could describe the quiet that was everywhere
the birds did not sing. 1t awful Stiffness and
/ can feel It yet whenever think Of that morning
Mr. s. a ncighbor of mine, sad: Harriet, suppose
we walk the road and see if we can find out any
things / guess / of the kind who ma IL
easier TO 90 than to stand still, so agreed and we
started out on that road that joins the Mummasburs
road We walked talking quietly until we camc
to a field Of grass about mile away; there we
found number Of mounted Union pickets standing
pretty close along tho fence. The men seemed
worn out and their horses did look monstrous tired
We asked why they did not get some grass out OF
the field and feed them, and they SAID their oidcis
were such they did not dare do 1t, although they
had ridden all night. If we had known as much
about battles as did later VIC would have thought
awhile before venturing beyond those pickeis. but
we walked mile or more and there was nothing
unusual except the stiffness; that was very remark
able and so oppressive that, without knowing why,
We spoke in whispers to each other. On we went
as far as the Mummasburg road and crossed 1t mo7-
ing toward the Chambersburg pike: when We had
gone a few steps there shot from a rebel can
non off to the right So thoroughly astounded was
I that stood and watched the she'll nearly to its
Journeys end and never will forget the sound OF
that cannon the first shot of the ba'tle While
watched, as 1t seemed TO nc tens of thousands OF
men, as II by magic, rose from the earth. There
stood midway between the two armies; where an
instant before there had been fields and woods and
the peacefuncss of the Sabbath day there burst forth
shots and horrible yells and more men than could
be numbered. 1 did not wait to count the men or
"to watch the proceedings ! remember that Mr..
s. said In a quiet way :" Harriet we had better so
homen and know that agreed with him.
We came home faster than went ard when We
nearcd our own fields and turned a sharp bend In
the road we found 1t filed with Rhodes's cavalry.
They at once arrested Mr.. s. and started on alone
/ was not exactly afraid but greatly concerned
about my homo and horses The cavalrymen
r<a1 tl,ofp horce N maxi wa m
Ger told me l was in a dangerous position; another
asked me where the Yankees and another how
many thcre were $50 on" / said, sand you'll
find them, but did not stop to count them' Just
as came in sight of my house. l heard a shout
"Halt, Halt.D and rebel soldier rode up saying
he had orders TO arrest
@Welln i said, " / suppose must go with you but
would like to go home first and tell my family"
At first he refused very sharply; but finally per-
suaded him 10 let 60 TO the top of yon hill and
call my boys lie had his eye on me all the time /;
and as soon as reached the top and waved my hand
kerchief one Of my came running to me. He
had been watching for me from our attic window. 1
told him was arrested. (Oh how woeb begOne he did
look y, but he must not be worried for Knew they
would not want me long, then inquired about the
horses and gave directions about various things and
left him, to go to my rebel soldier. had only gone
short distance with him when orders came for
my release.
Just after got home, saw a number of Confed
crate soldiers ride up that lane-we used 70 have
big gate across II, fastened by chain on the inside
/ guess they thought had tried to lock them out
for they sworc most awfuy. My husband had gone
IN the morning 10 a nc!ghbors house on an GRAND
and as he had not come back went out to the gale
and said Gentlemen, II you viii loosen that chain
you can come in.5 Then they very polite and
said they had for horses. pointed to three
or four colts in the field and said: You welcome
70 them If you can catch them and there is an old
blind beast there you can have II too" They took
q good look the colts and that end OF that
matter. They asked me for something to eat and
/ gave them plenty, for which they offered me Con
federate money. told them would have none Of