Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-29
A WOMAN's STORY.
AN ACCOUNT OF THREE DAYS OF
REBEL RULE.
Graphic Description OF Incidents
Connected With the Battle
Of Gettysburg.

quickly finds his way to the cemetery, so
beautiful for situation, and hence over the
broad avenues that mark the lines of battle
to Round Top, Devils Den and other nota-
bic points but while these are the we'll
known and well-marked centers of conflict.
there are miles of outlying country that
were held i'll possession by the two armies
and were the scenes Of brave deeds and in
teresting incidents. The busiest part of
the battle covered the ground from the
seminary on the west of the town to Round
Top, southwest; thence to Cemetery Hill,
south; thence to Culp's Hill and the scene
of the great cavalry fight on the southeast;
but the ground actually occupied by the
necessary concomittants Of such host. is
hard to estimate accurately. 1t is no ex-
aggeration to say that at least twenty miles
Of country lying close around the town
were taken up by the manifold and mur-
derOus agents of the fight men, horses,
cannon, wagons, ambulances and hospitals,
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 northwest, north
and northeast. In farmhouse situated in
this region, north of the turn and three
miles distant from it, / then lived as | live
now and saw great deal of the army; but
nothing Of the fighting.
From the time that Lees army had
crossed the Potomac we knew there was
trouble ahead for us, not that we thought
battle would be fought, for we felt about
as people do about dying-it may come to
everybody else, not to us-but we dreaded
the reckless raiders and their foraging ex-
cursions to barn and stable and field. So
when 1t seemed pretty sure that this was
what would happen to us, my husband
took our horses and in company with sew
eral neighbors and their horses went off to
York county hoping to save them. They
started Friday afternoon, the 26th of June
and had only been gone little while
when we heard sharp firing about half a
mile from the house | was very much
frightened then, more so than at any other
time, for | was afraid they had met the
rebels and some one had been killed. But
| went to a neighbor's later and found it
was Confederate skirmishers firing on a
couple Of companies of cavalry that had
been sent out to reconnoitre On Satur-
day we were greatly disturbed, and on
Sunday, too. We went to church in town,
however, and tried to have Sunday-school
in our school-house, but had to dismiss it
because ''the rebels were about"
On Monday my husband came back,
bringing the horses. | was sorely put out
when | saw them, for | felt there was no
safety here; he said there was no safety in
York county, as the enemy was securing
that region. So we determined where we
would hide them in case the danger grew /;
and all day Tuesday we watched and Won
dered, for we knew the enemy was very
near. We could see their camp fires all
along the mountains, and were constantly
hearing of them in the neighboorhood.
You see that hill over there? Well, there
never was much timber on it, and it was a
tirst-rate place for lookout. On Wednes-
day morning, July 1st, l hurried through
with my work, and thought if there was
anything to be seen | could see il from
there; and | got there bright and early,
and found most of my neighbors before me,
for we were very anxious. But there was
nothing to be seen of anybody's army. The
day was very warm, the sun shining, and
oh, it was so still Iwish | could describe
the quiet that was everywhere / could
not hear a dog bark or rooster crow :;
even the birds did not sing. 1t was an
awful stiffness, and | can feel it yet when
ever | think of that morning.
Mr. s., neighbor of mine, said {:
IIor iof l. IL ! 1
see if we can find out anything" l guess
| am one of the kind who find it easier to
go than to stand still, so l agreed and we
started out on that road that joins the
Mummasburg road. We walked on talk
ing quietly until we came to a field of
grass about mile away; there we found
number Of Union pickets standing pretty
close along the fence. The men seemed
worn out and their horses did look mon
strous tired. We asked why they did not
get some grass out of the field and feed
them; and they said their orders were
such that they dare not do it, although
they had ridden all night. If we had
known as much about battles as we did
later we would have thought awhile be-
fore venturing beyond those pickets, but
we walked on a mile or more and there
was nothing unusual except the stiffness ;
that was very remarkable and so oppress-
i've that without knowing why, we spoke
In whispers to each other.
On we went as far as the Mummasburg
road, and crossed it moving toward the
Chambersburg pike; when we had gone a
few steps there was shot from rebel
cannon on to the right. So thoroughly
astounded was l that | stood and watched
the shell nearly to its journeys end, and
never will | forget the sound of that can
non, the first shot of the battle While
watched, as it seemed to me, tens of thou
sands of men, as if by magic, rose from the
earth. There | stood midway, between the
two armies; where az instant before there
had been fields and woods and the peace
fulness of the Sabbath day. there burst
forth shots and horrible yells, and more
men than could be numbered. | did not
wait to count the men or " to watch the
proceedings" | remember that Mr.. S.
said in quiet way: Harriet, we had
better go home," and know that l agreed
with him.
We came home faster than we went,
and when we reached our own fields and
turned sharp bend in the road we found
it filled with Rhodes cavalry. They at
one arrested Mr.. s. and l started on
alone. | was not exactly afraid, but was
greatly concerned about my home and our
horses. The cavalrymen parted their
horses to make way for me, and one officer
told me | was in dangerous position !;
another asked me where the Yankees were
and another how many there were: "Go
on" | said, and you'll find them, but /
did not stop to count them" Just as
came in sight of my house, heard a shout
Halt, Halt" and rebel soldier rode up,
saying he had orders to arrest me.
"Well," | said, 81 suppose l must go
with you, but l would like to go home first
and tell my family" At first he refused
very sharply, but | finally persuaded him
to let me go to the top of yon hill and call
my boys. He had his eye on me all the
time, and as soon as l reached the top and
waved my handkerchief one of my sons
came running TO me. He had been watch
ing for me from our attic window. | told
MIN | was arrested (oh, how woe-begone he
did look), but he must not be worried, for
/ knew they would not want me long
then / inquired about the horses, and gave
directions about several things and left
him, to go to my rebel soldier. | had
only gone 2 short distance with him when
orders came for my release
Just after ! got home, saw number of
Confederate soldiers ride nm that Iane-we