The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-03-02

their homes aud people and went
away to the war. The valley of
Tennessee was desolate. The ne.
groes went h0cking northward in
search OF the army of emanicipa-
lion, and the cotton was left in the
bolls to spoil. There came lime
when even fool was scarce, and
beef was worth its weight in the
strange new scrip which the Con-
federate government had issued.
"COl" John Jared worse than
many, although for months after
The boys of the lower valley had
gone away into Tennessee, his sons
yielded TO the Wish Of the old folks
and stayed at home. The time came,
however, when honor compelled
them to 30, and they went; but the
eyes Of The aged mother were wet
with tears, and the face of the
white-haired "C0lonel" John was
strangely old, when they bade their
boys good bye.
There are brave hearts here at
home who remember those sad
tarewells, when the boys in blue
went far away to fight and die on
these Southern baltlefelds. There
were the same sad partlngs in many
Il Southern home, and the war left
hundreds OF decimated families ia
that fair valley.
Mouths passed and then years.
Occasionally letters from the absent
soldier boys came to the old folks
IN the cove, but they were few and
very fan between. They had gone
north and enlisted in the army of
Virginia. They had been at Bull
Run and had been on the peninsula
in the checkerboard operations of
McClellan'S campaign. The latest
letter, scribbled in pencil and writ.
ten in haste, and read in that little
home with aching yet thankful
hearts, told of good health aud Con
fe ierate success. Side by side the
brothers had fought, as yet unhurt.
Now they were TO go with Lee into
the land of promise-the rich, corn
growing valleys of Pennsylvania.
Gettysburg came, aud the army
of Virginia, rudely awakened from
lis victorious security, was buried
back across Maryland and into
again by the military gen
ius OF Meade. In the carnage of |
The ii st day the older brother was
killed. The younger, while retreat
hg with his dccimated regiment
rom an unsuccessful charge, was
aiken prisoner. La company with
several other Alabama soldiers,
'Oung Rogers, even then a mere
Joy, was brought to Philadelphia,
lnd from here sent to Fort Della
ware, as prisoner of war. There
le remained until the surrender at
4 Court house.
Tue sad news OF the battle OF
Gettysburg was slow in reaching
he little home by Monte Sano, but
when it did come il broke the spirit
If "Col." John and turned still
yhiter the head of the sweet-faced
mother, for it was said that in the
Dattle both boys had fallen under
he shower of Federal balls. 1t
vas not long before there was Il
'burS ing' from the house in the
.Ove, aud the body OF "COl." John
vas laid TO rest among the pines he
owed so we'll.
And the motherP She, too, would
,ladly have hied, but nature Wis
90 strong. The time scame, more.
yer, when she was glad THAI death
ad spared her, for there came to
er from far away Fort Delaware "A
etter from her surviving boy, tell
ng of the older brothers death aud
he younger ones Imprisonment.
he read the letter many times,
nd as the tears rolled down her
unken cheeks, she fell on her knees
nd thanked God that one son at
last had been spared to her. A
hidden resolution possessed her. )
be would leave the little home in
he cove aud go away to The North. :
he would go to Fort Delaware,
ud they would not ref1se TO let }
lOther see her son-even a "rebep
lOther. Once she had looked upon !,
is face again she would have cOIr- !
ge to wait for bis release.
Travelling was slow. Weeks pass |,
| before she was enabled to get !.
trough the opposing lines and into .
Washington. At last, dying from '.
ant, sorrow aud fatigue, she stood
the cammandaut's room at Fort
delaware with written permission =
, see and speak with the boy she !,
we'd so well. :,
They tell sad stories of Fort :
delaware in the South. They call 7
the Libby prison of the North. :
don't like to believe 1t. Neither :
0 you. They say that after GER
lin engagement the Northern gss- s
rails accused the COntederates OF !.
1trageOus cruelty, and in retalia-
on n score or more prisoners were
ken from the fort aud ignOmini-
lsly banged. Perhaps they are J.
iSfaken, aud there we're better
rounds for hanging than that.
By some means a rumOr had
aimed credence in the prisoners
irracks that something OF the
ind was TO take place, while the =
npressiOu prevailed that special q
was to be meted out TO u
10 soldiers Of Alabama because Of
legpd outraops committed hy reg