Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-08-10
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
SHERMAN'S SHELLS.
A Thrilling War Incident which Reads
Almost Like n Novel.

TO business
The Confcderatcs had nothing more
to do, so far as fortifying the place was
concerned. Under the personal SUPER
vision of that accomplished engineer,
Colonel l.. p. Grant, of Atlanta, the
city had been made the center OF circle
of almost impregnablc forts and breast
works, and thousands of stout negroes,
impressed for the work, had cut down
every tree and shrub within mile of
the Notifications, in order to give the
guns full play, as we'll as to prevent the
enemy from stealing u march upon the
works.
Still, the city was not completely cut
off from communication with tho out
side world. Two roads, the one to
Macon and tho one TO West Point, re-
manned open, and over these lines
poured II continuous stream OF refugees.
Sherman's army extended in crescent,
stretching perhaps two-thirds of the
way around the town. Tho Fcderals
lost no time in placing their big siege
guns in position, and then the shclling
commenced in earnest.
The first spasm of fear was over, and
the citizens strengthened their bomb
proofs, and calmly prepared for the
worst. The men moved about the
streets ns usual, discussing the topics
of tho day, and lodging an occasional
shell. The ladies busted themselves
with their household matters, with
their ears on the alert for the we'll
known sounds of danger. Many times
during the day Il busy housewife would
uncercmoniously drop her sewing, and
gathering her little ones together,
would make n wild and prccipitate
plunge for the backyard where the fam
lily would quickly disappear into the
bowels of the earth, there to remain un-
til there was lul, in the storm of lead
and iron.
Most of the shells had percussion
caps, and, as fully three-fourths of
them had struck on the wrong end, they
failed to explode. Many fuse shells
were fired, and at night these presented
n beautiful appearance, resembling so
many rockets. At first there were few
]
bomb would tear up several rooms in a
house, or when it fell in the street
deep hole would be left, big enough to
swallow an army wagon with its
mules. The people, however, were so
watchful that they managed for time
TO escape injury. 1t was no uncommon
thing for lady to walk some distance
to see a neighbor. Sometimes she
would be caught on the way in patter-
| ing shower of shells, and then she would
run merrily into the nearest yard and
huddle down in bomb-proof, perhaps
with perfect strangers. But that made
no difference. A common danger made
every body acquainted, kind and hos
pitable.
People living in the vicinity of tall
steeples and the smokcstacks of mills
and factories had hard time. The
enemy's guns were trained upon these
permanent objects, and sometimes their
fire was too hot for any thing. Then,
too, the outgoing trains made rumble
that could be distinctly heard by the
outside gunners, and random shots were
constantly fired us feelers. What added
to the discomfort of the situation was
the activity of the siege liar. In the
classification of liars this particular
preyaricator has heretofore escaped.
But his genius deserves at least pass
ing mention.
''Do you know that Sherman is going
to open fire with three hundred cannon
all at once?" quietly said one citizen to
another.
"Great heavens! Is it possible? How
do you know?h
II don't know" replied the other,
''but it seems to be well understood
that it is fact. Sherman has demanded
the surrender of the city by certain
hour to-day, and if we refuse he is
going to wipe us up with his big guns"
"But can it be true?"
"Yes, think so. Some of the fellows
around headquarters heard all about it.
I'm going home and move my family
down into the bomb-proof."
Each day some such rumor was
started. Nobody had time to investi-
gate. The only thing to be done under
the circumstances was to have every
thing ready for a hasty run to cover.
One hot July night the members of
little family in the southern part of the
city sat on their piazza trying in vain
TO obtain n breath of cool air. Occa-
sionally fuse shell ascended with
whish into the mid-heavens and burst
wi ha
watchers were not much afraid of these
missiles, as they covld see their ap-
proach long way off. Suddenly there
was a thunder clap in the next yard.
Several panels of the fence was knock
ed down, and IL few stray fragments of
shell knocked two or three bannisters
off the piazza.
In less than ten seconds the family
had found its way into the reliable
bomb-proof.
"Pshaw! am not going to stay down
here this hot night" said the only man
in the party. I'm go up to my room
and finish reading the Life of Napo-
leon, and If there is any real danger /
will come down to you"
There were tears and protests, but
the Colonel, as he was called, was stub
born. So he went upstairs in the
wing of the building nearest to the
bomb-proof and seated himself by a
window, where he had the advantage of
light, and could also look out upon
the city.
The shelling was terrific, but the in
mates of the dugout, every time they
took peep, could see the Colonel
turning over the pages of his Napoleon,
apparently forgetful of the stirring oc-
currences around him.
Had volcano broken loosep
The ground trembled under the shock