The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-30

Il day by Grand Army com.
rade and his little family group-two graves
with history.
The Union army had driven the Confeder-
ate invaders from northern soil IN the Gettys-
burg campaign and followed their flying
columns across the Rappahannock and Rapi-
dan rivers One day, while passing along
the turnpike among the rich farms of Orange
county, Sergt. Everett Andres, of the
Twentieth, was stationed with guard at the
entrance to a farm Iane-common in the
south-leading from the road to the house.
Around the farm there were signs of life, a
thing unusual in Virginia whenever the
Union army passed by. When the sergeant
and his men took the post they saw young
woman sitting under a tree near the road,
and two children playing near. To these
spectators the army moving past, horsemen,
footmen, heavy cannon, drawn by stout,
Tneek teams, was holiday show, but what
ever their thoughts, they looked on in silence
The general had given Andres guard or
ders to permit no soldier to go to the house.
The tedious tramp of the army went on for
hours, and sometimes the soldiers, chatting at
their fatigue and privations, tried to pass at
the gate or to climb the fence above or below
the guard. When they were stopped they
gave surly retorts for the interference.
"Humphl You're afraid Well take some
thing from these 'secesh,'" one would say.
Another would add: SERVES 'em right if we
do" But the guards would motion them
sternly to move on. Sometimes these rough
words, though aimed at the guards, were
meant for the young woman, and through
her the people of her class. But the keenest
sallies passed unheeded by the one whose
watching as the hours dragged seemed to be
a weary vigil, for curiosity must tire out at
last Could the long lines Of soldiers hold
some special attraction for her!
At last the sergeant, through pity for the
defenseleSs maiden and her wards, and to
spare the temper of his men, walked along
the road ito the watcher, touched his
cap in salute, and said:
Pardon me, miss, but think you ought
to leave this spot You are exposed here"
A gentle lifting Of the eyes was the only
sign that the words were heard Another
/ sally from some soldier whom the guard put
away with force gave point to the warning,
and Andres repeated it in the same friendly
tone, adding: "You will be called a-a-
rebel, and, perhaps, a spy" Still no answer
other than a nervous turning of the face to-
ward the speaker and quick withdrawal,
for her eyes at the instant had been fixed
sharply upon the ranks in the road. The reg
entpassing was the Pennsylvania. The
men rolled and jostled along, giving vent
In sallies Of repartee, or song, or complaints
at the days long march. But there was one
of the number who did not join In the rail-
lery or the complaints Could he have been
seen before the column reached this point
marked changes would have been noted In
his actions Now, his eyes would roam over
the country, and again rest in the thick
dusty wool under foot. When his rank came
abreast of the lane, this soldier, a private in
the line, held his head bent like the weariest
Of his fellows, but at the moment the guard
was wrangling with some burly ruffian, who
struggled to get in at the gateway, and when
the silent marcher looked up on the cutlery,
his eyes met those Of the young woman. Both
blushed and he turned and hurried on
Quickly now the other called the children
20 her and led them to the house. Andres
supposed the last scene between the guard
and the would be forager had shown the
stubborn miss that the road,.,.e was no place
for her.
All that happened here was unusual
Where the army marched or camped the cit
liens asked the commanders for house guards
or one was sent unasked. But this young
woman, relying, it seemed, on her own pres
ence by the road, had not asked for protec-
ton, and her conduct had left no room for
suspicion that she might be friendly with the
enemy. Secession fomen invariably stayed
Indoors when blue oats were about.
Twilight came n; the army continued its
tramp The guards began to wonder if they
were to be kept at this station ali night, when
the shufling, stumbling form of a negro was
seen in the lane. Now for news, thought the
guard, for the negroes were the unfailing
sources of local knowledge, and it was often
good news to the soldiers to know what river
or road their camp was on, or even the names
Of farmers and planters round about When
the negro neared the gate he stopped, cap in
hand, and eyed the soldier pacing with his
gun. The sergeant called him to come on,
but he stood in his tracks and stammered the
words, ''Yy-oung miss sent mel" The guard
halted. Andres drew near. young miss
sent me to say, please come to de house,"
''Who is your young miss, SamboP
'.She named Miss Elwood, sab. Ole miss
~ named Ellwood, too, sab. But Use no
Sambo. Use named Patrick Henry, sab
''Patrick Henry Ellwood of courseT
"Oh, no, mars. Use no Elwood, sab. I
Belong TO Mistah Mars Seyton.n
49,