Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07
The Flight From Baton Rouge.

The next morning, at the hrst blush of
dawn, firing was distinctly heard from
the direction of the town, Now, while
the town was distant four miles by the
road winding with the river, it was not
half that far as the crow flies. I sprang
from my bed and few half dressed to the
windows commanding view of the seer e.
The roar of cannon was distinctly heard,
and the house seemed to tremble and
shake with the unusual noise; the rattle
of musketry, the flying of bursting bombs
from the federal boats, the incessant
smoke and the rumble of nameless battle
sounds, kept US in suspense and excite
ment, pride and fear, alarm and en-
thusiasm, that were painful. Gen Brech-
inridge's name had always carried victory
with it in civil life, where we knew him
best. So, as l watched and prayed,
could not bring my thoughts to the point
that our men could be beaten on their
own ground under my very eyes! My
thoughts turned from these exultant
channels to what at first seemed to be
stampeded sheep, emerging from the
fOggy mist In the far away bend of the
swelling and surging, and rushing in the
widest hurry and flight, through volume
of dust made ten times more sitting by
the fierce heat. These were not sheep,
but human beings, running pell-mell, I'M
der intense excitement, as fast as their
legs could carry them.
It is q sad commentary on humanity
that individuals are swallowed up in
masses. When We prayed that our troops
might conquer and prevail, no thought
of the hearts that might be made desolate
forever by the fatalities of war came TO
us. "Victory! victory!' was the cry of
every woman as she buckled on the sword
and sent her husband and sen to fight.
No thought came to her own or any other
woman's desolation. So, that morning,
standing alone at my window, watching
through the dim mist what seemed TO be
the ebb and flow of battle, hearing in the
distance the booming, kissing and rafting
sounds of conflict, 1 never once thought
of the homes of that besieged city, of
the women and children, the old men and
| the sick-never once thought of them, so
swallowed up the destiny of the day
every other consideration. But when
that struggling mass was relieved to
me-pourlng, painting, rushing tumult-
uously down the hot, dusty road, hatiess,
bonnetless, some with slippers and no
| stockings, some with wrappers hastily
1uIoWh Over ROWuS, now dHu bD0U
a cOatless man on a bareback horse,
| holding helpless child in his arms be-
fore him, and a terrified woman clinging
on behind; men trundling children too
young to run, in dirty wheelbarTows,
while other little half-clad, barefooted
ones ran beside, weary and crying: and
old men, who could scarcely tottsr along,
bearing baby in his trembling arms,
while the distracted mother carried an
older child with wounded and bleeding
feet; occasionally could be described a
battered umbrella held over some delicate
woman to temper the rays of what was
fast becoming blazing Aug ust sun.
Some ran, some stumbled along, other s
faltered end almost gave out, but before
l could hurry on my clothes they poured
into cor gates and invaded the house, a
small army of them, about 500 tired, ex-
hausted broken Gown, SICK, frightened,
terrified human beings all reused from
their beds by firing and fighting in the
very streets; rushing half clad from
houses being riddled with shot and shell;
rushing through streets filed with men
fighting hand 30 hand; wildly running
they scarce knew whittier, being separat-
ed from children and wives and mothers
IN the midst of the roar of battle, and nc
time TO look for them; no turning back
oE-on-through yards and over fences
and down narrow dusty lanes-anywhere
to get from the clash of steel and the
hOmbS