The National tribune., 1890-01-16
VLI VFf INAI IIVAsL-
The Fifth Corps took the left-hand road e

The Fifth Corps took the left-hand road to
Ely's Ford.
A fine spring is at Stones, aud the thirsty
soldiers refreshed themselves from 10. Mrs.
Mary Brannon lived there with her daughters,
Sallie Parthenia, Ellen and Emily, aud her
boy Bage." Her other son, "Coot." was in
the 4th Va. Cav. Three negroes OF Burnside q
eoiored troops came 20 this house, struggling,
and asked for water, which they received.
They also inquired about their command, and
Mrs BrannOn told them they had bes: get out
Of the way, as there would be Confederates
following them up. Instead Of following hcr
advice they struck out into the woods and
made fire, and were discovered the next day
about two miles of by Confederate soldiers.
who killed them. Arthur Brown. in clearing
mp his place since the war; came upon the
skulls and bones and buried them.
After the battle Of Charlottesville, two Off
GERS came 10 Mrs Brannon's, who stated that
they had escaped when the Federal hospital
was taken, after Hookef's retreat They were
cousins. One was a staff officer, and had been
badly injured by fall from his horse, which
WAS shot The other WAS an artillery officer,
and bad his knce-cap shot OF. The Brannon
girls and the Misses Virginia Edwards and
Catherine Allen, who visited there waited on
them for several days. there being no troops ia
the country. One day the Confederate scouts
C0ot Allen and Jack Harris came 10 the house,
and were surprised 10 find the officers there.
They were both up and beginning 10 be able 10
get around, aud we're sitting ia the front room.
After some conversation the scouts wanted 10
trade boots with the officers. but Ena Brannon,
who was present, objected strenuously. So the
scouts went of and got horses,
TOOK THEN PRISONERS,
and carried them away with them. They had
gold watches and plenty Of money when taken
but suppose did not have much after coming
out Of Libby, II they survived.
One day two men in Confederate uniforms
rode up 10 Brannons aud asked for something
20 eat, which WAS given them. They were
very nice-lOOking men, and as they sat on their
horses at the gate rcc0unted TO the girls their
exploits over the Yankees, and what great dan.
gers they had yet 10 undergo The girls were
quite enthusiastic over them, and felt sad when
asked how they would like 10 see their South.
ern friends defeated the fellows rcgrettinp
that they could not sec their sWeethearts then
They had quite nice chat, and as they gGl
ready 10 start, asked the girls 10 kiss them good
by, as they were going into imminent danger
and might never return alive, aud desired "a
carry the memory Of their meeting such sweet
young ladies with them. In the excitement ol
the moment the girls did kiss them good by
and then the scouts rode off a few rods with
handkercbiels waving after them, when they
turned their horses, opened their coats, and dis
closed the Federal blue uniform beneath. They
galloped of laughing, and the girls gay,
them tongue-lashing for a while, when they
too, had TO laugh at the Yankee trick played
on them.
Mrs. Mary BrannOn and air her sons and
daughters arc alive. Ena is married 10 Mr.
Gordon Clark, and lives at Shepherds Grove
Catherine Allen is married TO Wallace Holmes
aud lives on her mothers place Just above there
while Miss Virginia Edwards married w. A
Mcdonald, Of Co. G, I'd ". Y. Cav, and owns
the Stone place, where the Brannons lived dur
ing the war. They have three daughters. twt
Of them married, aud six boys.
Up TO this time we have had good roads from
stevensburg, as Hooker had from Kelly's Ford
but when we 90 mile and half further W.
came 10 where many teamster aud artillery
man made the air blue with profanity. Befor,
We reach there, however, We pass Mrs. DIR
Hales place, on the left hand side, one mil,
from the forks, where she lived with the tw,
Miss Dukes, the honse being about 400 yard
back from tile road. with good spring abou
halfway between the road and the house.
Many a soldier will remember the "yeIlov