The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-19
4 CONFEDERATE FAMILY

C and his family had made up their
minds 70 remain within the lines" and face
the horrors of federal rule under the shelter
of their own roof tree rather than become
homeless refugees in The ever contracting
confederacy.
And so, when the troops came marching
by their house, the girls stood out by the
yard fence or ran down the avenue that led
to tue railroad and waived them an adieu.
How long would il be before they would
see a gray jacket again, they wondered.
But they had not reckoned on Gen.
Johnston lighting at Ressca. nor their
house being in the battlefield. so when
their friend. Col. Freshman, the chief en-
Gineer of the army, came riding up one
evening aud said, Get away from here as
soon as you can; the line Of battle will run
through your yard IN to-morrow's fight,
they were greatly terrified. IL was very
easy for him to say get away" but
whereg
They had sent their horses and vehicles
away TO keep them from being pressed by
the federals, and the family were not in
very good marching trim.
Mr.. c. tried to persuade n surgeon TO
make his house a field hospital and fy the
yellow flag from it, saying that his whole
family would be willing to act as nurses,
but the surgeon declined, declaring the
house would be in too hot place for a
hospital.
So they all went to bed with heavy hearts,
and arose the next morning, the l4th OF
May, trying TO nerve themselves for what
was before them, when suddenly Mr. G-'s
son came galloping up, followed by two
army wagons loaned him by Gen. John
ston Into these the family and their
servants hurried and fed for their lives.
Hurry. hurry.' cried the captain. soon
the fignt will begin, and II we will have to
ride down the lines it will be no Joke ="
So away they went down the lines, two
miles to Resaca, across the pontoon bridge
over the river there. where the federals
open fire on them; then on to Calhoun,
where hot cavalry fight was going on.
After two days spent there anxiously
waiting for Johnston 20 drive back the
enemy and enable them 70 go home, and
finding that be was retreating and that it
was impossible for them 10 retIrn through
the lines they joined the great army Of
refugees, and at last found safety ia that
general asylum, Southwest Georgia.
Their retreat was sorrowfuL. Their re-
turn was comical.
The war was over, and the southerners
stood nation Of paupers. Not one cent
did any one have. Dazed, they stood and
gazed at their heaps of Confederate money,
some OF it so new and crisp that it seemed
10 mock them with their blasted hopes.
The first thought of the refugees was
how to get home Their friends, who had
Hospitality entertained them, from being
wealthy planters were now ruined, and
bad not bread for themselves, As their
negroes became demoralized and would
not work. But with no money and
wretched transportation, who eould travelY
In the history of all distressed people
there is found a Moses who rises up 70 de-
liver them. So now in the history of the
G-s the eldest daughter played the part
of Moses. and led them home.
After they had become refugees she had
for a while acted as maUron in hospital
in Macon, and as such ranked as Con
federate officer. 80 now, on this ground.
she applied 10 the Federal post command
ant at cambridge for transportation TO
Macon. The officer honored the demand
and furnished it, and she made the best of
her way there 10 interview Gen. Croxton,
post commandaDt AT that point
BE sure" said polite friend, that
you put on your best clothes, so as 20 i'm
press the Yankees. Nothing like looking
well off -
II intend to, said she; and this is bow
she was dressed:
she wore what TO Confederate eyes /
seemed a black silk dress True. 10 had /
once been a green striped one, but having 4
been dipped in weak solution Of log
wood the stripes only vaguely betrayed /
themselves. The garment was gaily T.
trimmed with strips Of palmetto braid,
plated by the welrer's own industrious 4
fingers. She had also manufactured the 4
gloves which covered the said fingers.
Then her head was adorned with a won
derful bonnet. IT, was sort Of phoenix 4
in the way in which il rose from It's ruins.
having been made over several times into /
divers shapes, according As rumors Of (
fashions reached It's owner. For even in 4
the shut in COnfederacy the women ia the
midst Of the rnultifsrious duties deyoIving
on them. strove To follow the fashions as
they vaguely heard they were worn in the
outside world
il proved aftergyard they were lnisin-
formed, for while they were painfully
building up three story Donnets, with but
scanty material 70 build with, boxing like
'Peiion on Ossa piled, " the outside world
wore little pancakes Oh their heads
Strong in the rectltude u Der apparel.
Miss C. went forth % ''impre-s" Gen.
Croxtou How be was impressed, whether
with amusement. wonder or sdmlratioH,
viii never be known, A. he Was TOO gentle
manly 70 show any emotion.
Escorted by a boy. cousin Misc c.
sought the generals presence. Her broth
er declined accom- pan yinz her
at will never do Tor big. able bodied
fellow like N 70 60 said he. and be-
sides women car DO more with the Yauks
than men
Having thus eased his conscience. he left /
ner 20 face the Zoe. which she did with
great equaniuitY, and made her claim Tor
Der OWE trans ortstson, A. a coufedsrats
1d.cer. aud s0r her fathers family. % TIE
Plea shat the federal government. haviag
orced them from their home ~ the point
y the oayOnet, 80 % say, u wa is business
y take them bark
Before Confederate oGlcers ootaln trans
they surreocer.' said the yea
.ral, smiling Have you sVrTebdere1'r
IGis was a borrd spesch. for tie south
IA women pridsd themselves OF Lever
= decline 70 answer thai. T cried she in
I EtnAnt!y
he laughed. ard after bzufeTinz hsr a
ittse. struck b. lie naveity d boSa Ay9i!-
stions. ~ made OUT tos rransDortAssOa
ap<rz FOR them al add gave them q Der
And 80 IL 5@pts-n b~r tke catered fan
" rsrcezvoesst a. Macon sGd started On
her TIP soass Ths sov>rn raens did not
urELsn vsry ssyilsh trans oortSssoa; thsy
/