Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-02-24
A CONFEDERATE FAMILY

/ They left home in q state or hurly burl
and wild excitement. When Gen. Johnsto
began bis famous retreat from Dalton. MI
Co and his family had made up thei
minds TO remain within the lines and fac
the horrors Of federal rule under the shelte
oI their own roof tree rather than becom
homeless refugees in the ever contractin
confederaey
And 50, when the troops came marebin,
by their house, the girls stood out by III
yard fence or ran down the avenue that LEI
70 the railroad and waived them an alden
How long would it be before they woul,
see gray jacket again, they wondered.
But they had not rec1oned on Gen
Johnston fighting at Resaca. nor thei
house being in the battlefield. So whel
their friend, Col. Freshman, the chief en-
eineer Of the army, came riding M on,
| evening and said, Get away from here n,
soon as you can; the line Of battle will rur
| through your yard in to-morrow's fight .
they were greatly terrified It was yer,
easy for him TO say get away" but
| where2
They had sent their horses and vehicles
away to keep them from being pressed by
| the iederals, and the family were not 81
very good marching trim.
Mr. c. tried to persuade surgeon to
make his house field hospital and fly 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
20 they all went to bed with heavy hearts.
ana arose the next mo ming, the l4th Of
May, trying TO nerve themselves for what
10 Hgff hon "A.
son came galloping up, followed by two
army wagons loaned him bv Gen. John
ston. Into these the family and their
servants hurried and fied for their lives.
Hurry, hurryt' cried the captain. .'Soon
the fight win begin, and il VIC will have to
ride down the lines it Will be no joke"
20 away they went down the lines. two
miles 70 kesaea, across the pontoon bridge
over the rlver there where the federals
open lire on them; then on to Calhoun,
where hot cavalry fight was going on.
Alter two days spent there anxionsly
waiting for Johnston 70 drive hack the
enemy and enable them 70 20 home. and
hnding that he was retreating and that IL
was impossible for them to return through
the lines they joined the great army Of
refugees, and at last found safety I'll thar
general asylum, Southwest Georgia.
Their retreat was sorrowful Their re-
turn was comical.
The war was over, and the sontherners
stood nation Of paupers Not one cent
did any one have. Dazed, they stood and
gazed 20 their heapso Confederate money.
some Of it 50 new and crisp that it seemed
70 mock them with their blasted hopes.
The first thought of the refugees was
now 70 get home Their friends. who had
fffa.fl 81 itf mt 4Hs4.t
wealthy planters were now ruined. and
had not bread for themselves. AZ their
negroes became demoralized and would
not work But with no money and
wretched transportation, who could travelg
In the history Of all distressed people
there is found a Moses who rises up to de-
liver them. So now in the history of the
N--s the eldest daughter played the part
81 Moses, and led them home
After they had become refugees she had
for while acted as natron in a hospital
N Macon, and as such ranked as a Con
iederate officer. So now, on this ground.
she applied to the Federal post command
ant at cambridge for Transportation 90
Macon The officer honored the demand
and furnished it, and she made the best Of
her way there to interview Gen. Croxton.
post commandant at that point.
BE sure" said polite friend. ethat
yon put on your best clothes, SO as to i'm
press the Yankees. Nothing like looking
well of "
II intend to- said she; and this is how
she was dressed:
She wore what to Confederate eyes
seemed g black silk dress. True, il had
once been a green striped one, but having
been dipped il o weak solution OF log
WOOD the stripes only vaguely betrayed
themselves. The garment was gaily
trimmed with strips Of palmetto braid
plated BY the wearers own industrious
fingers. she had also manufactured the
gloves which covered the said fingers.
Then her head was adorned with won
dertul bonnet. Il was a sort Of phoenix |
IN the way IN which it rose from its ruins.
having been made over several times into |
divers shapes, according as rumors Of /
fashions reached its owner. For even in |
the shnt ~ C0ntederacy the women, in the |
midst OF the multiiariOus duties devolyino, |
on them. strove to follow the fashions a. /
they vaguely heard they were worn ii the |
outside world.
IL proved afterward they were misin- |
formed, for while they were painfully |
building up three story bonnets. with but /
scanty material TO build with, looking like |
Peilon on Ossa piled, the outside world /
Wore little pancakes on their heads.
Strong IN the rectitude of her apparel
Miss G--- went forth TO impress Cen /
CroXton. How he was impressed, whether
with amusement, wonder or admiration.
Wlll never be known, as he was too gentle
manly to show any emotion.
Escorted by boy, cousin Miss c.
sought the generals presence. Her broth
or declined accompanying her.
AZ VIII never do for big, able bodied
Ieilow Ike me to 70" said he "and be-
SIDES women can do more with the Yanks
than mem"
Having thus eased his conscience, he left
her 20 face the foe, which she did with
great equaninlity, and made her claim for
her own transportation, as a confederate
othcefs and for her fathers family, on the
Plea that the federal government, having
forced them from their home at the point
q the hayonet, so to say, it was its business
20 take them back.
Before Confederate officers obtain trans
poftation they surrender" said the gen
efal, smiling. Have you surrenderelsn
This was horrid speech, for the south L
eva women prided themselves on never
s'sirenderiug
aecline 20 answer that. F" cried She in
aSsnawly
s.e laughed, and after bantoring her
A''ie struck 1y The novelty o. Goth appii