Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-01-21

the commons, tether them to a
stake, and keep guard, hour by
hour, while they enjoyed the grass
which still dared to lift up its head
and look green. The little bare
foot girl with torn apron and smil-
ing, freckled face, Hannibal Caesar,
lean and battle-scarred, and Manas-
sas, plump and inviting, became a
familiar group to the passer-by, and
many were the jests pointed at
them.
One night q division of Burn
sides cavalry bivouacked4on gem
tie slope couple of hundred yards
in front Of Mr.. Tubbs's house.
The next morning Juliana tethered
Manassas and Hannibal Cesar, and
while she was engaged quietly
watching them, she preceived a sud-
den commotion in the Federal
camp. Horses were hastily saddled, +,
harnessed and hitched to artillery
and ambulances, and tents rapidly
struck and rolled up. Curious, but
unalarmed, Jnliana was observing
the stir-when, suddenly, she heard
the report of gun in the opposite
direction. Turning, she saw, in
the distance, scudding parties of
Confederates deploying as skirmis-
hers. 1nstantaneously the drums
in the Federal camp began to beat
the long roll, accompanied by the
sharp, mingling commands incident
to the formation of the dreadful
line Of battle, and the dashing to
ond fro of staff officers and couriers.
The line of Confederate shirmis-
hers rapidly formed, and began
steady advance. AS the desultory
firing quickened, she watched with
exultant JOY the advancing and re-
treating lines of skirmishers, backed
by their respective lines of battle.
Just then a Federal staff officer
dashed up, and refining in his horse,
said, in stern voice:
Get away from here! Get into
the house, you little rebel, or you
will be shot into mince-meat before
you know it. Move quickv
Naught abashed or intimidated,
Juliana was reluctant to retreat.
But, by reason of her concern for
Hannibal Caesar and Manassas, she
obeyed the order, deliberately loos-
ened their tethers, took them to the
outhouse, and locked them in their
quarters. Entering the house, Mrs.
Tubbs saluted her with volley of
questions:
'Whar did you come from? Whar
have you bin? What have you bin
doin! Come, children, every one
NV you-git inter the cellar! Git
in quick-it is gittin danjrous.'
So saying, she snatched StonewaIl
jackson Forrest, and corraled her
frightened brood in the cellar.
'Arminty, hold Stonewall Jack
son Forrest. You uns stay here a
minnit-I'll dash up and give the
pig a passel Nv nubbins, fur he
maynt need EN- much longer.
Thars going to be fightin this time
shore, and shouldn't mistrust that
Ginerl Longstreet will come ridin
up and tell us the Confedercy has
whippd, aud the war is over.'
You needn't look so skeerd,
Tubbs; for I've hearn tell that bull
lets allux whizzd a-past the towards,
and hit the brave men. So you
needn't be oneasy.'
In the mean time the artillery
was unlimbercd. Rifle balls were
pelting like hailstones against the
house and trees, behind which the
Federal skirmishers sought cover.
As Mrs. Tubbs re-entered the Gel
lar shell tore through the top of
the house, scattering beams, brick
and plaster promiscuously to the
winds, and causing a crash like q
blast from the trump of doom.
This was followed by another, and
yet another. AS the range of the
guns was gradually lowered, and
the shells plowed along the surface
of the earth. scattering dirt and
gravel, the little group in the cellar
huddled closer and closer together,
with increasing terror. Suddenly
the question was asked, Where ia
Juliana"
She was there a moment before;
for Mrs. Tubbs had driven her from
the grating-where undaunted, she
was watching the battle. Rushing
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