The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-17

General AverilFs Entry Into the Town--An
Old Mammy's Courage.
J.fx


village in the mountains Of Virginia than the
little town of Buchanan. in Botetourt county.
With its pretty homes. each like its occupants.
with its individuality distinctly developed
and its environment OF mountain ranges, * Is
like a picture set in O framework OF green. 1t
10 situated on the right bank OF the James.
and lust at this point the scenery along that
river is particularly attractive. an English
artist declaring 1t 10 be superior TO that upon
tho borders OF the far-tamed Rhine.
A mile or 20 below the town. on the towing
path leading in the direction OF Lynchburg.
~ nm arch as symmetrical AZ though chiselei
by the hand Of man. cut into the solid lime
stone rock which projects from tho oyerhang-
ing cliff. 10 formed the objective point OF
mum berless walking parties IN those good Old
days the young people regarding IL rs an
achievement TO clam Der up the almost per-
pendicular way which led 70 1t. and Its
vau!ted dome has echoed many a merry laugh
and many a tender nothing uttered by voices
that are silent now
During the civil war it furnished frequent
place OF shelter for deserters. and after 1t was
the harbor for a band OF outlaws who. taking
advantage OF the civil and political disorder
which prevailed committed many deeIs or
rapne and even violence upon tle deienseiess
inhabitants. In 1868 the female element III
Buchanan Yves largely IN the performance,
the opposite sex with the exception OF the
children. being represented by negroes sad
few superannuated whites. inspired oy
feeling of devotion we laid our choicest ana
our best upon the altar OF PATRIOTISM as one
culls the fairest blossoms to place upon chspei
shrines and each home had been stripped OF
one more OF its inmates 10 swell the atinJ
of the Confederacy.
In the ad accent farm houses the rythmical
sound of the shuttle As 1t piled to ana ITO
mingled with the music OF the spinning
wheel; while the villagers, assembling at
some appointed place. cut and made the
home made cloth into garments Tor the
soldiers; or. gathered about their own fire
sides on winter evenings. with pine-knot or
single tsllOw candle Tor illumination. trans
formed the rough yarn into gloves, SOCKS and
= sors for their protection.
-. ms OF Yankees" had agtated US from
-. time ever since the breaking Out OF
si but in the month Of June, 1868 az.
1870. 40 wa ., lligence was received that General
- - 1880 molly pursued by Genera ave
- III aa "a. 'ating in our direction. ana.
st~rin, tber va, uaoles of every description IA
trunks and box. > tne vlselS and
them 10 q secluded Posl 80 - 80 roclrs ond
Concealed them in ~ cleits 81 Tue Toes niiu .i
Conceaieu 'nonu ~ An older sister OF my
o.nei nlu'ns cirI 20 ectng her treasures.
pried board from the Ool ~ az o''i5 49,
and hid them beneath il. uu ~ w. 80,
been we'll for the older mersos - -
had they follow ed her examlss: 4 eas;stad in
Guided by the negroes who "a went direct
their removal the Union soldiers vara CON
to the place where our valuablee , Nv and
cealed. and our family plate, our Jew. their
even portions of our clothing fell 1910 ~
hands An immense case of Madeir6s II W
years old when my father purchased IT -. +
island, which had been IN his possession tor .
long while, was opened ana It's contents uTuy@
upon the spot Meanwhile nv sisters little
treasures reposed in safety beneath the out
house ho0r 80
Narrowing accounts had reached US Of the
exhausted condition OF McCsuslands troops
and of the length of time during when tney
had been without food ana. al tneir hPPIot@oIt'
our citizens prepared the provisions when
could be spared from their own scanty arders'
and putting il into baskets stationed them
selves along the streets down which the troops
passed and distributed 1t among them.
Very worn and haggard they looked. anu
when our supply of biscuits and bacon was
exhausted, we took from the fire the soup
which had been prepared for our own frugai
dinner and dipping II up by cupiuls, served
il To the hungry COnfederates My fathers
house was situated upon the main street OF
the village, and, as the troops passed IL; our
colored nanny. weighing III the heigho sR
hood OF 800 pounds ventured TO come 10 the
front TO take look at them, and was greeted
with bursts of laughter.
Look at that old niger. boys ~ they ex-
claimed. That don't look much like starya-
ton"
would be wounded, took her gently by the
hand and would have drawn her away, but
the old woman stood her ground.
'Lor'. chilen." she said, let 'em laugh if
it'll do 'em any good. Let de poo creeters
laugh: nanny don't mind 1t.
The cloud of dust which concealed the re,
treating COnfederates had scarcely subsidized
when our attention was drawn 20 the other
end of the town. The hemlet OF Pattons-
burg is situated on the opposite SIDE OF the
river from Buchanan. and was connected
with il by long wooden bridge. TINS
bridge in order to retard Ayerls progress,
McCausland had fired. and the SPARKS from
the burning structure had communicated
with the adjacent buildings, and the whole
lower portion of the village was IN flames.
Clouds of smoke rolled upward, and the des-
pairing cries of those thus rendered homeless
mingled with the roar OF the fames. IRE,
sently the gray curtain parted. and pale-faced
women with helpless children chnglng 70
their skirts and bearing IN their hands such
valuables as their hasty exit permitted them
TO collect emerged and made their way III Ine
direction OF our home stopping Tor moment
within the enclosure when they had reached H.
At this iuncture Ayerlll. arriving upon the
oraosite aide of the river. and suppossrg
NcCausland TO be still In the town nred
vollev of artillery into the terrified inhabi
tonts bomb shells exploded in our very
midst and together with our less fortunate
naighbors we crowded into a long cellar
which extended beneath our house rs place
of safety from these bursting missiles. There
our dear old nanny employed herself COM
nosing speeches with which TO conciliate the
approaching foe.
f"Gentlemen.n she would say. addressing
;,noginary officers, IN cook for YOU. III
wash for you but if you please. don't put me
IN standin'. | cant make no hand ut
siandln." IL H. -
But nanny did not monopol!ze the char
acter of speaker The honor was shared with
her bv an old lady afflicted with iameness;
who sat with her manned member stretched
ont upon a chair. occasionally haranguing the
trembling throng about her and lnclung Us
TO courage and fortitude.
"Otbers have passed through such trying
scenes ~ she would say why shouldn't We;
How Averill found out that he WAS wasting
his ammunition upon helpless women ana
children / cannot say. but IN some way tue
intalligence was conveyed 10 him and the
fr;no ceased. We had scarcely emerge from
our place of refuge and grouped ourselves
mon a porch at the side OF the house, wnen u
horse1nan. mounted upon foamin4 steed;
dashed down the main street hurIanng ana
waving an unsheathed sabre about ms head:
lilo had discovered the ford at the opposite
erd If the town and was the hrst Federal
WHO entered buchanan. The rest ionowed
W. ,1o,,,lr or ssinp the river upon pom