Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-01
A WAR STORY.


tho WORD Maan''
To the Editor Of the Free Press:
The following story will be OF interest to
Nermonters, more particularly to members
of the 9Th Vt. who were at Suffolk 30 years
ago
In April, 1868, Cen Longtreet with 40, 600
mon laid seige to Suffolk, Va. With him
was, Pickett's divison,that made the famous
charge at Gettysburg. On the 10th of
April Capt. |. Is. Bowdick, formerly col
lector of customs of this city, commissary,
while hurrying provisions into Suffolk, lost
his life, going down through an open draw
bridge between Norfolk and Suffold. Union
troops had been pouring in night and day.
The works were well named, the cannon
along the lines were as near each other
they could be and ba well worked. Two
flotillas were in the Nausemond river, one
under Lieut.. Lamson and the other under
Lieut.. Cushing of Albsrmarle fame. On
the morning of the 18th | went out with
friend toward the Sumerton road; betw
our lines and the rebel lines were houses oil
around tho town, and in front
OF me was tho residence Of George Smith;
near 1t was a squad of cavalry OF the llth
Penn. regiment under Lieut.. Baker. Smith
had very pretty place; his barns were full
and stack of fodder stood outside. He
seemedto be at the height OF prosperity. AS
| neared our works the rebels came to the
edge Of the woods and opened on Bakers
squad with rifles. AS Bakers meu wsr
protected by the outbul1ings the rifles did
not have the desired effect; they then tried
artillery. Baker and his mon started for
our lines it was ride for lito few persons
| comparatively sea such sight; once seen it
Will never be forgotten; the mon leaning
I'd Il 4 tk1a inf IN
the horses, the horses with head and neck
outstretched to the utmost. tail out perfectly
straight, the men urging them for life, the
! shells bursting at the rear Of the little squad
as they sped toward our lines Being in
direct range of the rebels guns ] could soc
the shells they came toward our lines,
little black spots in the cir. Fortunately
none of Bakers men were hurt Our men
lying near the guns sprang up and opened
cross fire on the rebels over Baker,
squad, soon driving them hack. Bakers
men then halted about face and returned to
Smiths house. prepared to burn 1t and the
outbuldings, to prevent the rebels from
getting behind them and picking our men
or. Soon smoke went up from tle barn,
then the fodder stack. Seeing a soldier
step upon the piazza | said to my compan
ion: "lhs house will be burned, too.
| SlnIth Wlle ana 1lVe culluren nad taken
shelter from he shells in tho CELLAR they
were called up and the house was fired. Ia
stead of coming toward our lines
Mrs. Smith went along side of
rail fence toward the woods; the
rebs probably installing her for one OF our
msn, fired at and killed her. Gen, Long
street informed me few years ago that he
knew nothing of this, IL he did at the time,
he had forgotten it; | never heard any ex-
PLANTATION of the affair; Smiths children
went into the woods. That afternoon MS
stood on the main street OF Suffolk saw a
mu cart coming down the street; Thought
/ the driver looked rather solemn; as 1T drew
near ! saw it was Smith with his dead wife
in the bottom of the cart; what q day for
him and what a terrible realization Of the
meaning OF the word war. In the morning
all was happiness and prosperity; at mig aU
| his property was swept away, HIS children
in the woods aad his wife dead.
c. q. PETERSON.