The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-22
waves, half dead, of Prof. Holcolnb

| never to be forgotten. her fox hunting
with horse and hounds, the marrow
escapes of friendly vessels, the fights
over blockade runners driven ashore,
the execution of deserters, and the loss
of an infant SOP, whose little spirit
went out with the tide one sad sum-
mer night, all contributed to the reality
of this romantic life.
When Porter's feet appeared of
Fort Fisher, December, 1864, it was
storm bound for several days, and the
little family with their household
goods were sent across the river to
E"Orton," before Buffers powdership
blew up. After the Christmas victory
over Porter and Butler, the little
heroine insisted upon coming back to
her cottage, although her husband had
procured a home of refuge in Cumber-
land County. Gen. Whiting protested
against her running the risk, for on
dark nights her husband could not
leavel the fort, but she said, eff the
firing became too hot she would run
behind the sand hills as she had done
BEFORE" and come she would.
The fleet reappeared unexpectedly on
the night of the 18th Of January, 1865.
1t was dark night, and when the
lights of the fleet were reported
her husband sent courier to the cot
tage to instruct her to pack up quickly
and be prepared to leave with children
and nurse as soon as he could come to
bid them goodbye. The garrison barge
with trusted crew was stationed at
Craig's Landing, near the cottage.
After midnight, when all necessary Or
ders were given for the coming attack,
the Colonel mounted his horse and rode
to the cottage, but all was dark and
silent. He found the message had been
delivered, but his brave wife had been
so undisturbed by the news that she
had fallen asleep, and no preparations
for a retreat had been made. Precious
hours had been lost, and as the fleet
would soon be shelling the beach, and
her husband have to return to the fort,
be hurried them into the boat as soon
as dressed, with only what could be
gathered up hastily, leaving dresses,
toys and household articles to fall into
the hands Of the foe. Among the arti-
cles left was writing desk, with the
following unfinished letter, which after
many years has been returned. 1t is
such touching picture of those old
Confederate days that consent has been
given to it's publication:
1.-THE COTTAGE" Jan. 9, 1865.
My Own Dear Parents: know you
have 5een anxious enough about Us
all, knowing what terrible lombard
ment we have had, but am glad that
I can relieve your minds on our behalf
and tell you We are all safe and we'll,
through a most merciful and kind
Providence. God was with US from
the first, and our trust was SO firm in
Him that can truly say that both
Will and I cleared no evil"
T stayed in my comfortable little
home until the fleet appeared, when I
packed up and went across the river to
large but empty house, of which I
took possession; a terrible gale came on,
which delayed the attack for several
days, but Saturday it came at last in
all its fury; I could see it plainly from
where I was, I had very powerful
glasses, and sat on a stile out doors all
day watching it-an awful but magnifi-
cent sight.
I kept UP very bravely (for you know
I am brave, and would, if I thought I
could, whip Porter and Butler myself
until the last gun had ceased and it
began to get dark and still. I was over
come at last and laid my head on the
the fence and cried for the first and
last time during it all. I then got
my carriage and rode to a fort near by
to learn the news, but my heart failed
as I approached it, and I returned to
the house and waited dispatch, which
T received about II o'clock, saying all
was we'll. was quite touched with a
little incident which occurred during
the day; the little ones looked very
grave aud thoughtful; at last Dick
came to me in the midst of the roaring
and awful laundering and said: "Mam-
ma, [ want to pray to God for my
papa" He knelt down and said his
little earnest prayer; then jumped up,
exclaining and dancing about: "Ob,
sister, am so glad! I ain so glad! now
God will keep care of my papa"
The shelling was even more terrific
on Sunday, and I, not knowing how
long it might continue, concluded to 60
to Fayetteville, and started Sunday
noon in small steamer, with the sick
and wounded, to Wilmington, where
I was obliged to stay for several days
in great suspense, not able to get away
and not able to hear directly from Will,
as the enemy had cut the wires-and
then a martyr to all kinds of rumors
-one day ! heard that Will had lost a
leg, etc, etc, but steadfastly madeup
my mind to give no credit to anything
bad. At last l heard again that we had
driven our prosecutors off, and I re,
turned again to the place where went
fret, and the next day Will came over
for me and took me to the fort, which
I rode all over on horseback, but we did
not move over for nearly week. The
fort was strewn with missiles of all