The Van Buren press., 1894-10-27
STORY OF SHE'LL ANNIE,
An Incident Of Sherman's March
to the Sea.

An Incident Of sherman's March
to the Sea.
Nobody expected Gen. Sherman to
come into Atlanta from the south.
Oh, no, in the natural course OF
events he must have certainly shoul-
dered his way right straight on from
the north, and accordingly the grim
and grimy, frayed out fragments OF
Hoods confederate army wallowed in
the sitting trenches all along the
vast semi-circular line of outworks
that faced the valley OF the Chatta-
hoochee and commanded the ap.
proaches from the Allatoona hills be-
yond. s#
BIT he Of the eagle eye was a strate
gist. He wanted to cut off and coop
up the gray jackets in the city, and for
that reason he quietly marched the
larger part Of his army up the west
ern bank of tho river eight or ten
miles, flung them across tho river, and
with mighty swing of that pcnd.r-
GUS trip-hammer OF war he struck them
from the south, thus cutting off their
lines of supplies by the Georgia rail
road. Then followed those terrible
days which wound up with the fierce
onslaught of July 90. when the hope
less, half-starvcd southern men, the
gallant men Of the west, met in q
mighty gladiatorial contest which re.
suited in the fall Of Atlanta
These are matters for the historian,
but what am going to recount is one
Of those wild. weird romances with
which this terrible conflict was SO
fraught, and here is the strange story:
ION to the sea-" was the watchword
OF Sherman's armies, and the sullen
and dogged retreat Of the confederates
to Jonesboro was the first movement
Of the defeated and despairing confed-
crates.
Jonesboro was little inland town,
nestled amid field and forest, inter
spersed with beautiful undulating
hills and grassy valleys green with the
hope Of the harvest, but little suited
as . defensive point for the bruised
and battered legions who were recoil'
ing slowly toward the southern sea.
Breastworks had been hastily thrown
up fianlsing the line of the Central
railroad, and In the bitches behind
them the struggling remnants of obsti-
nate confederatcs were cntrenched.
1t was a gloriously beautiful sum-
mer day when the skirmish line OF the
northern hosts dcbouched from the
works and took up position in front OF
these breastworks..
Taken by surprise after relying in
vain on the ability of the southern
troops to check the ohflow OF the le-
gions of the conquerirg hosts, the
women and children, led by the lame
and the halt and the aged men of the
country, were fleeing for life, panic
stricken and utterly demoralized.
As the sun rose over the swelling
ridges the eyes of the soldiers of either
army caught the CLEAN of q little
white tent, half hidden in . wood just
q little to the left of the line OF attack
and above 1t futtered tiny white flag
no bigger than mans hand.
It was q woman's handkerchief, and
all the chivalrous feelings OF the
American soldier were aroused as the
grim veterans caught sight of that lit
tie appealing BIT of cambria floating
there through the uprising mists O.
war. The order was passed to respec
that flag, and when the great guns be
gan their work and shot and shell
were hurled blazing and crashing
across field and wood from either di
rection, never a gunner trained hi
piece toward point near that litti'
white house.
The battle was fiercely fought, bu
the combat was Of short duration, ant
| rs the shadows heightened eastward
the southern troops were seen In fui
retreat, leaving the field to the tri
umphant victors.
As they swept forward drumme
boy, Otto Barden, Of Pennsylvania
regiment, passed by the little whit
| tent in the WOOD.
Guards in blue uniform surrounde'
II. and while the smoke OF battl
swirled above and around there was
plaintive cry from the tent, and tn
stalvart surgeon lifted the flap OF tn
little tent and emerged followed by a
old negrcss, bearing in her arms
tiny, white bundle.
please God, narsa. is you gwlntc
take ms Off ter de norf?" vailed she
with the big tears coursing down ne
withcred face. It'll sho' kill MIS-
Annie ef yo' does" :.
"Not a bit of it. old lady, not oi
of it," replied the good-natured SUI
reon, with smile.
"Hello, Otto, you're the very boy
want. This i, your prize, as you ar
nearest her age, and we are going t
detail YOU to take charge OF this we
nr;soner and see that the little re
The rough soldiers came crowdin
around for peep at the prisoner, an
many ewes filed with tears OF tenuel
ness as they gazed on the baoy Una
h.a c,rs+ seen the light in such grew
some surroundings. 4,
..A;p,t II n wonder that she ana tn
mother were not blown 10 Pieoe'
aaid The sergeant