Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-10-17
SHELL ANNIE.


 line of outworks that faced the valley of the Chattahooche and commanded the approaches from the Allatoona hills beyond.
 But he of the eagle eye was a strate- gist. He w9nted to cut of and coop up the gray jackets in the city, and for that reason he quietly marched the larger part of his army up the western bank of the river eight or ten miles, flung them across the river, and with mighty swing of that pondCrous trip hammer of war he struck them from the south, thus cutting off their lines of supplies by the Georgia railroad Then followed those terrible days which wound up with the fierce onslaught of July p, when the hopeless, half starved southern men and the gallant men of the west met i'll q mighty gladiatorial contest which re- suited in the fall of Atlanta.
 These are matters for the historian, but what 1 am going to recount is one of these wild, weird rUmanCeS with which this terrible conflict was so fraught, and here is the strange story:
 ''On to the seal" was the watchword of Sherman . armies, and the sullen and dogged retreat of the COnfederates to Joncsboro Was the first movement of the defeated and drSpairing COnfederates.
 JoncShOrn 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 dc fenSivc point for the bruised and batter ed lCgiuns who were recoiling slowly to- ward the southern sea.
 Brcastwurks had been hastily thrown up fianking the line of the Central rail road, and i'll the ditchcs behind them the struggling remnant of obstinate Confed- crates was intreEched.
 It was a gIOIiously beautiful summer day when the sisirmish line of the north ern hosts detouchCd from the works and took up position ill front of these brca>twUrES.
 Taken by surprise after relying ill vain on the ability of the southern troops to check the Cufiow of the le- giOnS of the CunqUuring hosts, the wom- ell and children, led by the lame and the halt and t:le aged men of the coun- try, were fleeing for life, panic stricken and utterly dcmura!izCd.
 As the sun ro>c over the swelling ridge; the oyls of the soldiers of either army caught the Slcaln of a little white tent, half hidden i'll wood, just lit tie to the left of the line of attack, and above 1t futtCTCd a tiny white flag no bigge- than mans hand.
 It was woman's handkerchief, and all the chivalrOus feelings of the Amer ican soldier were aI IoUsod as the grim veterans caught sight of that little ap- pealing bit of cambric floating there through the uprising mists of war. The order was passed to respect that flag, and when the great guns began their work and shot and shell were hurled blazing and crashing across field and wood from either direction never n gum her trained lis piece toward point near that little white tent. The battle Was ficrcely fought, but the combat was of short duration, and as the shadows heightened eastward the southern troops were seen ill full re- treat, leaving the field to the trium- phant FcGorals.
 As they swept forward q drummer boy, Otto Barden, of Pennsylvania | regiment paused ly the little white tent 1 i'll the wood.
 Guards i'll bluc uniform surrounded it, and while the smoke of battle swirled above and around there was plaintive cry from the tent, and the stalwart sur l geon lifted the flap of the little tent and emerged, followed by an old negroes, beaI ing !u Ter arms tiny, white bun l dlc
 ''PlcIse God, n:arsa, is you gwinter take US off ter dc nOrf:'' walled she, with ti:c big tears coursinG down her withered face. ''It'll shO' kill Mis- An nie If yo' does.
 Not bit of it, old lady. not bit Of it" replied the good natured sur geon, with a smile.
 | Hello, Otto, you're the very boy want. This is your prize, as you are nearest her age, and we are going to detail you to take charge of this wee prisoner and see that the little reb don { escape.
 The rough soldiers came crowding around for peep at the prisoner, and many eyes filled with tears of tender, ness as they gazcd on the baby that had first seen the light in such grewsome surroundings
 ''Ain't it q wonder that she and the mother were not blown to pieces?" said the sergeant.
 Ut is indeed" replied the corporal, flor look there where stray shell cut its way through the bushes, clean as a knife.''
 Well, boys, she is our prize. Let us christen her, for time is up, and the Johnnies are waiting for us behind some bush heap down the road. Come, Otto, speak up. You shall have the honor oi naming the little miss" said the sur. geon.
 Call her Shell Annie," said the boy as his mind reverted to his OWL orphaned days. because she was savet from that she'll"
 "Good!' cried the surgeon.
 "Shell Annie!" chorused the sergean and the corporal in breath.
 Here, give me your canteen, Otto, said the surgeon. Hold her head up auntie," and sprinkling a few drops ol the tiny head he continued: ''Shell An nie, I baptize thee in the name of tn Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and ma, they ever protect thee as has the God O battle today. Now, Otto, the sergean will remain with a file of men unti mOring, and you may remain witt them, for you look tired and worn out my boy"
 At the word of command the othe soldiers took up the line of march, an faint and fainter grew the roar am rumble of the departing legions. rollin on irresistibly to match their blue bil lows with the blue waves of the distan sea
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