The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-03-08
"REMINISCENCES
Of the Last Days of the
COnfederacy.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS RELATED
In the Life of Citizen. Hiding
Treasures and the FederalS
Hunting for Them.

The Federals made their appear
ance in our village in the leafy
month Of June, and until the fol-
lowing April, when the last gan was
fired at Appomattox, we were at
their mercy, cut off from friends and
loved ones. The cruel war still
raging, but meagre intelligence
through our foes of reverses-"bat-
ties lost and soldiers slain"-we
knew that in all probability, the
blood of our relations and friends
was mingled with the red sands of
the battlefield, surrounded and han
dicapped by physical disability and
destitute of bodily comforts. But
overshadowing all, like the black
wings Of eternal night, was the
mental strain OF hearts full of ankle
ty and suspense to almost bursting.
For weeks after the last ray of hope
had expired and the soldiers in grey
had been driven back, we could hear
the booming of cannon, each shot
was death knell, the bright sun
shine seemed but mockery, the
, lovely flowers of spring but the re-
minder of happy days gone by, the
soft gentle breeze but messengers of
sadness and sorrow. Surely we
could read our destiny in every
passing moment. Thus it was, time
dragged its leaden chain along. l
!; would not leave the impression that
we met with no words of kindness
or sympathy from the men that wore
the blue. Some were very kind and
appreciated our situation. They
1 were. often abouvolr home and in
several instances it was their head
quarters-the location and sur
rounding-large house, wide halls
and airy apartments-were we'll
suited to their purposes. The officers
, were very respectful 70 my mother.
! recall one instance when General
Stoneman made an abrupt and un-
called for reply to her. 1t came
about in this way: One bright
spring morning he and Gen McCook
met by appointment at our house.
, After exchanging salutations and
drinks, (the latter out of a beautiful
silver flask that hung from the side
of Gen. McCook,) they came on to
the veranda where my mother and l
were. 1t was fine morning, the
air was soft and fresh. My mother
was always a great lover OF flowers
and had quite handsome rose gar
den, and beautiful vines that fell
gracefully from the large columns.
The surroundings SO impressed Gen.
McCook that he remarked 70 my
mother, "You have a beautiful
home" She replied that ut had
suffered considerably from the war. )"
Gen. Stoneman's reply was "Madqm
you may thank your God that the
clapboards were not torn from your
house" We were not ct all sorry
when we heard that he had teen
captured at Macon, and McCook got
badly Gin the soup" shortly after
that. / saw his men returning from
an engagement fearfully democrat
lied, without guns and katless. On
another occasion | felt very sorry
for my mother. Indeed we were all
greatly distressed. My little baby
sister was quite sick. My mother
was much fatigued from nursing and
loss of sleep. A squad of struggling
Federals came into our yard and in
to the house. My mothers entreat-
les failing utterly to keep them out,
ard when she told them how sick
her baby was they pretended to
think it was a ruse to keep them
back. They went SO far as to turn
the pillow over on which the little
sick one lay, looking for vaiuables
All that was humiliating and made
US teel so helpless and friendless.
AS remember it was on this occa~
sion that they found an old single
barrel shot gun, with which my
brother had learned to shoot. They
: carried it out into the yard and with
t great gusto broke it to pieces against
, tree. We never tried to save that
i, old gun, but we did have others
hidden which they never found
: Among them fine rifle that was
/ captured at the 1st battle of Manas
r sas.
My mother was greatly upse
once. she had buried a number O
things. Among them some silver
), ware. The "blue coats" had a way
; ; OF finding these buried articles BY
jobbing their bayonets in the ground