Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-15
I'M WAR TIMES.
A Southern Girls Memories Of the YanEes
Soldiers.


Il suppose many girl would be glad
to have seen what | saw of the war. II
was not long-continued privation and
panic; not living for months on daily
allowance of three small biscuits and a
slice of bacon, as some once rich south
erners had to do; not long plundered
and terrorized frequently by lawless
soldiers; but just going through one
stirring day or two, with many thrill.
ing things crowded into that little
time.
II was at Sunday school when heard
that the Yankees were coming
could hardly remain in the church. so
great was my desire to get home; and
yet no one seemed to have any fear, for
we had heard this report very often in
our Valley-of-V Virginia town, and the
Yankees had never yet come. But this
time they really arrived.
First, there was more positive and
definite warning Then there was much
hasty consultation and arrangement in
the early night. and the departure of a
sort of caravan with wagons and horses
and cattle toward place Of safety in
the hills.
Il had the delight of staying up very
late, and | suppose many people in our
town did. In the morning we could not
tell exactly what was going to happen,
though a few confederates began to
struggle in on various errands. Our
opposite neighbours son rode in and
gave us some information.
Soon fighting began beyond the
town on the other side Of the river.
cannot say saw it, but | heard the pop,
pop of the muskets, and saw the can
non-ranged handsomely upon high
ground to command our chief buildings
pouring out fire and smoke BY and
by these were moved and planted so as
TO rake the main street of the town. So
far we had all been astir, like bees
shaken out of hive, and when the first
bombshell started up the street was
standing outside the curbstone
"A shell moves by no means with the
rapidity of lightning, and hearing the
peculiar, fascinating singing far down
the street, | turned and looked with a
feeling as If | were looking right into
the face of a sort of disk of sound APP
preaching me and growing louder.
II had no idea what produced the
sound until the shell burst in the porch
a few steps behind me. Then we all
retired to the cellars,
which was a very foolish thing to do.
In little while our few eonfeder-
ates, who had fought back the advanc-
ing army and fired the bridge, only to
make time for movements elsewhere,
turned and dashed away through the
town. The confederate general in com
nand followed slowly after. The shells
still raked the streets. Then there was
! pause while pontoons were preparing
IN the union side, and we came out OF
he cellars and compared notes with
'ur neighbors. Then we went upstairs,
ocked the doors of our room, closed our
hutters. peeped out and were perfectly
lappy; at any rate l was.
'While the great moving mass filled
he street and we were behind the
hutters, the lower story was left to
he protection of the colored servants.
Our old cooks views as to feeding
he soldiers were not hospitable Only
y positive orders could my mother in
uce her to part with slices of bread
nd ham at their demand. Later in
he day heard her out in the kitchen
eclaring: Fore de Lord, dere amt
dust Of -four in this housed! And
hen / saw that the man was gone and
'ent in and exclaimed: How could
on say such thing, when you know
lere A. eleven barrels of flour up in
lie passage? a..e grinned and an.
vered:
"'0h, yes and lie got a piece of
aeon in my hand, but amt goin to
We him no mo-. Mis- Marthy done
ade me give them men mos a whole
I'm Already to-day. They done got
loughr
''She proceeded to cook the piece of
ICON, which she had drawn out from
lder her apron, for her supper and
Irs. Meantime the flames began to
Sc in the town. Building after build
g was burned-public, military prop
ty and the house of the governor of
e state. But was shut up now and
ssed these sights.
Il heard enough of them afterwards,
d remembered especially how it was
id that the governors baby cried all
e time because the cradle. which was
,ked by clockwork, was burned, and
ere was no way to keep it quiet
That night was a wonder of still.
IS. Nothing was heard in the streets
the tramp of the lonely guards
e next dav there was not much to sec