Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-16
SHE'LL ANNIE.

Nobody expected General Sherman to
come into Atlanta from the south.
Oh, no: in the natural course of events
he must have certainly shouldered his
way right straight Oh from the north,
and accordingly the grim and grimy,
frayed out fragments of Hoods Confed
crate army wallowed in the sitting
trenches all along the vast semicircular
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 d strate
gist. He wanted to cut off and coop up
the gray jackets in the city, and for that
reason he quietly marched tho larger
part of his army up the western bank of
the river eight or ten miles, flung them
across the river, and with a mighty
swing Of that ponderous trip hammer Of
war he struck ITEM 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 %, when the
hopeless, half starved southern men and
the gallant men Of the west met i'll a
mighty gladiatorial contest which re-
suited in the fall Of Atlanta.
These are matters for the historian,
but what / an going to recount is one
Of these wild, weird romances with
which this terrible conflict was SO
! -to
.sOn to the seal" was the watchword
Of Sherman 5 armies, and the sglllen and
dogged retreat Of the Confederates to
Jonesboro was the first movement of the
defeated and despairing Confederates.
Jonesboro was little inland town,
nestled amid field and forest, inter
spersed with beautiful lndulating hills
and grassy valleys green with the hope
OF the harvest, but little suited as de-
fensive point fer the bruised and batter
ed legions who we're recoiling slowly to-
ward the southern sea.
Breastw orks had been hastily thrown
I'D thanking the limo of the Central rail
road, and in the bitches behind them the
struggling remnant of obstinate Confed-
crates was intrenched
1t was glo1iously beautiful summer
day when the slzirmish line of the north
ern hosts debouched from the works
and took up position in front Of these
breastworks.
Taken by surprise after relying i'll
vain on the ability Of the southern
troops to check the onhow Of the le-
gions of the conquering hosts the wom-
en- aud children, led by the lame and
the halt and the aged men OF the coun-
try, were fleeing for life, panic stricken
and utterly demoralized.
As the sun ..ose over the swelling
ridges the eyes of the soldiers Of either
army caught the gleam Of a little white
tent, half hidden i'll a wood, just lit
tie to the left Of the line of attack, and
above it futtered a tiny white flag no
bigger than o mans hand.
It was a woman's handkerchief, and
all the chivalrous feelings of tho Amer
lean soldier were aroused as the grim
veterans caught sight Of that little ap-
pealing bit OF cambria floating there
through the uprising nlists of war. The
order was passed to respect that flag,
and when the great guns began their
work and shot and shell We're hurled
blazing and crashing across field and
wood from either direction never & gum
her trained his piece toward point
near that little wlite tent
The battle was fiercely fought, but
the combat was Of short duration, and
as the shadows heightened eastward the
southern troops were seen i'll full re-
treat. leaving the field to the trium-
plant Fedefaia.
AS they swept forward Il drummer
boy, Otto Barden, Of a Pennsylvania.
regiment paused by the little white tent
in the wood.
Guards in blue uniform surrounded
it, and while the smoke Of battle swir1ed
above and around there was a plaintive
cry frosn the tent, and the stalwart sur
geon lifted the flap Of the tittio tent and
emerged, followed by an cid negress,
bearing i'll her arms tiny, white bun
die
"Please God, marsa, is you gwinter
take US OF ter de norf?'' walled she,
with the big tears coursing down her
| withered face. It'll sho' kill Mis- An
ME eff yo' does.
"Not bit Of it, old lady, not a bit
Of it, replied the good natured sur
geon, with G smile.
''Hello, Otto, you're the very boy I
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 t
escape.
The rough soldiers came crowding
around for q peep at the prisoner, and
many eyes filled with tears Of tender
ness as they lgazed Oh the baby that had
first seen the light in such grewsone
surroundings.
"Ain't it Il wonder that she and the
mother were not blown TO pieces" SAID
| the sergeant
''It is indeed replied the corporal,
''for look there where stray shell cut
| its way through the bushes, clean as a
knife IS
'"Well, boys, she is Our prize. Let us
| chTlsten her. for time is up, and the
Johnnies are waiting for us behind some
| bush heap down the road. Cone, Otto,
speak up. Yon shall have the honor of
naming the little miss said the sur
| geon.
"Call her Shell Anrie,'' said the
| boy rs his mind reverted TO his own
orphaned days, because she was saved
from that she'll
'.Cfood!' cried tie surgeon.
ssShell Annie!" chorusCd the sergeant
and lie corporal in q breath.
Here, give me your canteen, Otto, -
said the surgeon. Hold lier head up,
auntie," and sprinkiing fos7 drops eli
the tiny head lie continued: Shell An
rie, hap.ize thee in lie name CT the
Father, Son and Holy G1sost, and may
they ever protect thee as has the God of
battle today. Now, Otto, the sergeant
will remain with q file Of ncn until
snoring, and you may remain with
them, for you look tired and worn out,
my boy
At the word Of command the othe,
soldiers took up the liiio OF march, and
faint and fainter grew the roar and
rumble Of the departing legions. rolling
liz I'll l.,