Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-09-07
UNDER FIRE.
A Trne Border story Of the War.

the benefit of his health. He pur-
chased little farm in Virginia, about
three miles from Washington, ID. c.,
access to which was had by the way
of Georgetown and the Aqueduct
Bridge. He gradually failed in health,
however, and died, leaving 4 widow
Mrs. Caves and two girls and two
boys. At the breaking out of the war
in 1861, Mrs. Caves and her elder
daughter. who was about fifteen years
of age, took decided stand in favor
of the Union cause. 1t required not a
little moral courage to do this; but
there was no element of fear IN the
makeup of any member of the family.
At first their home was within the
Confederate lines, aud communication
with Washington was very difficult
and hazardous. Mrs Cages was ridi-
euled. and sometimes threatened, but
it ayailed nothing.
After the Confederate lines were
driven back few miles in 1861, forth
tieations were constructed around
Washington for the protection of the
National Capital. They consisted of
a chain of forts arranged in nearly a
circle. The line crossed the Potomac
near Chain Bridge, above George
town, extending thence down to Ar
lington Heights and some distance
below, recrossing the river about half
way between Long Bridge and Alex
andria, and so on around until the cir
Gle was complete. Within this line.
and about a mile and half from Fort
Smith, situated on a little eminence.
was Mrs. Cages modest home, pro
tected now from the enemy, but suf-
ferng more, perhaps. from her
friends. Many regiments were en-
camped near by; and little by little
her timber and fences and stock and
crops disappeared, until there was
scarcely anything left save the house
and the land. Even the cook stoye
was missing one morning. Very fire.
quently at night she was aroused by
the beating of '.the long roll,n the
shouting of words of command, and
the tramping OF regiments as they
swiftly formed in line of battle to meet
the expected enemy. On such oecas-
ions all the members of the family
would hastily dress, secure about their
persons what yaluables they had, and
patiently wait. During all these try
ing years she and her daughter were
devoted friends of the Union cause.
and their willing hands were untiring
in doing something for the soldiers.
1t was midsummer morning in
1864. Out in the field and over in the
city it was scorching hot. But in Mrs.
Cages house, protected as it was
from the rays of the sun by the
abundant foliage of the great oaks
which surrounded it, the heat was not
oppressive. Mrs. Cages was in the
sitting room reading a paper. The
elder daughter was in Washington.
Charley, the elder son who was then
near twelve years of age, was play
ing with the dog on the porch. Ii was
a peaceful. quiet picture of Virginia
country life Suddenly there came a
loud, whistling, screaming sound, fol-
lowed by a terrific explosion directly
over the house
'.Why!" calculated Mrs. Caves, as
she started from her seat, "what a
heavy clap Of thunder, she was
about to say, but the unmistakabIe
humming, twanging sounds which fol-
lowed close upon the explosion, with
the falling of leaves and broken
branches from the trees, told her it
was shell from some heavy gun.
us it possible the rebels are making
an attack" she said.
The children now came running in
from their play, and one of them cried
out, "Oh, mamma. the lightning has
struck the trees. !" Mrs. Caves went
out on the porch and looked and lis
tened, but nothing unusual could be
seen or heard.
lit was she'll" said she. II ex-
pect a gun at one of the forts went off
accidentally
well, said Charley, "when they
load their guns | wish they'd point
them toward Richmond. They ought
to be ashamed of themselves. =
Il don't think we shall be troubled
any more, said the mother as she re-
turned to the sitting-room, followed
by the children. She had but Just re-
sumed her seat when another shell
buried itself in the earth a few rods
from the house and burst, throwing
up clouds of dust and dirt.
" nal Can ~ mean! Sdlu MIS-.
Cages.
81 know what it means, mammal
cried Charley. That New York regi-
ment which has Just beer sent over to
Fort Smith has put up target in our
field. and the fellows are firing at it.
u wish | was general I'd put every
one of them in the guard house,
The boy was right in his surmise,
and in few moments another mis-
sile thrown from one of the huge
siege guns with which the. fort was
armed, struck, quarter of mile
away, and came bounding or ricochet-
ing toward the house, striking the
ground at short intervals in its mad
course, something us a stone when
ithro wn violently upon the water skips
along the surface. With a shrek like
a demon it plunged through the gar
den, destroying everything in its path,
III led the air with dust, gave two or
three more sklps ana screeches, and
FINALLY burst over near the road. Mrs.
Caves turned pale.
Come down into the cellar with
me, all of you, she said; and they
obeyed with alacrity. After she had
tquieted Eliza the negro servant, who
SUas altpPnatnlv pra.,inn ~, ,tda o.a,I