The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-07
SARGE pLUNKETT
The Old Man is Now Engaged in Enter.
tanning the Strangers.
atlanta Consultation.

among them, but they do have with
people who visit this section, and every
year that passes will add more and
more of interest to them.
Strangers never tire of asking ques-
tions nor hearing about the battles
around Atlanta, and the fields" seem
curious to them all. They used to
call Brown and | "cranks" upon sub
jects relating to the war, and so COM
mon it got to be for the young genera
tion to "guy" US that we quit talking
about the war, except when we would
get off on log by ourselves, but now,
when so many strangers are coming
every day, we hold up our heads again
and are always ready to discourse upon
any matters pertaining to the grand
march through Georgia, or any other
march. ooh, yes" we tell these
strangers, ''just ask us what you
please; draw us out; we like it, for the
telling of these is about the only talent
we have ever had developed fully, and
then we have long ago understood how
easy it is for an old man to be truth
full on this line. 1t is hard for us OF
any other old people to be entirely
truthful on any Of the modern matters
and we do love the truth, we do, me
and Brown.
We found crowd of good listeners
yesterday and they pressed us fol
some stories, and, also, purchased OF
US a good lot of worthless old pieces
of shell, old bayonets, balls and ram:
rods-they will buy anything, and
give it here as "tip''-the wise will
act accordingly.
"Just before old Sherman swung
around to Jonesboro," I went on, as
Brown took in the money for some
walking sticks we were selling them
as relics of that bloody field, "the
people seemed to know that there was
trouble a-brewing and the big road
was filled with refugees getting out Of
the way just as fast as they could.
These refugees had been moving on as
Sherman advanced till the most Of
them were in mighty bad condition
in fact, the most Of them were in
distress and had to live as best they
could upon the few along the roads
who yet remained at their homes. My
folks nor Browns folks could not find
it in their hearts to turn away these
poor refugees as long as there was q
crust of bread and place to stick one
Of them.
"The night before Sherman swung
around it was raining hard and was as
dark as Egypt. We had took the re-
fugees in till there was not place fol
one to lay. They had been piled upon
the floor after the beds gave out till
there was not room to step about. We
had reserved our own bed, me and my
good wife, and were just preparing to
retire, when the dogs tore around the
house as if they were after some wild
varmint, and when l stepped out to
see what was the matter what should
find but as sweet a young girl as you
ever laid your eyes upon, and when
we got her in the house she told the
most pitiful story about as how she
had started down the road to keep out
of the way of the yankees, had lost
her way in the dark, could 60 no fur
ther and was just about to faint. The
old woman shed tears as the girl told
her story and pretty soon had some
strong wheat coffee for her to drink
and l gave up my last drop Of spirits
to warm her up and make her feel at
home as much as we could.
"After so long time we begun to
figure as to how the young lady should
rest for the night, whereupon she in,
sisted upon just sitting in the chair
where she was. The old woman would
never hear to that-such sweet crea
ture must have bed if she had to dc
without herself. In her enthusiasm
she came mighty nigh proposing to
put the stranger in bed with me, but
would not hear to any such procedure
and shook my head according.
CAT last it was arranged that
should crawl up the ladder into the
loft and sleep upon the broomstraw
After I saw the old woman and the
young stranger snug away in bed
crawled up the ladder and had as good
nights rest as | ever had in all my
life, for the rain pattered upon the
boards right at my head and sounded
so sweet that I forgot the war and
dreamed sweet dreams about the
past.
"Thc young stranger was up and
gone by the break of day on the next
morning and our hearts went with her
wishing her good speed along hel
road. Up in the day after breakfast
was out in the plaza and saw LONG
line of blue coats coming. | called
the old woman and told her we were
goners-that old Sherman was upon
us. Browns girls were there and pur'
suaded me out of running and so we
stood and awaited the approach of the
soldiers.
"Just as the line got in front OF oul
house they halted and the men scat.
tered to each side Of the road and sit
them down to rest. Directly there
came some men on horses and as they
approached the soldiers arose and
shouted as loud as ever they could
4" 'Huzar, huzar, huzar!'
"I did not like that sound nor don
like it much till yet, but, anyhow,
soon understood that the men on horses
were officers, and in minute two OF
them started toward our house. When
they came inside the yard | told my
folks that l knew we were goncrs, but
they soon changed their direction and
took up at the we'll. One of these
was monstrous pretty young officer
and the other one was a harp-lOoking
old cuss and they said it was General
Sherman. l kept my eyes on them
and expected every minute to see
them feel for matches, but instead OF
starting any fire the pretty fellow po-
litcly raised his hat and salutcd us.
Thinks l, what in the thunder is the
matter with these yankees? Directly
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