The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-12

The Big Barren River was nearly dry, and
! the water which afforded supplies for man and
| beast, came up to US in casks red and riled,
| from the slopes tramped by the horses Of cav
airy and infantry as they went down morning
and evening to drink.
Fever claimed its victims by scores in the
camps, and the yellow smallpox flag hung over
the seething sidewalk from the hospital down
at the foot of the hill.
The boarding houses were full to overflow
ing, and the prospect was indeed ominous for
young wife yet in her teens and little baby
but few moaths' old in her arms.
1t was there that the little ro5e-embowered
house of Mrs. Eliza l.. Motley was opened in
gracious hospitality TO the woman who came
followed by the solicitude Of tender mother
in the North, and in that home she learned
how sweet thing is Southern hospitality, and
how bright jewel was Southern loyalty, shin
ing through the mists and shadows cast by the
dark eclipse of secession over the fair fields of
"Old Kentucky"
The loyalty Of three generations vas in that
little household. There was the dear little
grandmother, Mrs. Hob,on, wife Of Capt. VIM.
Hobson, one of the vallisnt Kentucky patriots
who FASTENED to defend the flag against the
combined forces of British and Indians in the
Northwest country in the war of 1912.
There was the sweet sunny daughter, Mrs.
Eliza l.. Motley, bubbling over with quaint
humOr, her heart bursting with patriotism and
love of the flag. And there the dashing young
Maj E. L. Motley, of the 11th KY, who came
out Colonel of his regiment after four years of
distinguished service in the campaigns of Ten
nessee and Georgia.
Capt. William Hobson, hero of 1912, and his
wife, Lucy Ann kirtiey, were VirginiaHs of the
old Washingtonian type. and their children and
grandchildren followed in their footsteps. They
were the shareholders of the patriarchal Sort
for their hearts and lives blOSsomed all the
virtues of Christian chivalry-hospitality and
charity, honor and honesty, and love of country
and friends and home; Shareholders who had
no self-iuterest to throw in the balance against
Union they loved and cherished.
In the Motley household it was Susan and
Martha and Mamie and Nanny" the cook
who had the good and easy times, while de-
lightful little Mrs. Motley and her patriot
mother were indeed the slaves of them all.
Such serene, hopeful, helpful spirit as was
evinced by mother and daughter was beauti-
full to behold and pleasant to remember. Mrs.
Hobson lived to see all her dear ones come up
from the valley Of death, wearing their hard
won honors; to see her daughter, Mrs Motley.
who was almost constantly engaged locking
after the sick and wounded Union soldiers.
not neglecting the poor fellows on the other
side, come sweet and smiling from graphing
with the pestilence and the fever in camps and
hospitals.
OF the sons and grsndsons of Mrs William
Hobson, there Col. A. s. Hobson, Pay
master for the State of Kentucky, Abide
Camp to Gen. Buell. at the battle of Shiloh and
the siege of Corinth; W. II. Hobsou, the
Boy Colonel" of the 18th KY, one of the
bravest of the brave, as it was afterwards
proved in siege aud battle. and who, after the
war closed. made the canvass of his district as
a candidate for Congress on the Republican
ticket.
The pioneer of free speech he proved him
self, for when warned that his meetings would
be broken up he armed himself with brace of
pistols, and before beginning to speak he would
place them before him on the table saying: "
will shoot the first man who attempts to inter-
rupt this meeting" And they knew the man
they had to deal with and kept the peace.