Connecticut western news., 1895-02-28
SHELL ANNIE.

come into Atlanta from the south.
 Oh, no; in the natural course of events be must have certainly shouldered his way right straight on from the north, and accordingly the grim and grimy, frayed out fragments of Hoods Confed crate army widowed in the stifling 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 a strate- gist. He wanted to cut off and coop up the gray jackets in the city, and for that reason ke quietly marched the larger part of his army up the western bank of tho river eight or ten miles, flung them across the river, and with a mighty swing of that ponderous trip hammer of war he struck them from the south, thus cutting off their lines of supplies by the Georgia railroad. Then followed those terrible days which wound up with tho fierce onslaught of July g, when the hopeless, half starved southern men and the gallant men of the west met in a mighty gladiatorial contest which re- suited in the fall of Atlanta.
 These are matters for the historian, but what l am going to recount is one of these wild, weird ronances with which this terrible conflict was so fraught, and here is the strange story:
 "On to tho seal" was the watchword of Sherman's s armies, and the sullen 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 undulating hills and grassy valleys green with the hope of the harvest, but little suited as de fensive point for the bruised and batter ed legions who were recoiling slowly to- ward the southern sea.
 Breastworks had been hastily thrown road, and in the ditches behind them the struggling remnant of obstinate Confed- crates was intrenched.
 It was gloriously beautiful summer day when the skirmish 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 onfow of the le- gions of the conquering hosts, tho wom- en and children, led by the lame and the halt and the aged men of the cQun- try, were fleeing for life, panic stricken and utterly demoralized.
 As the sun rose over the swelling | ridges the eyes of tho soldiers of either army caught the gleam of a little white | tent, half hidden in wood, just lit tie to the left of the line of attack, and above it 1uttered tiny white flag no bigger than 8 mans hand.
 It was a woman's handkerchief, and all the chivalrous feelings of tho Amer ican soldier were aroused as the grim veterans caught sight of that little ap- pealing bit of cambric floating there through the uprising mists of war. The order was passed to respect that flag and when the great guns began their I work and shot and shell were hurled blazing and crashing across field and wood from either direction never gum ner trained his piece toward point near that little white tent.
 The battle was fiercely fought, but the combat was of short duration, and as the shadows heightened eastward the southern troops were seen ill full re- treat, leaving the field to the trium- 1 phant Federals.
 As they swept forward 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 swirled above and around there was plaintive cry from the tent, and the stalwart sur. geon lifted the flap of the little tent and emerged, followed by an old negress, bearing in her arms tiny, white bun dle.
 "Please God, marsa, is you gwintel take us off ter de norf?'' walled she with the big tears coursing down hel withered face t'll sho' kill Mis- An uie eff yo' does. .''
 Mot bit of it, old lady. not bi of it," replied the good natured sur geoli, with smile.
 Hello, Otto, you're the very boy want. This is your prize, as you ar, nearest her age, and we are going tc detail you to take charge of this wet prisoner and see that the little reb don escape.
 The rough soldiers came crowdint around for peep at the prisoner, anC many eyes filled with tears of tender ness as they gazed on the baby that hat first seen the light in such grewsom surroundings.
 '.Ain't it wonder that she and tn, mother were not blown to pieces?' sait the sergeant
 Tt is indeed, replied the corporal
 flor look there where 8 stray shell GU its way through the bushes, clean as knife.
 Well, boys, she is our prize. Let u christen her, for time is up, and tn } Johnnies are waiting for us behind som bush heap down the road. Come, Otto speak up. You shall have the honor O naming the little miss,' said the sur geon
 Call her Shell Annie" said tn boy as his mind reverted to his ow , orphaned days, ''because she was save
 from that shell. '
 "Goodl" cried the surgeon. i, s'Shell Annier' chorused the sergear
 and the corporal in breath. Here, give me your canteen, Otto,
 said the surgeon. ''Hold her head ul
 auntie," and sprinkling a few drops C . the tiny head he continued: "Shell Al . nie, baptize thee in the name of u r Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and ms
 they ever protect thee as has the God
 battle today. Now, Otto, the sergeal
 will remain with file of men unt '. =. -.~ -....:x, ~.;.