The herald., 1896-12-26
CONFEDERATE SAL.

CUN1 EUEhAlE OAu.
During the latter part of the war the
Confederates went into camp about Co.
lumbia, on Duck river, in Tennessee.
The soldiers were half clad, half fed and
thoroughly desperate. They were in no
mood to be triled with, and when the
provocation came they were law unto
themselves
While they were in camp at this place
woman who had followed the army for
months gayc the officers considerable trou-
BILE.
She was utterly ,.epraved and shameless,
and she was not pretty enough to cause
her escapades to be lcniently regarded.
This woman did not even have name.
She WAS known es Confederate Sal" and
WAS heartily detested by the soldiers and
ritizens.
1t was impossible to tell where Sal
would break out next, Or what now and
startling capers she held in reserve. One
week she would make her appearance in
Columbia elegantly dressed and conduct
ing herself like lady A few days later
she would be found covered with rags and
dirt gloriously drunk and shockingly pro-
fame
Then the patienoe of the officers would
give way and the brazen adventures
would be sent 20 miles away and left in
the weeds in the hope that che would never
return. 1t Was useless to resort to such
mild methcds After few days absence
Sal would return with a new outfit and
would remain until she got into disgrace
again.
Nobody could learn anything Of her past
history. She invented 60 many different
| biographies that none of her stories could
| be believed. Some said that she was SOL
| diers widow, but others declared that she
| had been well known as a disreputahle
character in several Confederate cities No
matter who she might have been In the
past, the soldiers looked upon her as holy
terror, and her evil fame spread into tho
Federal lines. where it was reported that
| she had strayed upon more than one 0cca-
sion.
| In the course Of time Confederate Sal
became voxatieus problem to both
armies. Once a party Of Confederates
seized her willie she was drunk and carried
her into the Federal camps, where they left
her, The wretched creature was discover
ed the next day by the Federals and was
promptly sent back to the other side.
They tried everything to get rid OF her,
but che never failed to return. She was
locked in the guardhouse, whipped and
threatened with death, but all to no pur
pose. Generals and colonies used to fly
from her as they would from q cyclone.
Her temper was furious beyond descrip-
ton, and tho most hardened men could
not listen to her foul and profane tongue.
She was dangerous too. Sometimes she
was remarkably well dressed, with plenty
of money to spend, and the officers had a
suspicion that she was spy Of the enemy.
There was no proof, however, and she
could not be disposed of upon this pretext.
Sal was not beauty, but when she was
at her best she was a dashing woman, q
daring rider, and when she was sober her
conversation showed that she had enjoyed
some educational advantages. She was
about 40 years old, and her face bore the
traces OF intemperance and exposure.
The reckless camp follower finally went
too far and presumed too much upon the
forhearance Of the brave men whom she
had annoyed beyond endurance.
She had been absent for about ten days,
and the officers and men were beginning
to hope that they had seen the last of her,
when the report came that she had engag-
ed board with a respectable family some
better than ever, was we'll supplied with
money and claimed to be the wife of one
of the most popular generals in the army.
The people where she boarded did not
know her and accepted her statement that
she desired to be near her husband fer q
few weeks.
On the second night of her stay the sup
posed wife OF the general came home roar
ing drunk in the company Of two rough
looking soldiers, who were driven eff with
great difficulty by the family.
Mrs. General then got mad and turned
her tongue loose. She Mortified the in
matca CT the cottage by dancing the cancar
and wound up with the announcement
that she was Confederate Sal.
When the news of these high jink:
reached camp there was unbounded indig
nation. 1t was agreed that Sal had in
suited the whole army by niasquerading al
the wife Of their favorite general, and (
few determined men got together and helt
a quiet consultation. That night dozei
, soldiers slipped out Of camp and wen
down the river to the log cabin in wEiol
sal had sought shelter after being ejectet
from the cottage.
AS the visitors expected they found th'
woman sleeping off the effects of her heav.
potations. They awakened her rudely ant
told her tic object of their mission
1t was IL Lard fight. TIC captive tough
like tigfcss, but the men tied her hand
and feet and then fastened heavy ston
to her neck. They boro her screaming ant
kicking to the river and threw her in, jus
as they would have done a mad dog
, There was ono splash, and then all wa
: silence. The soldiers looked at cne an
other.
let us go back to camp" said tn
leader
9 Suppose they find out about this job?'
r asked one
''Who cares?" replied another. "We ar
1 needed in TIE coming battle, end there i
no danger that any of us will be punishe
for this rights work. l am willing t
have my siiare in it known
And he was right The story got out
but there was 70 investigation. Confed
crate Sal had 10 friends to protest agains
her fate.--EacxvIie Tribune.
f~n IL xr-fe =. -