Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-10-24
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
"ooNFEpERATE SAL"

She Became y vexatious Problem to Both
Armies.
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 trifed with, and when
the provocation came they were law
unto themselves.
While they were in camp at this place
n woman who had followed the army
for months gave the officers consider
able trouble. She was utterly depraved
and shameless, and she was not pretty
enough to cause her escapades to be
leniently regarded.
This woman did not even have name.
She was known as Confederate Sal, and
was heartily detested by the soldiers
and citizens.
1t was impossible to tell where Sal
would break out next, or what new and
startling capers she held in reserve.
One week she would make her appear
ance in Columbia elegantly dressed and
conducting herself like lady. few
days later she would be found covered
with rags and dirt, gloriously drunk
and shockingly profane.
Then the patience of the officers
would give way, and the brazen adven
turess would be sent 20 miles away and
left in the woods in the hope that she
would never return. 1t was useless 10
resort to such mild methods. After
few days absence Sal would return with
q new outfit and would remain until she
got into disgrace again.
Nobody could learn anything of ker
past history. She invented so many
different biographies that none of her
stories could be believed. Some said
that she was soldiers widow, but
others declared she had been we'll
known as disreputable character in
several confederate cities. No matter
who she might have been in the past, the
soldiers looked upon her as a holy ter
.ror, and her evil fame spread into the
federal lines, where it was reported that
she had strayed upon more than one oc-
,casion.
In the course of time Confederate Sal
became veXatious problem to both
armies. Once party of confederates
seized her while she was drunk and car
ried her into the federal camps. where
they left her. The wretched creature
was discovered the next day by the fed
erals, and promptly sent back to the
other side.
They tried everything TO get rid of
her, but she never failed to return. She
was locked in the guardhouse, whipped
and threatened with DEATH but al! to no
purpose. Generals and colonels used to
fly from her as they would from cy-
clone. Her temper was furious beyond
description, and the 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 Off
GERS had suspicion that she was a spy
in the pay Sf the enemy. There was no
proof, however, and she could not be dis
posed of upon this preteXt.
Sal was not beauty, but -Shen she
was az her best she was dashing
woman, daring rider, and when she
was sober her conversation showed fhat
she had enjoyed some educational adj
vantages. She was about 40 years old
and her face bore the traces OF intcm-
perance and exposure.
The reckless camp follower finally
went too far and presumed too much