Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-16
A FEDERAL SOLDIER ASKS FOR
IMPORTATION.
PROTECTED TWO FAMILIES.
TILE CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN
KEPT HIS PROMISE.
IN THE LAST SAD DAYS.
Tho Occupation of FarmviIIc by the
Enemy's Troops-Pickett Mt Get
ty.Iurx-His Disfress-A Memorable
Incident-The Phantom Fleet.
Omaha. Neb. August 8.

Omaha, Neos august . 1870
To the Editor Of the Dispatchi
Thlrty-two years ago the Hth Of last
June Oath of June, 1850 was detailed
with Lieutenant w. S. shanahar on the
rear guard OF Grants army on its way 10
Petersburg from Cold Harbor and was
cut or and captured by Confederate cav
airy before we could reach the James
river. Before we were captured we were
hurrying up the straggers and trying as
much as possible TO keep them from rob
hing and destroying what little there was
left In the houses along the line Of march,
and &. is Of two of these houses that
wish 10 speak, as the inmates saw us
after our capture. and tried in every way
they could 70 obtain our release.
The first OF these houses We came to
YVES large three-story plantation house,
with brick or stone q forget which, for
tho first story, and large veranda run
ming all around the house at the second
and third stories. ~ a distance We saw
soldiers swarming into the house and
hurried forward to drive them out. We
went Up the steps TO the first veranda,
and into large hail. Hearing voices at
the right. 1 looked in and saw one Of our
mon standing in front OF a woman Of
about g. who held little girl Of about
; or 10 years Of age on her lap, and had
another young girl Of about Is kneeiing
~ her side. The soldier wanted n key
to a kind of glass cabinet that stood in
Dne corner of the room. and the lady
With toe-3 in her eyes was saying that
thege was nothing IN H. only some lemons
that a neighbor had given her daughter
the day before. and that her daughter had
the key, and IL she wanted 10 give IL
to him she could do so. The soldier
turned to the kneeling girl and demanded
the Key, which she refused 10 give Up.
lie threatened TO knock her in the head
and destroy the cabinet and l don't
know what else. but the girl still refused
ard he was about 10 carry some Of his
many threats into execution, when l
stepped in and ordered him out, at the
same time trying 70 shame him for such
sonduct. and begged the womans par
eon for him, and assured her that we
were not all like him.
SAVED THE COW.
Tho next house was about a half mile
towards the James river. IL was e large
frame house OF two and a half or three
stories IN heighth. had fine hedge around
Il, and ditch outside Of the hedge with
bridge across the ditch. There were
Tsveral small barns or outbuidings and
m old lady with seven beautiful daugh-
sers. the youngest about 30 or u, and the
oldest about IS. were IN the house. The
lest-named seemed TO be about gone with
consumption. We drove a crowd o. SOL
iiers out of this house. and while
I was busy hustling a crowd Of them
down stairs one Of the girls came run
ming up and said that some az the soldiers
was driving off their COW, which was all
they had 10 live on now, and asked me
II would not make them bring the cow
back. hurried out the back
door and found the soldiers Just
making of with the COW and
made them put II back In the yard
and move on. Then came back INTO the
house and asked the mother IL thew had
anything TO eat in the house. She said:
20, sir. YOU have been so good. please
don't spoil II all by taking what little
we have left We have a little bacon and
some hard tack in the cellar. but not
enough TO last us three days" / told
Der that was fartherest from my thoughts
IS ! enquired only 10 supply them with
enough TO keep them until they could
get something from some other source
20 keep them from Starving. / gave them
all the grub had. and coffee. sugar. and
tea-ih fact, emptied my hayersack.
CUT OFF.
remember the young lady that was
hex eid; 80, dear, tea! / have beef
eying for drink OF tea for two years"
Well. before got away from this
mouse q lot OF our men came running
back, saying ''we are cut Off" Shana-
han and ! got the men together as best
we could. but the Confederate cavalry
charged down on Us and we had to give
In. After our capture they lined us
up IN the road and brought US up 70
the drawbridgc that led into the yard.
The girls came out. and when they saw
that we We're among the prisoners,
they insisted fhat we be paroled,
telling what we had done for them. SC,
&c. In the mean tiae their brother had
some In from some hiding place. and on
learning what we had done FOR his folks,
Joined In with the girls and asked the
faptain 10 parole us IL remember that the
brother had crippled HAND, but the cap
tain said he could do nothing without
hrst taking Us 70 their commanding officer,
sut would take US before the general and
tell him what We had done, and ask the
general 70 do all ne could for our release.
On our coming back to the next house
1.-THE one that we visited iraD the woman
and her children were ont AT the GA "a and