Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-12-03
CONFEDERATE SAL.

Confederat-s 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 tlcy We're a law unto
themselves.
While they were in camp at this place
woman who had followed the army for
months gave the officers considerable trou-
BILE.
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 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 patience of the officers would
give way and the brazen adventures
would be sent 20 miles away and left in
the woods in the hope that she would never
return. 1t was useless to resort to such
mild methods. After a few days absence
Sal would return with new outfit and
would remain until she got into disgrace
again.
Nobody could learn anything of her past
history. She invented SO 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 Wi known as n disreputable
character in several Confederate cities. No
matter who he might have been in the
past, the soldiers looked upon her as a holy
terror, and her evil fame spread into the
Federal lines. where it was reported that
she had strayed upon more than one occa-
sion.
In the course of time Confederate Sal
became a Nexatious problem to both
armies. Ore party OF Confederates
seized her while she WAS drunk and carried
her into the federal camps, whore they left
her The wrttrhcd creature was discover
ed the next cay ty the Federals and was
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 guur,house, whipped and
Threatened with death, but all to no pur-
pose. Generals and colonels used to fly
from her as they would from Il cyclone.
Her temper was furious beyond descrip-
ton. 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 officers had a
susl lCion that she was Il spy of the enemy.
There WAS no proof, however, and she
could not be disposed of upon this pretext.
sal was not "a beauty, but when she was
at her best she was u dashing woman, a
daring rider, and when she was sober her
conversation showed that she had enjoyed
some educational advantages She was
about 10 yualrs old, and her face bore the
traces of incompetence and exposure.
The reckless camp follower finally went
too far and resumed TO much upon the
t forbearance of the brays men whom she
had annoyed beyond endurance
She had N 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 respectable family some
distance down the river She was dressed
better than ever, was well supplied with
money and claimed to be the wife of ole
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 for
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 off with
great difficulty by the family.
Mrs. General then got mad and turned
her tongue loose She Mortified the in
mates of the cottage by dancing the cancan
and wound up with the announcement
that she was Confederate sal.
When the news of these high links