The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-23
HOW THE COLONEL DIED

The siege of Atlanta had opened and
was progressing in good earnest be-
fore the old colonel knew what was
going on. He was too old for active
4 service and he remained at home with
his daughter and his grandchildren,
leaving his sons and his son-in-law 10
represent him in the field.
When the first shell exploded in the
1 city the colonel was at the dinner table
That is a SHE'LL he remarked
! quietly, and it fell within half a mile
of this house."
The children screamed and their
mother turned pale.
Are We in much danger?" the mat
ron asked
That is a hard question TO answer"
replied the colonel; but l do not mind
saying that we should prepare for the
worst. have often told you about the
Smelling of Vera Cruz. We poured a
hot fire into the city, but when we en-
tered it l was surprised TO find how
few we had killed.
But, grandpa" said little Tommy,
You did kill some, didn't you?"
oh, yes" answered the old snan,
quite number of the citizens were
killed. After the surrender saw blood
stains on the walls of my ROOM 1t
been
killed there"
At this Tommy set up a doleful howl,
which was swelled by a chorus from
the other children.
9 Q 3
But this is nothing" said the colo
mel, rising from his chair and going
TO the window. We must expect a few
shells. Possibly there viii be a siege,
but 1t cannot last long. You know that
&c 70 n . h.
way. We want TO get the invaders as
far as possible from their base of sup
plies"
Yes. 1 see' said his daughter.
thoughtfully, but don't you think that
we have drawn the federals far enough
in this direction"
"Ah,' said the veteran. with a smile,
you do not understand the Fabian
policy. Now, r.
IF we lead the federals on until they
cover the country" said the lady, lit
seems to me that they will have the
hest. Of it,
"Nonsense," blurted out the colonel.
You women know nothing of the art
of war. and it is well that YOU don't.
Never talk in that way again One
would think that you were disloyal to
the confederacy."
OF course, you know best" respond
ed the little woman. meekly; lit is all
a horrible business to me. and 7 hope
that it will soon be over. But how are
we to protect ourselves from the
shells?''
Leave that to me-" answered the
colonel. My experience at Vera Cruz
is worth something. The MeXicans dug
pits with bOmbprOof> roofs, and the
women and children found them very
good shelter. 1 am going TO have one
dug at once"
In spite of his IS years. the old gen
tleman left the room with the brisk
step of man who proposed to take a
hand in the defense of the city.
His residence was an old-fashioned
mansion, in a retired quarter of the
town. The prospect of a siege created
the widest excitement and in a short
time thousands of citizens were at
work digging bomb-proofs. Under the
coloners instructions. a large pit was
dug in the shape of an L" 1t was
not ready for occupation until the fol-
lowing day, but when it was finished
its hill-shaped top, covered with al
ternate layers of clay, timber and bar
iron, inspired confidence.
For six weeks the little family had
to occupy this underground retreat a
good portion of the time. Sometimes a
rain of shells aroused them from their
slumbers in the house and sent them
TO the cave. All except
the colonel. The Mexican war veteran
showed no alarm. When he went into
the dugout he always made it point
to say that he was there merely to
keep his daughter and grandchildren
from feeling uneasy.
4: @ G.
1T is a waste of time to lay siege to
this city he said one day. Our posi-
ton is almost impregna bic. and in a