The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-16
AN ENEMY OF YANKEES.
A Southern Woman whs Complained
to Grant.


to Grant.
General Horace Porter gives many
amusing pictures of army life in his
series Of papers ON "Csmpaign with
Grant, now running in the Century. lie
tells the following story Of the cam
paign on the North Anna In the Febru-
ary Century: When i rccrossed the river
and returned to headquarters In the
evening, found General Grant sitting
in frcnt of mis- tent smokinR q cigar and
anxious to hear the report ss to the ex-
tent Of the damage to the railroad. About
the time 1 finished relating to him what
had been accomplished, an old woman
who, occupied q small house near by
strolled over to headquarters, apparently
bent upon having q friendly chat with
the commander of the Yankee srmie.
Ihe number of questions she asked show
ed that she was not lacking in the
quality OF curiosity which IL sup
posed to be common to her sex. She wore
an old fashioned calico dress about six
inches too short, with the sleeves rolled
up to the elbows. She had a nose SO
sharp that IL looked as IL II had been
caught in the crack of a door, and small
gray eyes that twinkled and snapped as
she spoke.
She began by nodding q fam ilisr ''How
do you do?" to the general, ana saying
In q voice which squeaked like the high
notes of an Il fiat clarinet with a soft reed !:
81 believe you command all these h'yah
Yankees that are comm down h'yah and
cavortin' round over this whole section
Of country" The general bowed an
assent and she continued: m powerful
glad General Lee has been lickin' you
ali from the Rapidan cl'ah down h'ynh,
and that now be g got you jes wn'ah he
wants you."
Then she drew up q camp-chair along
side the general, seated herself on 1t. and
| finding that her remarks seemed to be re-
ceived good nsturedly, grew still more
familiar, and went on to say: "Yes, and
afo' long Lee'll be s-chasin' you-sll up
through PenDsylvany se'in. Was you up
thah in Pennsylvsny when he got aftah
you-all lest summer" The general had
great difficulty in keeping his face
straight as he replied: "Well, no;
wasn't there myself. 1 had some busi-
ness in another direction" lie did not
explain to her that Vicksburz was at
thar time commanding something of bis
attention. Said she: 81 notice our bows
got away with lois of 'sm Conestoga
hossss up thab, and they brought lots
of 'sm back with 'em. We've got pretty
good show Of 'em round this section of
country, and they're jes the best draft
horses you ever see. Hope the boys'll get
up than ag in soon, IN bring back some
more of 'em."
The general kept on moking his cigar,
and was greatly amused by the converse
tion. After little while the woman went
back to her house, but returned later, and
said: "See h'yah; I'm all alone in my
house, and am kinder skeersd. / expect
them Yankee soldiers of yourn'll steal
everything have and murder me afo'
morning, IL you don't give me some pro-
tection." son." replied the general,
"we'll see that you are not hurt" and
turning to Lieut.. Dunn Of the staff, he
said: "Dunn,y you had better GO and stay
in the old lsdy's house tonight. You can
proba bly, make yourself more comforts bic
here than in camp anyhow; and don't
want her to be frightened"
Dunn followed the ofi woman rather
reluctantly to her house, and played guar
dian angel until the next morning.