Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-08

Hi'"lS VIII be here from Richmond In
time to restore the lines?'
mo. SIR"
Then you will have TO give US up?"
Yes. SIR" and he added: "Give my
KIND regards 10 Mrs. n. and the little
girls"
There was a strange atmosphere about
that Sunday. The usual Sabbath routine
was obseryed-the table laid for the din
ner we were not destined TO eat. and we
httle ones looked on with interest as the
COOK placed the plump fowl on the dairy
shet ready for cooking when the proper
time arrived. But beneath the surface
CAIN quivering dread was concealed.
The inner Notifications were only about
half mile from our house, and as morn
ing advanced the firing grew louder and
nearer. and 81 became apparent that we
would probably need some safe place or
retreat. After n hasty discussion, the
potato-cellar was prepared and stored
with food and other necessaries. we chill
dren tOiling up and down the steep stair
way with our especial treasures. the
most precious Of ali being basket Of
kittens.
But we were interrupted by several
Confederate officers. who rode up and
I told my mother we must leave the house
at once. When she objected, saying she
would rather remain While the roof was
left standing. they replied that the chill
drn must so anyway, and that there was
not moment 10 lose. Take those chill
dren," they ordered the nurse, and she
obeyed in such haste that she let us go
bonnetless. A few minutes before, my
father had sent my younger brother with
wagon and horses TO cross the river
into Chesterfield he was arrested, and
fnV al dos 20
his fate. and lie thought we had been
killed. But we were guarded by the shield
Of Providence that day, else had we been
killed twenty times" for in crossing the
open field We were targets for friends
and foes.
IT all seemed like n wild dream, the
bursting shells and whiZzing bullets one
shell fell at my sisters feet, and did not
burst. Mother had followed us; first
with a housekeeper's instinct Selling her
key-basket, in her excitement not
realizing that in a few hours nothing
would remain-neither locks nor anything
to be locked. We reached the pontoon
bridge just as Il was being taken up. and
We're the last persons who were allowed
10 cross. one Of the soldiers carrying me
over in his arms. lie is still living, and
sent me a message some time since that
he distinctly recalled the occasion. The
day was spent IN the deserted soldiers
: camp I'm Chesterfield. and at sunset we
recrossed the river on Campbelis bridge,
and spent the night with friends in
Petersburg. War develops nerve. and
endurance. Not child dreamed Of
complaining, though our shoes had been
cut TO pieces in the scramble through
briers and over stones. and our feet were
covered with blood and bruises.
On Monday morning we started homo,
and were just in sight Of our house when
the flames burst from the Turnbuil house.
My father FASTENED on in advance. and
found several Federal officers standing on
our porch in the act Of leaving He APP
pealed to the one who seemed In COM
mand. asking him to protect the house.
saying that we had been driven away
by the battle the day before and had no
other shelter. Certainly, sir" was the
reply, ''your house shall not be burned
while we are here; but we have to leave
at once. and the Lord only knows what
viii become of you then" We always
found the Federal officers extremely
courteous, and. in some instances. kind
ness itself: the outrages and pillaging
were the work OF the struggling soldiers
and camp-followers. A few days later
one Of these stragglers was discovered
in the act Of firing the house. and was
driven Off by n Federal officer. who most
opportunely rode up just in time.
We found desolatiOn utter and com
plcte within and without. Cannon had
been planted at the parlor windows and
near the door were new-made graves,
where the dead had been hastily buried.
The house had been used for hospital,
and the floors Were slippery with blood and
grease. Not vestige OF cloth remained,
or, rather only unusable morsels and
fragments were left. Everything nova
BILE had been carried off. and the heavy
furniture broken. We pulled open bu-
reau-drawer, and there lay our beloved
kittens with their threats cut; even now
/ can feel the bitterness Of that moment
Remnants OF the pink challie were found
in tho ice-house. We lived on the hard
tack picked up on the battlefield until
Captain Langdon, commander Of a bril-
uEzs.