The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-27

no' 'hey are SllehC ana tread lightly
and hurry, hurry, hurry. Tho most
solemn and desolate place that was
ever on oarth, l believe, was baltic
fold whom the armies had gone.
| had seen these things and folt
tho solemnity long before tho con
script act went up to my age, and so
you may bo suro that my steps wore
not overly port whom 1 found my
self hobbling out old Wheat street,
of Atlanta, looking for tho Georgia
melish. AS l moved along roditat-
ing and solemn an old confederate
overlook mo and was going out my
way. The soldier was in no way
backward and at once began to con-
verse. Said he:
~"Old man do you live in Atlanta7"
l told him that I did not, and that
| wished to the Lord I could never
have seen the place, but that tho
conscript oGIcers would have mo
to visit tho city, and had turned mo
loose to find the militia without
anything to eat and that I was we'll
nigh starved to death for bread and
sleep. My remarks ticklod the sol
dior and he laughed, but | failed to
500 any laughing matter in it.
"You don't know tho ropes" he
said, after a few minutes walk in
silence.
"You shall not perish if you will
stick to me-" he went on, and be-
fore had timo to think .ho had
opened gate and pulled mo up to
the door Of nice house. A fine
young lady opened tho door and the
soldier at once asked for something
to eat. She invited us in, gave It's
chairs and retired to fix the table for
rs good dinner as 1 had soen
during tho wpr. 1t was only fcw
minutes till tho young lady returned
and told us to walk in to dinner and
wo walkod-I was mighty active just
then.
Two confederate officers had Just
proceeded us and were already seated
at the table. Ono Of theso was a
colonel on furlongh from tho Virginia
army, and the other was a majcr in
tho commissary department of John
ston's army. They at once began to
argue about the leaders of the two
armies, and it pretty soon grow to be
little warmer than it should have
been under tho circumstances and at
such a place.
"Why, sir" said tho colonel warm
ly, "Josoph E. johnson used to com
mand the army in Virginia, and it
was rotroat, retreat, retreat. He ro-
treated all tho time"
"Ho saved his mon though" re-
torted the major.
"Savod the devil" said the colonel,
"ho dribbled them all along from
Yorktown to Seven Pines md would
have dribbled them all away if Lee
had not takon his place. Whom Lee
took command the yankoos could
800 tho flags on tho capitol at Rich
mond."
"They would never have got any
Closer" said the major. "Ho would
have pretty soon dono McClolland
just like he is going to do old Shor-
man now in fow days. You needn't
be afraid about Atlanta; no harm will
como to hor, and the Virginia army
folks will quit Dragging hope"
Tho major looked over at tho
ladies and smiled, end / think ho
would have winkod, but before ho
could fix his eyo there camo a."
"Boom! boom! boom" and a shell
came whizzing over like shuck was
tied to it.
Everybody ran away from tho
table but mo and the old soldier. |
would have run but the old soldier
hold mo down till wo had eaton moro
than | had ever sock eaten before by
two mon, and tho soldier fillod his
havcrsack, remarking rs we started
to loavo and ho cut his oyo at the
contents Of the tablo--
"Gncss they will think We told
them the truth abont being hungry