The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
ASOUTHERN WAR EPISODE.
DIsTB Ess OF THE TIMES as A UNI0R
OFFICER FOUND II.

Done BY Union soiaicrs In n southern Tewns
This incident of tho civil war occurred 81
Huntsville, Ala, after Gen. Crook had taken
possession Of the town in November, 1868. The
scene was a homestead whose owners had fed
before tho advancing Union troops. leaving be-
hind them, among other property. q score OF
slaves. The Union officer placed In charge OF
the town installed himself in this homestead
and hired one of the former slaves. an old and
very important woman, TO look after his COM
fort. To him she came one day looking more
than usually important.
"Massn Kurnel, dah's a lady in dc yahd what
wants to SOC you." Bho said.
Ask her to walk in.' replied the Colonel.
81 did, massa, but she say 'scuse her, she only
want to speak a word at de gate"
"who is shc2"
"She Mrs. Gov. Clay, de biggest lady in Dc
town."
The lady was the wife of n former Governor,
| the mother of a former United States senator
, and a momber Of one Of the most distinguished
families in Alabama She was waiting ct the
gate because she would not enter the house
while q Union officer occupied II and q blue uni.
formed guard was pacing in front OF II. Learn
ing that she was aged the officer went to the
lawn and there met a very small. digniied lady
who, without preliminarieV said:
my reason for disturb ! q you, cir. II thist
Some OF your soldiers are tearing down the
fence around our garden and carrying away
the boards. This leaves our homo exposed to
intrusions Of all kinds and subjects us to great
annoyance. l desire to ask that tho destruction
be stopped and further annoyance of the kind
be prevented"
Madam, the destruction of private property
is in violation of orders, and / will see that
your fence is replaced"
THANK you. Good evening""
Good evening, madam. Allow me-" ana
stepping forward tho officer held open the gate
while the lady passed through and disappeared
in the cleaning.
The fence was repaired; q few days went by
with the ordinary routine of military duty, and
then.the dark mistress OF the household again
announced that de sady wanted to see do
Kurnel In do yard" AS soon as the officer made,
his appearance Mrs. Clay began: +
Sir, my last servants, enticed, I believe, By
persons connected with your army. left me to-
day. and my condition is most distressing. My
husband is ill-unable to leave his bed. and I
am left entirely alone in midwinter. You can.
not realize the terrible situation in which I am
placed. and it Is humiliating to have to annoy
you with a purely personal complaint. VIII
you send my servants back to mei' i
Madam" replied the officer. 81 do not claim
they are orderly and peaceable. but I will en-.
deavor to persuade your servants to return.
from the army to leave their Il homes. and they
will not be permitted to accompany it whom 70
Again the gate was held open, salutations
mmrmured. and the lady faded away.
w~ifeNwere easily found among the throne that
without 2 snlt e thought y OF Tomorrow ITO were tasting
his ' owne sFS'' PERSONAL Gs rpsSo attend ans % %na has hs P @ife
her mistress maid, but the changed times had
these two had, from necessity. been compelled
to perform more and more labors until they had
become disconnected and abandoned their
home, They were easily DerSuDdcd to return
when told that they could not accompany the
A brief interval and then the old servant in.
terruptcd. her elaborate preparation of supper
one day TO- announce that "do lady was in dc
She was waited upon promptly. for her age.
p pealed dee to- fSs ss sma her OF %' tho Tnion of of,a aP.
She was evidently, distressed, to an unusual do
sFss sc n nosd sR not ts Ti's so s1p Sir e" sSe ssia. shew this
war has broTfh, suffering and misery to the
ton. We are unable. even when we have
Of af0" sy to are BUY lett as' e eniissiy' ~ IF i'5S; "R Ssn p'e &
any kind. because all the men OF our
f" ami left are SimS sTa alone A. with haze a Sea sfia nG s%s,
band. my sons all being in the service Of the
tdh1 at, nntii the i resent slit e %iStsr, ne 7 never IL I !1 put yo ON.
my own stockings or shoes, but now | am
fT9hmPfs aHsr to w BE q TO s esE N Won nurse Is in efve Sys Ing
knows how reluctantly I ask IT! My shoes are
tEo cold 5hr FroSnd and Could ! am vS SSt1 sSRS y T SmHES % 9a
havc-it is all We have to offer-and in return
R GSo~ WITH f0r wR ne a 70 fai na 81 sh1 %s T S%s s lsi!s T ybea-
matte limbsi This is the only thing that giSes
hi The pe nsaie asa ! a on aP Snasv to % pt tSe arm 1T" wa,
f sffpl% nssScd hut ort,c the n assTGaR nc WA was given eg,t that a
like those that had preceded 1T.
,,g The reEimGntal and post .; qTeT rte .
Christian and, the resources of a Yankee, was
sent for and tho situation laid before him.
MY 0f rpIrGa tho nld lady En6 hlaaa haR
shall have al she want IT," he bs" cSxc iig" sie'' " IN;
sutler Is going to Nashville Tomorrow and he'll
!. lots Of It i ihS hospital depaTtment:S
shoes and several bottles Of whiskey. and mix cd
up in the packages handed out from the ambu:
other things not to be found in the shops and
stores Of that little Southern city.
; Union '" soldiers excited BY this incident ana
} Others of a similar kind, with the women and
> made destitute by tho exigencics Of war. that
tseE repaired Gorn d. and %.n stS5tf fIon a 4 s1Gf aanrt mill nIn,t to
{ who needed 1t. A. coal mine was r%eopenod in
. took needed Exercise hauling fuel to many
homes. Officers and men worked cheerfnlly
An account Of these distributions was kept
ana i still in exisiGnee: As the service was
Government nothing, no return or report was
. But. war prevailed in other localities If peace
spread its wings md distributed Its blessings
for n time here. and orders came for the troops
to move. When their immediate departure
was announced another summons came to tn 0
commander to meet Mrs. Clay ut The gate.
81 hear yon are going away she said, 'and
! want 10 thank You for your Blindness 10 ma
v and to orr people. Ever since this war began I
> have prayed night and morning for the succesR
' of our cause for 7 believed it was right and God
n would favor Il. Rut now I confess I am Begin
t. ni,g to do, hi whether He does favor il. ALSO
n vowed that I never again would give my hand
u in friendship to n man whO worc the blue uni.
t form. Tint vow ! take back. ! nm mn old
woman and viii never see You again. hut my
SONS shall know OF Your kindness. VIII you
shake hands with mc'"
The rising sun Of the following morning saw
tho long lines of cavalry moving away. As
Gcn. Crooks-Rftorwar fnInons ms the great
u Indian nLh'cr-wa" m0urtirg his horse in front
d OF the MOTEL where hehah made hishendnnorters
o he said 10 the officer who had been in command