New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
PAGE CLUB MEETING.
VIRGINIA WOMEN TELL PATHETIC ANEC.
DOTES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
GENERAL SHERMAN WOULD PRESERVE THE
UNION IF 1T TOOK EVERY CHICKEN IN THE

SOUTH TO DO IT-OTHER STORIES.
recent meeting OF the Page Club at North Post
Office Va took place at the home OF "shut-in'
there who Is invalid from spinal complaint.
She was carried from her room to the parlor on
a comfortable pallet on which she lay. smiling
happily upon her guests. After the usual routine
OF business finished. including the reading OF
selections from the Sunshine column. Household
Talks" etc. the most interesting topic Of the
Woman's Page seemed TO be the war news. as II
recalled 80 many memories OF the late war 10 the
older members OF the club. No papers were read,
but informal talks were given by the members.
each speaking short time and relating some
anecdote Renaissance OF the dark days
The evacuation Of Richmond was pathetically told
by a member who has suffered the saddest OF ex-
periences. These are her words:
After our dear beautiful home was sacked BY
the Northern soldiers and everything taken we
went to Norfolk. We did not stay there long but
wandered from town to town, always fleeing from
the dreaded soldiers till went to Richmond 1t
seemed the last and only place for us to go TO
find rest and shelter. on a Sunday morning soon
after our arrival, were attending services ut
church jefferson Davis sitting in a pew near
us. The Governor OF Virginia and several states
men were also there. During the service an aide
de-camp entered and whispered something to Mr.
Davis, and he and the Governor both rose ana
left the church. We felt that something important
had occurred. and soon the alarm bells began 10
ring Nearly all the congregation kept their seats
with the exception Of few who followed MI
Davis.
when reached home my mother told me that
Richmond was to be evacuated that night snail
never forget her sad hopeless expression when she
told me the dread She tod me not 10 tel as
the evacuation must be kept secret 0ooh
neighbor came In to tell the news ana we i'ui
Il was generally known throughout the CITY al.
our friends were going but could not; we ha'
rctreated and retreated until there was not an!
place for US TO go Every one demonstrated with
ug saving We knew what to expect from YANKEE
soldiers but mother said that We must bear what
ever comes as had nowhere to go; so We S'd!e''
and OH what night 1t was Dear lrlen"S run
ming I'm 10 say goodby with their lltte al ueu up
ia bundles and carried In their hands' Hish''h'u
slaves alarm bells ringing. crowds hurryihe
through the streets. women and children cryhs'
strong men weeping But when the Yankees came
,ve ,..r. uumolested: We had nothing to complain
Of from our captors We were treated win k'u-
ness and consideration. But an 'le H'''
could not give bach - US our beloved "oi"e anu
friends and lost fortunes
Another member said:
"our homestead vas sacked by the Yankees they
oven took our toothbrushes. but We stayed In our
house one Of our most trusted house servants
my mothers maid. Judy went to her room ""''c
We were at dinner and stole her SILK dresses 'O'
and diamonds besides other valuaDies oh ne'
way 70 the Yankee gunboa, iylns IN the river she
dropped bundle OF laces. when was 'e'oNe'''
Here are pieces Of them now
we could not get any news Of Judy we sent
. flag OF truce To- Fortress Monroe to try and trace
her and recover the goods. but no one hAd seen hef
Later a report came from Norfolk That coIo'eu
erI I'm town was washing for the soldiers. dressed
In silks ami diamonds. and we had no uo"o' '"'
gayly attlr.d laundress was the traitor JUDY
Another member said she was h;tlc trI "nen
h. sol Hers came 10 nrI pih"NN''''' -
she was so frightened that sAe dld no, M ",S
coherent recollection OF the event, but Oh 'h.le
car one Of her fathers slaves. described ne wen.
often and so sraph'cal'y 20 h'' ''"' NV '''
give the descript on IN his WORDS I'll, , -
va Nil sally De plnntashun wa es stu es
sunday mawin. an all ! VA studin po"t wa wa. q
hol. | gwync ter stop up In de chicken-coop' "Heh
Halo. old man: wa yo' swwyns dQ h.e an
an va scared to dcr. but say: ...-o ,,,o
D.. ain gwyne 10 muffin but stop up dis yere hoIe
LOOK over yander.' An look. an de I.awd
ha, mercy! never see SO many men; dey w W.,
an ober in dc wheathed dey wa stan IN eS ,n.ch
lie wheat. an In de lane iey wa 'cH rs I'm
hoax; | thought my time had come an de day oD
jrigemen wa right now | thought dey swyne 10
'LnwI "a mercy. | say to de soldiers. Of" Uncle
car. is ready for dc jedsemen, sure 'n?u tar saw
How dem Yanke" blu"coats hugh an 'e? say
"''Taint no day OBJ Judgement 20 ole iool, VIZ
he's come arfter rations: yo' Incident put no o9ard
hy night An what he tell WAS de troof Ms
sally .i.re wasent much rs n sic" o bacon lei
ON DAT plantation by night Young Tnlssus. yo
mud'ier. Mis- sally. begged an begged dat cnlnu
Ter one cow fer lie little chiiluns. yo hruiiers an
sisters Mis- Sally but lie culnu he say ms ordrtS
wAs - tote cbcryting away, ne couldn Ieao ho.n-
In an he gave money 20 young mls'us, OUT size
rev I, right on lie groun' an stamped on IL
What good IL money? say she. / kyaht puy
no'hin'. / want milk fer my babies:
Den my ole aunt Dinah bused dem soldiers, an
ono oh dem he done raise his han an ne smack
nrr right obcr. Den vas turruble mad; an
viii a hig stick In my han. an studied now
.,vvn. ter hit en-. cause hit en- - dcy shot me
laid fer H. when | see De cunul say sompn 10 dat
soldier an h. turn old Molly Moody cow outen &c
hcrI an s.t her loose In de lane an she de hes
mllch cow in de lot: den put down my stick an
back to young missus an she bust outen cryin
an put her pretty white arms roun Molly Mooy =
neck an den | busted outen cryln. cause dem Httle
chilluu was hccgin' fer dey suppcrs. and dere was
10Y SINNERS IS fast es could milk ole Moody COW
2 don't nrbhcr want 20 see no war times aslh
Mis- Molly cause deys de awfullest times dat cher
was.
usually pad for rations taken. hut money was not
useful when there was nothing 10 buy; hut taxing
ratio rcmintrd her OF "a story told or General
sherman Will. on his march through Georgia to the
al His army cut of from It's base OF supplies.
cleared ont every arder and poultry yard that came
IN their way. one man complained bitterly to the
General about the loss Of his chickens. and the
General answered.
II am very sorry. my good Sir, but can't help
~ The Union must and shall be preserved, II II
takes every chicken I'm the South TO DO It."
This ancrdotr closed the war "reminiscences, which
had c.t few eyes undmmed.