The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-07-28
4 ROMANCE Of WAR.
The Scene Laid Near Smithfield.
Johnston County.
HOW THE CONFEDERATE SOL
nIERS SAVED HER VALU-
ABLES.
SHE WAS MARRIED THREE TINES.
She Still Lives Near Smithfeld Re-
tanning Much Of Her
Beauty.
SHE WAS MARRIED THREE TINES.
Asheville Citizen.

Asheville Citizen
When the struggle at arms between
the North and tho South was nearing
the end-when, in fact, the end was
but few weeks off-Johnston' army
encamped in the neighborhood of
Smithfeld, in Johnston county, n. c..
When 1t became known that the Fed
eral troops would invade the country
thereabouts to engage the Confederates,
the fact gave much anxiety to the
Widow Kitchener, beautiful young
woman whose splendid estate and
chests of plate would have been covet
ed booty for the conquering army.
The house-it was a mansion" in
these days-stood about two miles
south by southeast of Smithfeld. 1t
was an Imposing structure, colonial in
| style, with great columns and the dou-
| bic porch that was Il feature of the
more pretentious architecture OF those
days. It was one of the most notable.
houses OF the whole country side, and
had for years been the scene of many
gay assembIage of the bellies and
beaux of the county. 1t is related that
when its builder, Agrippa Mltchener,
had his housewarming there was eel
ebratlon that lasted three days and
nights. A band was brought from
Go1dsboro and the entertainment was
Of such elaborate character that it was
for years looked back to as a great
event IN the country's social history.
Such. then, was the place Of which
the Widow Kitchener was mistress at
the time the events here related took
place. Fearing that the Federals
would confscate all her valuables, Mrs.
Kitchener appealed to the Confederates
to aid her in the dilemma. The re-
quest was granted, and a detail of IL
men, under command of Lieutenant
]. C. Carter, of a Georgia company, was
ordered to protect the property. They
pitched tents and remained there for
some weeks. After a consultation 1t
was decided that the best thing to be
done was to hide the money, jewels
and silver where the eyes OF the SOL
diers OF the hostile army would not
be likely to discover them. But how?
The details were left to Lieutenant
Carter, and the result showed how
thoroughly the work was done. The
secret was confided only to the detail,
1t being thought inadylsable to entrust
1t to the servants. Selecting a favor
able night, Lieutenant Carter. and his
men dug a hole in an obscure
part of the barn, each shovel
full of earth being deposited up
on blanket that there might be no
trace left for prying eyes. The men
conveyed thither all OF the valuables of
the mansion, and having deposited
them in the hole, the earth Was replac,
ed and carefully stamped, the surplus
being carried some distance into the
wood and scattered to the winds.
The task was not completed till we'll
nigh dawn, and then there remained
l6 bushels OF wheat to be slowed away.
The plans had been we'll laid, however,
and the disposition OF the grain was
soon accomplished. The huge col
umns on the porches Of the mansion
we're hollow, and through hole forced
at the top the wheat was poured into
the columns, the last place a searcher
would expect to find what he sought.
Next morning a test OF the thorough
ness of the work was made when Mrs.
Kitchener, who knew nothing of the
location of the valuables, endeavered
to find them. After long search she
gave it up as impossible, and then was
given directions whereby the property
might be found when the cruel war
was over.
Not long afterwards the Northern
troops came, and little later the bat
tie of Bentonsville, one of the last OF
the war, was fought, and Lieutenant
Carter was surrendered with Johnston's
forces.
For more than 80 years Lieutenant
Carter. living at Atlanta, had heard no
word of one of the principal actors in
the incident, and did not even know
whether the property had been recov-
erei, although it frequently recurred
to him when in a reminiscent mood.
Last week he came to Ashevll!e to VS.
it his daughter, Mrs. Frank Carter.
While here he met DR.. NJ. G. Mlllen.
der, and in conversation he learned
that the doctor had lived in Johnston
county, and the story was related. DR..
Millender knew Mrs. Kitchener, and