The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-08-13


a plan was made for the escape of Miss
Sue from quarters that were beginning to
be rather warm for her.
Mother and my aunt went as usual to
the dancing class, and to all inquiries con-
corning Miss Sue they replied that she was
at home with headache. In reality that
interesting young person was booted and
spurred and waiting for the appointed
time to dash by the pickets and start on
his 40 mile ride to Louisville.
Near the end of the lesson there was
the sound of hurried footsteps on the stairs
and in moment Sue Mundy came
hurriedly into the room. For some reason
there were no Yankees present. In few
words he told of how he had tried to pass
the pickets, had been fired on and jumped
from his horse and hid in the bushes by
the roadside and saw the Yankees go by in
hot pursuit of his frightened horse, which
was making straight for the farm from
which it had been bought few days bt-
fore. Sue Mundy then waited till their
hoof beats grew faint, and then under
cover of the darkness he made his way TO
the dancing school. Finding the coast
clear, he had come up, knowing that all
the dancing people were southern sympa-
thizers and would do all they could for
him.
They quickly formed their plans, the
only thing they could have done under the
circumstances. They had him lie down
under one OF the benches at the far end OF
the room, while two or three Of the girls sat
directly over him and spread their volum.
inous skirts so as to completely hide his
recumbent figure.
In short time several Yankees came in
and stood talking near the door. There
WAS nothing in the appearance of the room
to indicate that there was spy concealed.
Two sets of young folks were going through
the stately measures of the lancers, with
the little Frenc hwoman, who was the
teacher, at the piano, nodding and calling
the figures to them. Down at the end OF
the room was group Of girls laughing and
talking. The music came to stop and
the dancers crowded around the girls at
the far end of the room. The Yankees
left, as the lesson was over. Then Sue
Mundy came from his hiding place. Sew
eral of the girls took off a skirt apiece and
rugged him out. With cloak and fascina-
tor he passed the Yankees at the foot OF
friend and in the early morning eluded the
pickets and started on his ride for Louis
vile, where he was captured and hanged
a. a spy.
It was, | believe, some time aiterward
that this apron again met with an adven-
ture. One day two ragged, footsore Con-
federates came to grandmother seeking
food and shelter, They had been cut off
from their company, which had passed
through the adjacent country few days
before. OF course they were fed and lod
ged in an outhoUse.
They had not been long concealed when
grandmother got word that a squad Of
cavalry who had been securing the country
for stragglers were headed for her place.
1t was too late for the Johnnes to escape
Clearly something had - be done at once.
The Johnnies would be found, and grand
mother and the girls would be arrested
probably. Grandmother went to the out
house and laid the matter before the two
men. They were unarmed, while grand
mothers arsenal consisted OF rusty old
musket.
Mother proposed plan, which was car.
ried out successfully. She and her younger
sister had often mustered with their cousins
and other neighbors boys. They had
always been the fife and drum corps.
There was dense plum thioket not far
from the house. A queer procession headed
for it in little while. There was grand
mother, my two aunts, mother, the two
Johnnies and the negro cook. Mother car
red her fife in one hand and this apron in
another, while my aunt had drum.
Mother tied her apron to stick and hoisted
it above the plum trees
In few minutes the Yank ees came in
sight. Mother says at sight Of the uni
formed men, mounted on splendid horses,
her heart bounded and that her sister
trembled SO that it was second or so
before they could command courage enough
to carry out their part Of the programme.
The Yankees came to halt at sight OF
the red, white and blue flag. Then came
the shril notes of the fife and steady beat
OF the drum Then "Dixie' came floating
over across the meadow to them. They
came closer. What meant the ominous
silence so far as shots went? The Johnnies
had not fired a single shot. The plum
thicket was large enough to conceal good
ly body of men. They approached the
thicket and fred The only damage done
was these bullet holes in the apron. Panic
seized the advancing men, and wheeling
their horses they went heller SHELTER across
the meadow and in the direction Of their
camp.
When they returned, a short time later,
they had been heavily REINFORCED. They