The National tribune., 1899-06-29
A DAYS ADVENTURE.
Foraging in Georgia During The Famous March In

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| EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: While
on the march through Georgia in the Fal
of 1864, the writer and several comrade:
from Co. Z of the cattle guards, Lieut.
morning foraging. We were near small
village, Swain bOro. We followed a cross
| road that led off in southerly direction
| from the main line OF march followed by
| the army.
After following this road four or five
miles we came to a large mansion, whose
owner was an officer in Lees army. Dark
les swarmed about and seemed perfectly
willing for us to help ourselves to whatever
We wanted. We were not out for plunder
so did not mOlest anything in the big house
but in the dining room, a smaller building
adjoining, we found a table set with a fine
breakfast This was too tempting, sc
Gus Shafer and | sat down and were not
disturbed except by the black cook, who
stuck her woolly head in at the kitchen
door and exclaimed somewhat excitedly
that we were eating "Ole MisSuS' an de
chilluns' breakfus!'
We did not allow such little matter to
bother us, but continued to sample the
typical Georgia planters victualS. Before
we were through the other boys came in
and helped clean up the table. We then
thanked the cook for her kindness and left
without doing any damage.
A short distance beyond this plantation
we came to crosSroad and turned east to
keep parallel with the army, about five
miles south OF it, as near as we could guess.
A little before noon we came TO another
large frame house, belonging to a doctor
who at that time was a Surgeon in the rebel
army at Richmond. Everything about
this place indicated wealth and comfort
before the war, but at the time of our visit
the effects OF the strict blockade were plainly
visible.
The wife and her pretty daughter were
arrayed in the much-hoasted, but very
plain, "hOmespun that Southern ladies
wear" They treated us kindly and made
no objection to our request to have the
darkies get us our dinner; but at the same
time made no secret of tileir rebel Senti-
ments, without expressing the rancorous
feeling exhibited by some others we met
that day. The daughter, probably 20
years Old, was quite free to talk. Said
she:
you are the first Yankees that l ever
met, and have to confess that / am disap-
pointed, for | expected to be insulted and
to have our house pillaged. find you so
gentlemanly that, instead of alarm, L take
pleasure in talking to you"
After this we felt quite at home and re-
mained until near the middle of the after
| noon: We had a good dinner, and were
then invited into the parlor, where the young
lady favored us with several fine instru-
mental selections on the piano.
when we asked for a song, she said:
sing, must sing my sentiments,
| and they will not suit Y ankees."
We told her that anything she chose to
sing would be acceptable from such a charm
ing lady, even II She was a confessed rebel.
Then IN sweet voice she, sang several of
the most popular Southern ballads, but in
manner SO pleasant that offense was out
of the question. ~
At a fork Of the road fnile beyond, we
held council OF war to decide which road
| to follow, and concluded to branch off to
| the right. ~.
After passing through about two miles
where We found a white man, native of
Indiana, who had married Southern
woman. 10 or Is years before the war, and
had inherited this large plantation and a
great number Of slaves. He professed to
| be good Unionist, who had, by various
ways, escaped the cOnscription, but had
lately been hiding in the forest.
We We're welcome to his house and he
seemed eager to hear what news we had to
tell. We got good warm supper and re-
NAMED longer than We ought, for the even
ing shadows We're falling.
| A young woman, about IL, with dark
hair and eyes. of slender form. and fair to
| look upon, was glad to treat us kindly be-
cause we We're from the North, where her
fathers folks lived. She also was an eX-
cellent pianist, and entertained us pleas
| antly; but here we heard no "reber songs,
except Dixie" and that only by request.
AS near as / can recollect this mans name
was Foster, and sincerely believe he was
a Unionist.
When We left. our havers,acks were filled
With cooked sweet potatoes and chicken,