The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-28
Soutehrn Girls as Hostages.

Ndo mlACO UP III OuC .iCtlC UuAS
corded event of the Civil war. said
Gen. B., that was interesting
from it's vely unusualness, and which,
as I look back upon it, seems strange
ly picturesque. We were attached to
what was known as the Marine Bri-
gades, little feet of twelve 'tin-clad
river steamboats, that piled up and
down the Mississippi after the surren-
der Of Vicksburg. The term 'tin-clad,
by the way, is somewhat misleading,
as it is not remotely connected with
the white metal, but signifies rather
boats heavily planked with oak for the
purpose of protecting them somewhat
from the ravages of bullets.
"One day our little battalion Of four
companies was ordered to steam down
the river, disembark at Rodney, march
to Fort Gibson, and there consult
sealed orders in regard to further pro-
ceedings. Imagine our surprise upon
reading the instructions to find that
we were expected to capture and carry
back to Vicksburg as prisoners, fifty
of the most aristocratic Confederate
young women in the city. However,
we had served long enough to obey or
ders without question, and provided
with guides familiar with the town,
we set about our bizarre and not too
agreeable task. We first established
headquarters at residence of prom
inent Confederate Judge.
ssThen different squads were sent
cut to call at the homes Of the young
women and escort them to the place Of
rendezvous. The instructions were
that they must report at headquarters
within two hours on penalty Of their
family residence being burned to the
ground. The only information we
could give them (the whole transaction
was as much a mystery to us as to
them) was that they were to be taken
to Vicksburg as prisoners of war, but
were on no account to suffer any dis
comfort or indignity.
"Of course, there was great weep
ing, wailing and gnashing cf teeth
from tender mothers, loving sisters
and irate fathers and brothers. But
| the incident had to be accepted as be-
llonging to the fortunes Of war, and at
the end Of two hours forty-nine Of the
fifty, attended by anxious friends and
relatives, were at the rendezvous.
Mercy was implored for the one delin-
quent. An additional hour was grant
ed, and at their own suggestion seve-
raj Of the young women were dis
patched to her home to persuade her
to follow their example in gracefully
submitting to the inevitable. The re-
suit was that before the hour was up
the last fair prisoner put in an appear
ancc, though in very defiant mood.
sOur troubles, however, by no
means ended here. Indeed they were
hardly fairly begun. The next ques-
tion was how to transport our beauti-
full captives to Rodney, (: distance Of
some twenty miles, over roads that
were in frightful condition from the
devastations Of war and consequent
neglect. All the good horses, too,
Hike all the good men, were off TO the
! war, and as for carriages, they had
most decidedly fallen into state Of
innocuous desuetude. There was OBJ
yiously nothing for ra to do, therefore,
but to gather together all the broken
down old horses and dilapidated ve-
hlcles in the vicinity, which we some
how managed to hitch together with
plough harness, bits Of rope, straps,
etc. With th;se improvised coaches
drawn up into line, began the process
Of loading on our victims, and when
they were all slowed away it was a
motley looking procession, I can as
sure you. Even the sound of farewells
and the sight Of weeping eyes could
mot blind us tothe humorous aspect
Of the scene. You must remember
| that We were all pretty young fellows
in 63. The Civil war was fought by
men whose average age was only %.
Well, we made our way slowly, amid
tears and laughter, to Rodney, where
we embarked for Vicksburg. Upon
arriving here the young women were
taken before the provost marshal, who
put them on parole, con6ning them to
the limits Of the city. Most of them
had friends in town with whom they
chose to remain, and suitable quarters
were found for the rest.
"The reason for the whole transac