Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16

river steamboats, that piled up and down
Vicksburg The term 'tinclad,' by the way,
is somewhat misleading, as it is not re-
motely 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 COM
panies ordered to steam down the
river, diSembark at Rodney, march to Glib
son and there consult sealed orders in re-
gard to further proceedings. 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 orders without
question, and provided with guides familiar
with the town, We set about our bizarre
and not too agreeable task. We first estab-
lished headquarters at the residence of
prominent confederate judge. Then differ
ent squads were sent out to call at the
homes of the young women and escort them
to the place of rendezvous. The instruc-
lions were that they. must report at head
quarters 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 mystery to to them) was that
they We're to be taken to Vicksburg as pris-
'oneis of war, but were on no account 10
suffer any discomfort or indignity.
% of course, there was great weeping
wai'ins and gnashing of teeth from tender
mothers, loving sisters and irate fathers
and brothers. But the incident had 10 lie
actepted as belonging to the fortunes of
war, and at the end of two hours forty nine
of the fifty, attended by anxious trends
and relatives, were at the rendezvous.
Mercy was implored for the one delinquent.
An additional hour was granted. and at
their own suggestion several Of the young
women were dispatched to her home to per-
suade her to follow their example in grace
f,,rlr
suit was that before the hour was up the
last fair prisoner put in an appearance,
though in a very defiant mood.
''Ouc trouble, however, by no means end
ed here. Indeed, they were hardly fairly
begun. The next question was how to
transport our beautiful captives to Rodney.
a distance of some twenty miles, over roads
that were in frightful condition from The
'deyastations of war and consequent neg
let. All the good horses, too, like all the
good men, were off to the war, and as for
carriages, they hac most decidedly fallen
into a state of innocuous desuetude. There
was obviously nothing for us to do, the-e-
fore, but to gather together all the broken
down ole horses and dilapidated vehicles n
to hitch together with pillow harness, bits
of rope straps, etc. With these impr ovised
coaches drawn up into limo, began the pro-
cess of loading up our victims. and when
they were all slowed away ii was motley
looking procession, can assure you. Even
the sound of farewells and the sight OF
weeping eyes could not blind us to the hui
morous side of the scene. You must re-
member that we were all pretty young fell
lows in '63. The civil war was fought by
men whose average age was only twenty
three. Well, we made our way slowly
amidst tears and laughter to Rodney,
where we embarked for Vicksburg Upon
arriving here the young women were taken
before the provost marshal, who put sacr1
on parole, combining them to the limits of
the city. Most of them had friends in
town with whom they chose to remain, and
suitable qrerters were found for the reJS
THE reason for the whole Transaction