The National tribune., 1900-07-26

part l had played in the drama. had
sought refuge. In another moment | was
temporarily forgotten.
-Four cabins occupied by a large family
of mulattos stood side by side on the hill
near the railroad above. They knew US.
and in the general panic they congregated
in the one cabin my family had entered.
After l entered the cabin / could see
from the cabin door the cavalry dashing
by, yelling fercely, sabers clashing, horses
plunging. Did you ever hear the rebel
yell?
There was a guerrilla company who con-
stantly harassed and robbed the few citi-
zens who attempted to remain in their
homes here. They were completely at
their mercy. The men comprising this
force made prey of both Confederates'
and Unionists' possessions. They were
foragers. During these visits frequently
sharp skirmishes ensued. Families were
forced to run from their homes, hide in
cellars, or other places, for safety. Dur
ing their absence, like hungry vultures,
with ordoIous claws, they plundered the
homes of all valuables. Should any at
tempt have been made by the people to
protect their own property from these at
tacks, murder would have been the re-
suit. 1t was simply an age of terror to
those who attempted to remain in their
homes. Many times the Union men of our
town were forced to swim the Potomac to
escape the pursuit of these raiders, while
the enemy stood on the hills and fred
in the water after them. These guerriI-
las helped to increase the rebel force now.
The distant firing still continued. AL
most hreathless with anxiety l awaited
the result. which l knew would be re-
yealed in a very short time, for on one
side of the railroad is a high, rocky bank;
on the other side the river. The whole
wnniG nc oil NIT Oh
Confederates who brought up the rear
detachment Of the army: They were
stOrming and cursing. Their actions in
connection with the deafening rattle of
musketry, and the terrible roar of cannon
from the mountains surrounding us, made
up scene which dcfies description.
As l stood in the doorway, watching
the movements of the Confederates near
us. / caught glimpses of the frenzied
movements of the distant pursuers. AT
last disappointment was visibly depicted
in every action.
A body Of the pursuers galloped back
to the cabin, in their excitement almost
through the yard with revolvers in hand
and up to the old, rickety wooden steps
that led to the cabin door.
The leader, a Captain, was a stout
compactly-built man, with forbidding, un-
shaven face. l stood in the doorway as
he approached, and met him defiantly
Evidently there was no alternative but
to summon courage for the emergency.
Since that moment l have been able to
comprehend why people meet death under
hazardous circumstances bravely who
would shrink from the pale messenger
with terror if met amid the mildest
scenes. With an oath the rebel grasped
me by the shoulder and shook me roughly.
What did you wave at the Yankees
nil
help another Yankee"
For moment l was filled with hate
and void Of fear. My mother, entirely
ignorant of the accusation made against
me, said:
I'VE did not wave" He shouted, "Yes
you did"
Looking into his fierce eyes with bitter
contempt, raising my left arm above his
cruel grasp and pointing in the direction
OF the pickets, l said, without q shadow
of excitement:
Go farther down; you will find some
thing TO vent your curses on and shoot,
besides unarmed and helpless women and
children: Is this all you are equal to?''
At this moment my sister, standing be
hlnd me, realizing the danger TO the ex-
treme, cried out in terror:
oh, don't shoot my sister,"
Ihe man said no more to me personally.
| but rushed furiously through the cabin.
loiiohtu Dg several OF nlS men, DraldISl-
ing their weapons and shouting:
Come out of here, every one OF you"
They showed and pushed the negroes
out Of the door and down the steps on to
the railroad.
Take them all to Churlestown," came
the order.
BY this time the whole company of cav
airy had returned up the railroad and
were swaiting orders outside the gate.
Ny nother went out the door, grasping
her Children by the hands, in feeble effort
TO save them from being crushed beneath
the feet OF the plunging horses.
The rebels endeayored to string us out
by twOs 10 march eight miles to Charles
town. hat, uuaccustomed to army disci-
pine, we soon broke ranks and got dan