Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1901-01-23
4 w0kAK'5 ACONY,
ASTORY or THF cIYyL war.

'''S oinr, orauts 'nen were crossing
the lines To the west OF Petersburg and
Lees whole army WAS In rapid retreat
towards Appomattox Court House.
The first day OF the evacuation OF
Petersburg and the abandonment OF
the forts and breastworks, every part
OF the army OF Northern Virg ginia WAS in
motion. Every road leading westward
was crowded with infantry, cavalry, ar-
tillery, ambulSnces. aud wagons and
every officer Ia command Of regiment,
battery or train WAS hnrrying his men
and drivers rapidly to the rear. But
for their love and confidence IN Gen'l
Lee the soldiers and drivers would have
been stampeded.
As the sun OF the first day OF the re-
treat WAS hiding himself In the dense
pine forest far away to the west Hun
tone brigade OF Piekett's division was
halted MT IA bridge over Sutherland
creek In Dlnwiddie county to await the
crossing Of artillery. ordnance. quarter
'"u"'S'f "uu NcfutiieruIN lie
bridge and it's approaches were long
and the crossing slow and tedious. On
ly one wagon with single line of in
faDtry on either side could cross at
time. sheridan Is dashing cavalry was
expected to attack the rear ut any mo-
ment.
Nha,, ha h..t 40
ton ordered the writer OF this story to
face his regiment 10 the rear and de-
ploy his men 80 Ms to protect the artil-
lery and the wagon trains until safely
over TIE bridge. The order WAS quick
ly executed and the line extended along
and beyond n picket fence enclosing
comfortable country home and outbuild-
ings. Sheridan's advancing column
WAS not far behind.
| In the home was an aged woman. a
grandmother. her married daughter
and three small children. The grand
mother FAR advanced in years and fee
bile, WAS Il typical old Southern grand
| lhf''Nbf'f o0aHtt appearances OCstb-
rifu ia her patience, and apparent
ly waiting for the rest, sweet rest which
comes only Ia those who have lived
pure aud holy life. The daughter was
wild aud frebzied with grief. Lees
army had been passing the home all
day and she must soon be left in the
hands Of the enemy. Her husband WIS
In the Confederate army and was on
the fighting lines the day before. She
had gotten no news from him and, il
living, he might be in the retreat aud
along another road.
Poor woman, her agony was intense,
her anguish excruciating. and her con-
dition painfully cruel, she was picture
OF utter dispair. Her little boy OF five
years who had followed her I'll, the day
In her aimless wakings OF the floor,
and the little girl Of three years who
had clung to her dress were we'll nigh
To the point OF exhaustion aud collapse,
while the infant in her arms, tired with
crying, had fallen asleep with its head
resting upon her shoulder. The little
ones realized that something terrible
had come to the mother but they could
not understand its nature or import.
Poor woman, Our heart bleeds for her
today rs we look back aud see her In
her agony Of almost three dozen years
ago. Such suffering rs she experienced
warrant the assertion that war Is hell,
While comforting her and CIV
ing her directions what to do when
we had passed on and the enemy
should come. II bullet struck the build
ing, then another aud another until
they came thick and fast MS hailStones
and the room sitting with the dust OF
falling plaster. The battle was on,
Sheridan's cavalry had overtaken us
the yard was ablaze with the rapid fire
of Confederate guns and the house was
being riddled with bullets from cavalry
Icarbines and wnchesters. The lives o
the women were In as much danger IL
the men who were defending thei'
home. The writer enquired Tor TIL,
cellar to their home which was beneath
the kitchen floor, and making detail
( of men had the women gently removed
. TO the place OF temporary safety.
, Sheridan's attack was promptly re
q pulsed and before he could reform an,
v renew It Gen'l Hunton notified us tha
the trains had crossed the bridge an'
;, for us To reform our regiment and re
sumo the march. Bidding the ladie
goodbye aud with instructions TO then
!, to place themselves at the mercy OF th
!, Federal officer who might capture thei
!, home, we moved on In the olackness 9
u the night not knowing whether the fat
of the poor women could be any wors
than that OF mothers, wives and sister
of thousands Of soldiers who We're q
u that moment leaving their homes h'
n hind them and retreating. 1t might b.
~ foreyer from their native State. Whe
: the morning came we were far ava,
% The farm home WAS In the hands OF tn
a Il. -