The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-07-18

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a AUXCExN AcwOrtn, In north
kjISNM ern Georgia. 4
III E2$MN; giant oak tree. Al
WEE&UJ first here was
NG& wv nothing about this
kf&fs[I> king of the forest
To distinguish II
from the other trees of that kind, with
their large trunks and great, wide
spreading boughs; but, however, If one
were TO gaze at IL more attentiyely he
would see Il large, old-fashioned work
Ing kettle wedgcd securely In one of
the many forks of the tree. 1t was a
huge affair. one of those old plantation
kettles which would easily contain all
the linen from the great house and turn
ii forth clean and white as snow.
Those were the days when it was in
use. and all the little plckaninnies
could see their shining white teeth re-
f!ected in it. SO well Aunt Susan kept it
polished; hut now, alas. it had fallen
into sad decay and become so caked
with rust that one would never recog-
niZe the shining black kettle of former
times.
1t was in the year 1864, Roy S. SEN
sabauSh says in the Atlanta Journal,
and the Southern army had been stead
lily driven back until they had almost
concentrated their forces In Atlanta it
self. Everything was in the greatest
excitement through the neighbOrhOod.
but old Col. Merritt refused entirely to
leave his plantation home; he declared
that lie. who had SO valiantly whipped
the Mexicans in n, was not now go
ing to run from some rascally Yankees,
and so very cOmplacently he gave his
orders and all went on as If there was
no cause for excitement ut all. 1t was
Monday, and old Aunt Susan was su-
perintending the weeks washing.
which was done ut spring very near
the house.
Come he yo chile and tell old Auntie
what young marse Frank done say
bout her.
ThereupOn a little darky named sam
brought her the beatling stick and
said:
"Marse Frank done sed. he say he
mine to kiss yo' old black face fore he
gine back"
Il sho' goud love dat chile"
Just at this moment three Confeder-
ate soldiers burst through the small
clump of trees that separated them
from the house, and ran hurriedly to
where they were standing.
There is no USE said one Of them,
the young captain to whom Aunt Susan
had just alluded SO affectionately. I'VE
are entirely surrounded"
Better sell our lives as dearly as DOS
sible. for they will surely hang us for
SPIES" said one of the soldiers.
What dat? Who gwine to hang you,
sab! Marse Frank, what dey do to
yo'?"
The Yankees have surrounded the
house. and are closing in ON us; by and
by they will capture us and hang us,
too, l suppose"
DE good Lawd have r.."ssy, am dat
de truf:''.
"Doan say dat. Marse INK. Look
heah. chile, run up dat tree an pull dis
yere kettle up and git In 1t; den deys
CANT poster yO'."
There was no time to lose, and SO two
of the men climbed rapidly into the
tree and very soon, by the help of the
clothes line, succeeded in getting the
huge kettle safely placed In one of the
Now they were fortified,
with plenty of ammunition, and so
they awaited the enemy with that
silence which betokened much
III to their disturbers. And they did
not have to wait long; scarcely were
they safely secured in their strange
aerial fort ere the Federals broke
through the Gordon of wood and came
rapidly to the spot.
Have you seen three rebel soldiers
pass by here!' the leader asked of Su-
san.
Use sho' l amt"
But her too emphatic denial caused
them to be suspicious. and the turf dis
turbed around the foot Of the tree d.
rected their attention into 1t, where
they saw the strange spectacle of the
kettle. Almost at the same time one
IF the soldiers made a cramped move
nent, showing part of his hat above
he rim, and they were observed. In
'tantly they We're summoned to sur
'ender. but their only reply was three
sharp reports from their rifles and each
shot stretched Yankee cold I'm death
lpOn the sward.
Shot after shot was fired against the |
hick iron sheeting of the kettle but in
'ain, for they all came sputtering down |
through the leafy bOughs, flattened and |
Useless against its side. But at every |
'olley Of the besleged more Fedcrals
we're stretched upon the ground until !
II length they retired in sheer dismay. |
IN AK was procured, but it meant death
o every one who dared to use il. FL |
lally some soldiers were sent to look
or n cannon, and it began to look as
hOugh all would soon be over with the
tuicc W uO iidu So Eo9t-
n off a hundred.
They had given up all hope, and were
to die with the exultation of
they We're victOrs; the cannon
lad arrived and was trained directly
IpOn their little air-castle. In another
moment they would be blown into eter-
lity. when they suddenly heard the
weetest music in all the world to them
the wild rebel yell!
Such was the battle Of the kettle, and
fter peace had once more made all
appy Capt Merritt carefully preserved
he kettle that had saved his life. Al
hough the tree was killed in the battle.
nd although the kettle began quite
OOn to corrode and rust, he would
ever allow them to be removed. Years
assed away, but still the grim, battle
CARED veteran retained its aerial seat
18th calm dignity. Once it had sus-
aimed the attack of a crowd of small
Oys who threw rocks against It's sa-
rod oidoc op1 ,nnp opofhor t;no ,, yI1