The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-31

| anu PicSouiC W luetL MIS-. HARRISON.
My name is Leverage, Madam, the
commanding officer of the Federal
gunboat you see anchored out in the
river. This" he continued, turning
to the other man, lis Lieutenant
Bradley, the second in command of
this boat. - Let me first assure YOU
that, although we are enemies to the
South, we will do you or yours no
violence. The obi ject OF our visit
today, Madam, is to secure provisions
for our men on board.'
Il thank you, sir, very kindly" re-
piled Mrs. Harrison, '.for your con-
sideration. If you will make out a
list of what provisions you wish, I
will have my butler to cart them to
the wharf for you"
The list was made out and handed
| to the butler.
Just at this moment the two daugh-
ters Of Mrs. Harrison entered and
were formally introduced to ths Off
| GERS.
Shortly afterwards the officers left,
Captain Leyersage turned to the
Lieutenant and said: bradley, was
not that older daughter the most
charming woman you ever saw?'
'Reallv," replied his companion, Il
think both Of them were magnificent
young women
Soon after this Captain Levsrsage
again called at the Harrison Mansion
for some pretended reason, bVt it was
evident that he had lost his heart
with Miss Julia.
His boat was lying out in the river,
awaiting orders. and these visits con-
tinued.
SO it happened that enc day George
Prentice (who had gotten a short fur
lough) called to see his sweetheart.
He was comfortably ensconsed in the
drawing room, engaged in converse
tiOn with her, when servant an
nounced that the Federal Captain had
called to see Miss Julia.
What Yankee Captain do you
mean?" said young Prentice, angrily.
No lady who is anything to me shall
speak to a Yankee officer. Miss Julia
keep your seat. shall see the gentle
man myself
Prentice buckled on his pistol and
saher and went to the front door.
Il see, SIR" he said "that you are a
Federal officer. | am Confederate
officer. The young woman, whose
presence you desire, cannot speak to
the like of you"
Sir" said the Captain, 81 do not
wish to precipitate any trouble be-
tween US just at this spot, but if you
will walk down the lane with me, we
will settle this difficulty"
They walked hastily away, and
when they were some distance down
the lane, they faced each other. Hot
words ensued. Then sabers were
drawn, then hand to hand fight.
Prentice fell to the ground from a
Federal officers saber.
He quickly recovered and arose
with drawn pistol. At this moment
Leversage looked around and saw
coming from in the direction of the
house several Confederate cavalry
men, riding rapidly in that direction.
He turned and ran. in minute he
was in his row boat, and rowed rapid
ly in the direction Of the gunboat.
AS he glided over the water Prentice
and the cavalrymen fired several.shots
ut him from their pistols.
For weeks after this affair all was
quit at Lower Brandon, but this
quietude did not last very long.
On Sunday. the Sth Of March, 1862,
several corps of Lees army. coming
from the direction OF the Potomac,
met formidable force of the enemy
under Mcclellan.
The lines of battle were formed,
with the Harrison mansion just in be-
tween. The Federal forces had come
up on the North bank of the river,
from the East. Just behind them,
out in the river, were several Of their
gunboats Soon the battle began.
Hear the brazen tlumpets blast
See phalanx, hurry thick and fast.
The battle RACES ebb and flow.
Under its smoke there, blow for blow.
'Cannons roaring increasingly on;
With a thousand heroes gone.
They did not falter, they did not flee;
They did not bend the servile knee.
| Each Ndu tilS SlltllSth VI tCip
They fought and died like men.
The smoke of hattie cleared away,
There lay in the light of Gods holy day,
Heaps OF the true and brave;
For liberty their lives they gave.
First the rattling of the musketry,
then the roaring of the cannons was
heard. and men fell thick and fast.
Shot and shell riddled the Harrison
mansion.
Just as the two lines of battle were
being formed Confederate officers
rode up to the house and warned the
family and slaves to flee for their
lives.
Many OF the slaves had already
gone. Mrs. Harrison and her two
, daughters soon followed them to the
swamps in the river bottom.
Night came on and the battle still
continued in all of its fury.
In some way Miss Julia was sePa-
rated from her mother and sister,
and she wandered all alone in the
blackness of night in the swamp,
!, going where she did not know.
! Finally she saw light in the dis
tance, she drew cautiously near, she
saw several persons around the light
r They were Confederates.
She approached them more boldly
t and told them Of her situation. They
: informed her that they were Confed
i crate marines. and that they were
0 Just then engaged in loading some
| provisions on life boats for their YES
, sell, which WAS anchored out in thu
: river nearby, and that they would i'm
t mediarely steam for Norfolk, and i
e she would like to, they would tak'
her to that place. out of the way o
e danger.
. TO this Miss Julia quickly consent
ed. She had friends in Norfolk, ant
e would stay with them until she coult
S hear from her relatives.
o She stepped into life boat, wa