The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-29

nant, delivered this speech to her mistress,
Mrs. Northam. 1t was the evening OF
Feb. 81, 1865, and In the Northam home
at Wilmington, n. c., there was disnay
over the near approach of the Union army.
'Massa Columns boy, Sam, he done ~toie
me dat de Yankees is jes' ODER yander, on
t'oder side oh de ribbar; dey's comm ter
morrer mawnin' suah; our sodgers is
burnin' cotton. rossum an sidemeat;
reckon if we don't eat de chickns de
Yankees will; better sabe EN-"
Mrs. Northam, handsome Southern
lady, palefaced and anxious, with her two
daughters. Belle and Grace, were holding
q consultation. The husband and son were
in the army of Northern Virginia. The
question that the women had been debat-
ing was, SHOULD they remain in their
home in Wilmington, or join the army OF
refugees who were fleeing toward Colds
boro and Raleigh"
Mrs. Northam had spoken: Girls, we
will stay here and try and save our home;
an abandoned house is sure to be plumber
ed and perhaps burned. l do not think
that the Federals will burn our house or
insult us, if we conduct ourselves like
ladies; we will stay here"
But, Mamma, think of the niger sol
diers," said Grace, the younger daughter.
"The black soldiers have white officers.
l am told that they are finely drilled and
under strict discipline. l do not fear the
negro troops; it is only the stragglers and
shirks that we have to dread. L shall ask
for safeguard from the first general Off
GER. Really, l fear our own men more
than do the Yankees"
Aunt Lily stood waiting. 1t was Belle,
girl of Is who answered her.
LAS that seems to be the only way to
save their lives Aunt Lily, We will have
fried chicken for breakfast. l don't want
any of our chickens to fall victims to
Yankee voracity."
'Den I'll tend to dem 'megitly; dey say
de Yankees has hons, an dey sartin is
tur'ble, but if dey is any wussir'n Massa
Hoke's men. den I pities dis, town, OATS
what says" and Aunt Lily departed to
save the lives of the four chickens by
wringing their necks. There was but lit
tie sleep for the anxious women that night
In another part of the city store houses
and railroad machine shops were being
Destroyed senseess waste.
Mrs Northam had ordered breakfast
to be served at an early hour, and early
in the morning from Aunt Lily's kitchen
came the savory smell of fried chicken. 1t
attracted the attention of a group of Con-
federate soldiers who were passing-part
of the Confederate rear guard. They
came to the kitchen and demanded the
whole breakfast. Aunt Lily blocked the
doorway and protested noisily. The
cracking of rifles, the kissing spat of bull
lets, and the cry of a wounded man
startled the foragers.
1.-THE Yankees are coming; git out of
thisr' shouted Sergeant. A wagon fol-
lowed by two pieces of artillery came roll
ing by. The soldiers stopped the wagon,
lifted the wounded man into it. and then
ran along with the artillery. The musket
and Announcements of the wounded man
were left lying on the ground.
"Dey's gone; reckon we had better eat
dat ,breckfus, befo' de Yankees come"
said Aunt Lily, as she carried the fried
chicken, roasted sweet potatoes and hot
corn bread into the dining-room.
"COme, girls" called Mrs. Northam;
"come eat your breakfast before
What she would have said remained I'M
spoken. for the girls rushed into the room,
white with terror.
"Oh, Mamma. the Yankees are here!
They are coming up the street." and Aunt
Lily, 'pale" to the color of ashes, ejacu-
lated, "Oh! Missey, dey's niger sodgers!'
Words fell to convey the disgust and ap-
prehension expressed in those last two
words.
''Let us 90 to the veranda," said Mrs.
NOrtham: 81 do not think that the Fed
erals will modest us. By showing our
selves we may save our house from being
plunaered."
The ladies proceeded to the veranda,
which extended across the whole front of
the house. A heavy skirmish line of negro
soldiers was coming up the street on the
run. Their movements were directed by
white officer, a smooth-faced. rosy
checked Captain. of not more than 20
years. His blue uniform was splashed
with mud: with sword in one hand and
pistol in the other. he was cheering on
his men. As he passed the ladies he gave
them quick glance. then quickly raised
his slouched hat. revealing mass Of
thick curly brown hair. Mrs. NOrtham
replied with very dignified bow. and the
girls gazed at him in surprise and admira-
ton. and whispered. Isn't he handsome?
/ never supposed that any Yankee looked
like THAR The Northam house was 10
Gated on a corner.
The young Captain halted when he
reached the corner. and let his men run
past him until his line had Tapped half of
the next block: then he shouted. ''Skir-
miSlIers by the left flank indicating the
new direction with his sword. The line
faced to the left and moved Sapidly for
ward in the new direction. some of them
passing through Mrs. Northam's grounds
The officer remained at the angle of the
streets. watching the deployment. As the
black soldiers passed the house one of
them shifted the air like a hound. and
then made Il run for the dining room. and
emerged moment later with bullying
haycrsack. and then. grinningiy, rejoined
his comrades. So quickly was it done that
none of the women noticed him. They all
came Ia The conner of the house. curiously
regarding the troops: they did not realize
that they We're on a battle line The Cap
tain glanced NJ and saw them. Back
back for your lives he shouted. waving
them back with both hands. Startled by
his vehement gestures. the ladies shrank
back jrst as IL shell exploded with deaf
e"irg crash directly over the street corner
SOi!sr OF the fragments ratified against the
horse. and Mrs. NOrtham and her daugh-
ter were enveloncd i'll pungcut smoke
Il hats from our men: Oh. hope that
they Will blow every Yankee of them from
off the face oi the EARTH" said Belle. too
excited to lac frightened
\ second shell almost instantly followed
the first one. and the cracking of mus
kerry told that the Confederatcs were re-
siSting vigorously From big, burly
hlack Sergeant came a cry of rage and
dismay. The ladies. saw him runBhg
through the smoke 70 his Captain. Who
had fallen and WAS rocking back and forth
in agony. rs yo' hurt bad. Cap'n?" anx.
iously asked the Sergeant. as he raised his
officer. totally indifferent to the bullets
that were singing all around and kicking
up little clouds of dust
My foot is smashed badly. ! fear" an
swered the Captain
"oh. the poor gentleman: he is wound
ed. Isn't il dreadful: Can't you helr