The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-12-03

North and South, 1t was but o short
time before business matters we're in
a panic. My husband rented our
home to avail ourselves Of the advan-
tage of the rent it would bring during
his absence in the army, and moved
eighteen miles away to a place known
as the old Chair Factory on the Chat
tahoochee River. The dwelling house
there was situated on the border Of
dismal swamp and there were no locks
to the doors. Mr.. Thompson enlisted
in the army in 1861, and went to Vir-
ginia. The parting was almos. Ike
taking away my life. We left our
household effects at the river in care
of rewly married couple. The gen.
tleman considering himself exempt
from service in war. Afterwards,
however, the groom, rather than be
conscripted, Joined company and
wss off to the war also. This all hap
pened within month. Meanwhile,
was resting content about our things
being in such good care. 1 went with
my husband to Atlanta, and spent
month there after he left. After my
return, l found my house in Newman
had been rented to another party. In
the most imploring manner, l besought
the tenant to vGcate my home, having
engaged another house and proposed
to pay the expense Of his moving to
it. He coldly replied that he had
rented for the year and would keep it
until the time expired. My counsel
lor advised me to go on to the river,
as the time would be only two or three
months. And this did, with heart
full of sorrow at the thought Of living
in that dismal place. By the kind
ness Of gentleman friend, who was
going out that way, I and my three
children we're carried there. 1t was
fearful ride. It was dark when we
reached the nearest neighbor's houee.
The good woman Of the house told me
| must not think of going there at all
to live with little children and kindly
offered me two rooms in her house un-
til could get back to Newman. The
offer was gratefully accepted, and we
dwelt together most harmoniously.
The mail only reached US by chance,
and this kent me anxious. To my
JOY, after two months I received no.
tice that my house in Newman was va
cant, and :. friend who was going there
with two large empty wagons, offered
to move me in.
l found my house clean, and there
was good supply Of provisions on
hand-four, sugar, butter, bacon and
candles to light ne on into another
month. That gave me brave start.
The war was on in truth by that
time, aud then it was work in earnest.
First Of my work was making coats,
trousers, and other wearing apparel
for the soldiers, which wss moro pre-
fitable than oarding and spinning.
After a time, hats were needed both
for women and men, and became
quite enthused with that kind of work.
The first kind OF head-dress for NO.
men was the shaker bonnets, made of
oat straw, pasted on stiff foundation
made of old cloth. Then came the
demand for soldiers and men hats.
Every kind Of wooden cloth available
was put into hats. People would
bring old cloth coats to be made up
into hats. We finally grew tired of
the Shakers" and began plating
pine straw, dying it black and sewing
it together, and this grew to be quite
business. In fact, we made some
real nice hats, and could not fill all
the orders. Mr.. Thompson's sister.
inlaw made soldier clothes with noe
until it got to be rather humiliating
work, as We had TO go personally after
it to Atlanta. The railroads would
let us have season tickets at reduced
rates. The work became disagreeable
ou account Of the rush and jam to get
it, 30 it was dropped, and the hat
business was taken up. This was
found much more profitable.
A large encampment came to Naw-
nan. My cow was we'll kept around
tho provender wagons, and I realized
good profit from the increased guam
tity of milk. The officers in camp
near me would exchange coffee for
buttermilk. I was very saving with
it, and drank wheat coffee, the ~ub-
stance now called postum. Ny expe-
rience with it during tho war makes il
distasteful in spite of its changed
name. My coffee was very precious,
"a -