The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-12-03
WAR STORIES.
Some War Time Experiences Of Mrs. j. O.
Thompson Of Newman, GA.

lore LIB meetings papers giving per-
sonal experiences of the civil war.
These accounts Of illustrative Incl
dents and happenings give valuable
sidelights on the history Of the war
that will be treasured in time to come.
Now and then one of these papers has
been published on this page of the
Journal and the following is one Of
this historical series and was read by
Mrs. A. j. Smith, though the Incl
dents are from the experience and
were written by her mother, Mrs. j.
G. Thompson, of Newman:
shall not attempt full account Of
the incidents that marked the dread
full period Of the civil war, for such an
account would fill volume; but shall
content myself with the relation of
the more striking things that are still
fresh in my memory. Nor shall at
tempt any style Of narration that
would appeal to the literary critic,
but shall give, in simple statement,
the circumstances that affected most
Of our home life, and caused the wo-
men of the land the greatest perplexity
and anxiety as they tried to meet the
demands Of the cause, and the loved
ones that went to the front.
My experience covered the whole
time of the unsuccessful struggle.
My husband was volunteer in COM
pany A, First Georgia regiment, and
his enlistment was the beginning of
Mat trying time, in which were expe-
a.enced the difficulties Of managing
home affairs. However, the pressure
Of home responsibilities was counted
as nothing compared to the awful sus-
pense that always followed the news
Of hara-fought battles, particularly
those in which Stonewall Jackson's
division was engaged in West Vir.
ginia. In addition to the horrors Of
being under the rain Of shot and shell
in battle, there was the terrible ordeal
Of heat and cold, gnawing hunger, and
the weakness which ensued from such
privations. But the courage and pa
triotism of the wives and mothers at
homo was the grand inspiration to the
soldiers-not Ices powerful than the
victories gained in fighting for the in
dependence Of our beloved South and
its institutions.
To bring this narration to to an in
dividual experience l can only relate
q few incidents which are light COM
pared TO what was endured by thous-
ands Of women who were on the bog
ders and in the midst OF the conflict.
OF course all the women Of the South
could not be Joans d'Aro, for they
had TO fee from homes for the safety
of children and the helpless. Along
in 1872 interior Georgia had but lit.
tie experience Of the invasion OF the
army. Later on, when our forces be-
gan to retreat from the western foe,
this section began to feel the distress.
Hospitals were located in vacant busi-
ness houses, and this gave the women
more realistic idea of the horrors Of
war. Small detachments of the North
ern army would make sudden and un-
expected raids.
About THE time we could hear Of
nothing but battles, and no news from
my husband; entirely cut off as we
were from communication with the
army in Virginia, as Sherman's army
was around Atlanta. All my woes
were the experience Of many others.
Sherman's march through Georgia was
opposed by only few skirmishers, and
vas merciless despoiling Of every
thing that lay in his track. When
the end Of the war was felt to be near
at hand, ell was gloom and distress
which soon eliminated in the news
that Gen. Robt. E. Lee had surren-
dered at Appomattox.
After the surrender some of the SOL
diers Of the North who had been ex-
changed, and had gotten under their
commander, had skirmish here, and
were captured iu this place, they were
marching down from the mountains
under orders to burn the town aud not
leave DO much as chicken coop.
Some old citizens rode out to the
Chattahooohee river with flag Of
truce, and after an explanation, the
burning order Eas oountermanded.
The commanding officer told his SOL
diers il they molested any property
they would be severely dealt with.
had heard no news from my hus-
band ell these long months, and it was
weeks before he got home, as he had
60 walk most Of the way. When he