Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-01
War Days On
A Plantation.
BY MRS. GEORGE wINsHlP.

war days and was read recently before
the Daughters of the Confederacy:
When the war between the states was
declared my parents Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
II. Thiot were at their plantation home,
"Rosevflle." seventeen miles from Savan-
nah on the river road to Augusta.
1t was thought best and safest Tor motn-
er to remain there when father enhsleo
with the Chatham artillery. There she
staid with her small children until "sher-
mans march through Georgia, MY
grandmother Mrs Charlton. with her
youngest daughter, had refuged from Sa-
vannah When that place was threatened
by the feet in the river, and nad gone 10
her own plantation, Goshen two miles
from Roseville.. All the rest of the family
were in Savannah, and were extremely
anxious for her and mother to leave the
country. Grandmother had refused 70
leave her place until mother and ner emil
dren went also to Savannah. SO wnen the
general commanding the forces blockao-
ing the roads. hoping to delay the advance
of Sherman's army, sent them message
late one afternoon to the effect that they
would have to leave before morning. as
the roaus would e impossible after that
time my mother felt that the RESPONSE
bflity for erandmother's safety was more
than she could assume. and she made ar
rangements TO go to Savannah. she. sat
I'D all night to get things in shape to leave
her dearly loved home at daylight her
faithful servants did all they could TO nelp
her in every way. Two of them went
with her and remained in her service LOT
many years. They packed what they
could in a large farm wagon and expected
to go In II only to the railway statlon, out
when they reached there found the Fed
eral army had cut off all chances OF a trip
by rail and they we're obliged TO make
the journey in the wagon.
When the war began mother had three
little children. At its close there were
FIVE. two little girls having been born In
the four years. When father was pre-
pairing to leave home he called his serv-
ants to him, explained the SITUATION 10
them, telling them his wife and cnlloreh
would have no other protectors in his ao-
sence that as long as his company was
stationed on the coast near Savannah he
would be at home occasionally. but II ne
should be sent to the front they would
have no one but their mistress to direct
them, and that he expected and believed
they would obey her every wish ana see
to it that she and the children lacked
nothing that they could supply. MOST
faithfully did they perform their part. l
have often heard mother say that the only
protectors she had at night were three
negro boys. aged from IA to IL. who slept
in the back of the hall, in large room,
like the reception halls Of the present
day When bedtime came they brought
their bedding from an clubhouse and mace
themselves comfortable.
Fathers health failed him after the
first year of exposure and he was sent
home where he had to remain for months
then he enlisted again. He went with the
Oglethorpe Light Infantry. company 3.
His former company. the Chatham Artil-
lery. had been sent % Virginia, and his
company was stationed near Savannah,
so he again had the pleasure Of occasion.
al visits home. He with his company,
was ordered away from Savannah the last
year of the war, and he never returned
He took part in nearly all the battles
around Atlanta and was at the side OF his
kinsman, young William Noyle Haber-
sham, when he was shot down on the I'D
of July. 1854 They had determined to
avenge the death of the elder brother, Jo-
seph Clay Habersham, VINO was killed less
than an hour before. Seeing that the
young boy was exposing himself reckless
" Che was only 20 years old an onlcer
said. Lie down, my boy" He replied,
IT have Just ,hree rounds left; III give
them all I've got-they killed my broth
err" AS he fired there was volley from
the lines IN front and he fell dead. he
never moved or groaned. Thus. the two
brothers fell the same afternoon. leaving
a broken-neartea. mother and father in
their luxurious home in Savannah.
MY paternal grandfather had always
made his home at Roseville, for 1t was the
old homestead. He had been in feeble
health for some time. Hoping that
change might prolong his life, his daugh-
ter came from her temporary home in the
country near Valdosta, where she had
refuged from Brunswick. and took him
home with her. The change did not have
the desired effect, end after fey
months with her, he quite suddenly
passed away. AS she lived miles away
from the railroad she was in. much
trouble for none at her home knew of
the sad occurrence. Being an invalid her
self and having no one with her but
young daughter, and some of the negroes
she had taken with her from Brunswick
husband and son both being away-she
knew not what to do. Her most faithful
servant was a woman; to whom, travel
ing with her six-weeks-old baby, she en-
trusted the care of the precious remains.
Ny aunt gave her letter to our Cousin
Wylly woodbridge in Savannah, and he
accompanied her the rest of the way.
When he arrived at the station at Mon
teith seven miles from Roseville. he sent
a note to mother. Some hours later he
arrived. the faithful Theresa with him.
Ny father was sent for and was present
at the funeral 1 mention this incident
to show how trustworthy the negroes
were in those days.
1t was always to me a touching story
to hear mother tell of the bright, moon
lit Friday night, when she sat up to hear
K the train that bore the remains of the Ia
mented Barlow across the Savannah
river bridge. on its way to Savannah;
she could distinctly hear 1t all the way;
and after It reached it's destination, she
heard every gunsthat was fired as they
bore him through the city TO the Ex-
change, where he lay in state until the
funeral on Sunday. Father was at home,
and the next day they went down to at
| tend the funeral. for heawas my fathers
| lifelong friend. Mothers nephew. the
late Major William F. Shellman, was one
of the boys who accompanied Barlow
when he went Ito illustrate Georgia" as
\ he said. He was mere boy, as many
| of them were, but came home with honor
/ able scars He was wounded on the chin
and struck in the leg by a spent ball
] at the battle of Manassas. and later lost
! his right arm at Cold Harbor. In writ
/ ing home he made no mention of his
wounds, thinking doubtless that mother
| had seen the newspaper accounts, and IL
might seem like boasting. He was as
modest as he was brave. When he lost
I his arm he was determined to be as indie
/ pendent as any Yankee with two arms,
and he was. He learned how to write
beautifully with his left hand. and never
required any assistance at meals, or in
making his toilet After short time he
a a. L.