The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-14

"a good ways ahead. I'll show you
| when We come to it. The Army of the
Potomac seemed to have got it's blood up,
and waded into us there In a way that we
didn't expect. They mighty near cut Lees
army in two. If they had come aheai
the next day as they did the first there's
no telling what would've become of us.
Ny regiment was where we could see
good part Of the fighting, and it was a
grand sight, even il we did get licked.
Gen. Lee had left a couple of brigades
of Early's men in the strong works on the
north side of the Rappahannock to hold
back the Yankees from the river. The
Yankees suddenly appeared in full force,
and they had brought all their cannon
along. Their batteries galloped up on the
on us l had heard since Gettysburg. We
could only lie down or get behind some
thing and take it, and didn't dare try to
move out to help the men at Rappahan-
mock Station or Kelly's Ford, against
which the Yankees were moving in great
blue masses. Those going toward KEEL
ly's Ford didn't wait for any pontoons or
anything. but waded right across the
river, and went for the men behind the
works. while those that were advancing
against the forts and breastworks on the
north side jumped them with the bayonet.
never saw Yankees fight SO well. 1t was
ne-two-three-the bugles sounded,
tue OIHceTS WaSeu tHeif SWCTUS, anu the
Yankees came over our works like an in
digo flood, and in minute were prodding
our men with bayonets. We felt mighty
anxious all the next day lest they should
keep on coming, but they didn't and that
night we fell back to Orange Court
House."
(Which way is Warrcnton from here?"
asked the Adjutant. There is great
deal said about Warrenton all the time in
tho renortS of fho opapa tinnSS
'Warrenton lies right over there. about
20 miles from the railroad" said Elk
Johnny, pointing in the direction. 1T is on
the great turnpike running to Alexandria,
and was always an important place.
though there wasn't any fighting there. ex-
cept by the cavalry. 1t is the home Of a
number of very aristocratic families-in
fact. they claim that the real Simon Pure
+. +. VS. can only be found there. have
| a particular interest in the place, as the
young lady l hope to marry lives there.
She belongs to one of the very First Fam
lilies of Virginia. Blue-blooded from way
back, with Poca hontas strain i'm their
veins. You know l spoke to you while
ago about the difficulty of bringing the
women of the sections together. There's
going to be no trouble about the men
the real fighters at least. They bear no
more ill-wil than you and l do. But it's
wholly different with the women. They
are absolutely ulilOTSlFluSy iuu leel eN-
erything to their hearts core. | want to
leave Virginia and go to a new country.
Personally, I'd like to go out West. to
Kansas or Nebraska, where the Yankee
soldiers are focking. But the trouble is
with Ara bella-that's her name. She is
simply the fercest Secessionist l ever
knew. She was so long before the war
was for the Union. right up to the last
All our family were. My father voted for
the Union at the very last election. when
it was very dangerous thing to do in our
neighborhood. | was always devoted to
Arabella. but the difference i'm politics be-
gan to take her away from ne, and finally
she gave me clearly to understand that un-
less l enlisted and did my duty as n man
l could hope for nothing from her. AS
soon as | had been in battle. and been
wounded, we became engaged. and | had n
very happy time with her and her family
when l was home on wounded furlough.
and never took particularly to ours, bur
they couldn't have been nicer to me thar
they were after Arabella and l became
engaged"
+ 20, she will come around all right"
answered the Adjutant hopefully. Marry
her, and go out West. Take her out of
this atmosphere. Out West the people
their fortunes and building up the coun-
try, and thinking about everything else
than the war and its issues. She will get
INFO that atmosphere, and the next. thing |
y2u know she will be bosom friends with |
ZONE of the nice Yankee girls, like those |
you see with us.
you don't know Arabella, nor her fam
ily," responded Ex-Johnny sadly. They |
are all powerfully set in their ways. and |
Arabella the most of ALL She always |
simply loathed the sight of Yankee. and |
could not keep from showing her contempt |
for them. Time Of Popes campaign there
were lots of Yankees in Warrenton. for
a good while, and the officers would come
she would lock herself>up in her room until |
they went sway. She had hard work.
eveny to. keep herself, from throwing hot
water on the safeguard that was posted I
in front Of the house"