The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-01

of them had been deprived of their horses and mules, too, and had no stock with which to cultivate a cron.
 It is true that some of the people who had more knowledge of the ways of. warfare, took the precaution of sending their most valuable stock. and some other things, to portion of the South. that they did not think was so liable to be visited by the Federal army and thus saved them.
 Nearly all of the able bodied white men in our county were in the Con- federate service all indeed, except a few who had substitutes in the army. So only the old men and boys were left to take care of the women and children and look after home interest, In order to facilitate their foraging operations between the Chattooga and Coosa rivers, they constructed a pom toon bridge across the Chattooga, and in order to get lumber that was con- venient, they took the seats from the Methodist Church. tore off the cell ing. and ripped off the weather board ing to use in. the building of the bridge. They also took off or destroy ed the pulpit Bible, and Sunday school library, which wss in the church. They had already burned the Oak Bowery Church, four miles from Gaylesville. It seemed that nothing was too sacred for them to desecrate or destroy.
 This was truly a time to try mems
 ouls.
 The day before Sherman and his army sas to proceed on their march to the sea. some ladies. our neighbors, came to ny sister. with tears in their eyes. and said. Mrs, Smyer, what in the world Ire we to do for living? The Yankees iave eaten or destroyed all the bread stuff in the country. except what they nave in the mills. And we learn, from
 ome of their officers, that they are to cave tomorrow. and that General Sher- nan has given orders for the mills. and
 he thousands of bushels of wheat and aorn that are now in them, to be burned, md also ordered that q. guard be placed
 fere .so, to prevent any from taking out
 We have been getting our bread from
 hose mills for months. now what will we do? Our husbands in the army, and We and our little children will starye. Mrs. Smyer. we have come to ask you t1 go to- General Sherman and beg him 0 spare the mills and the grain. for the sake of starving women and children"
 Mrs Smyer tried to comfort them by teliing them that some way would be
 
 raght have to live pretty hard. but they would not starve. She also told them flat she would prefer not to go to Gen eral Sherman: that she had no idea that ne would heed her request, and he might th1nk that she had been induced from personal interests. to intercede that the building and grain be spared. And if they still insisted on some one going, she thought it would be best for some of them 10 go. But they would not hear to that proposition at all, and said If any one could succeed they knew that she could So their tears and entreaties at last prevailed in securing her consent to do the best she could for them, if Mrs. McWhorter. who was one of the company. would go with her. General Sherman's tent was not much more than hundred yards from sisters residence. So she and Mrs. McWhorter went and told the guard at the Generals tent door. that they would like to see General sherman for a minute or two, So the guard went In and announced some ladies at the door. The General came out. bowed very politely. and said, Ladies. can serve you in any way?" Mrs. Smyer replied. "You cer- tainly can, General Sherman. for we are on mission of mercy. and you have 1t in your power to grant our request We have been told that you have given or- ders for the mills and their contents to be burned tomorrow, and we have come to beg you to spare them on account of the women and children, who are depend ent upon them for their bread. Many of them came to me a few minutes since with teaTstin their eyes, and almost over come with the gloomy prospect and begged me to intercede with you, in their behalf. that you spare the mills and the grain that will be left in them" He lis- tened very respectfully until Mrs. Smyer ceased to speak. Then he replied: Well madam I would be glad to grant your request, but the women and children are not the only ones that these mills supply with food. for your (scouts) bushwhack- CTS. he called them, also receive large portion of their living from these mills. They who are constantly annoying us, by shooting down our foragers, pickets, ad- vance and rear guards. And we intend to burn or destroy every thing within twen- ty miles of the railroad that can support a grassllopper. If your people cannot live here. they can go either North or South, and get a living" Mrs. Smyer said that she felt so indignant that she said to him, "No. sir We will neither go North nor South. and yet we will live" At this she her report to the ladies, who were still bowed her exit and went home to make her report to the ladies, who were still waiting to hear the result of her visit They left as they came with heavy hearts. Mrs. and useful life; her home is now in 
 General Sherman has long since been