Evening journal., 1904-11-30
EIGHT HOUR LAW
DECLARED VOID
PRISONER
TO a GIRL

Lees army to pick up information for
General Grant and on this particular
day had approached what l thought
was an abandoned farmhouse that 1
might get drink of water from the
well. The front door stood partly
open, and that WINS one Of my reasons
for believing the place was deserted
AS l reached the door l looked in and
saw furniture and mt once realized that
some one must be living there. l was
hesitating what to do when the door
Of an inner room opened and girl
about twelve years old stood before
me She was poorly clad. and hands
and face We're not overclean. but her
eyes shone with intelligence. and her
expression was pleasing
what do you want?' she asked aft
er we had surveyed each other for a
minute.
Something to cat, and I will pay
you for it," replied. IF you viii give
me the gourd l win get drink of wa
ter"
But father is away, and Lam all
alone, and you are a Yankee"
"Well what of that? l shant hurt
YOU"
She looked me over from head to
foot and no doubt wondered how | got
there ana what my errand WIS. lean
ed against the door and smiled at her,
but the pleasant look left her face, and
she tightened her lips as If she had
come to some decided conclusion about
something. l thought she was going
to turn me away, but after awhile she
slowly said:
You will find gourd at the well,
and / will get you something to eat"
/ went out and satisfied my thirst
and then re-entered the house and sat
down at the rude table in the kitchen
whereon the meal was served. She
brought me some milk and some'corn
bread and cold meat
tried my best as l ate to engagelher
In conversation but she either an
swered in monosyllables or not at all.
She knew all about the war, young as
she was, and, being southern born, It
was not to be expected that she would
give me n very cordial welcome.
could and did make allowance for this,
and when | found that she was sullen
and uncommunicative ! ceased to an
noy her with questions When my cup
was empty she took it down cellar to
refill IL. / heard her moving about
down there and heard her ascend the
stairs, and, though she did not immedi,
ately reappear, I did not raise my eyes
I A minute later however, she spoke
1 and my eyes lifted fast enough. She
( was standing in the door between the
kitchen and the front room, and she
/ had a shotgun leveled at my breas
Z from distance of only ten feet
yankee. you are my prisoner
! "What do you meany" / asked as
! rested an elbow on the table and stared
at her I'm surprise.
Just what l said, sir. You are my
prisoner, and II you don't do just as
say I will shoot you. Stand upw
Don't be foolish. child" I said as
/ stood up and smiled at her. "That
gun isn't loaded, and even II 1t was you
would not dare to fire it Off Put il
away ana hand me the milk. I am go
ing to give you the silver half dollar
when / am through eating"
"rhe gun is loaded, and I'll shootr
she exclaimed. though her voice be
| trayed that she was somewhat fright
ened. "Do as I tell you or 1 viii fire
Go into the pantryw
] Ia,
der my coat, and l knew that the CIR
would Ere If / made move to get it
1t was absurd to let n child like hel
make me prisoner. and yet / was
forced to realize that she was as danger
GUS as a man-perhaps more So Tn,
result was that l backed up to thu
open door Of the pantry, and as she ad
vanced upon me l stepped into the lit
tie room, and she closed the doc
and fastened it with n button.
My idea was to escape by the win
dow before she could get out an,
around the house, but l found tn
opening a small one and barred frou
the outside. / could not have escapes
that way had been alone I'm the house
Drawing my revolver, / fired throug
the door and made threats. but III
girls voice was firm and determined a
, she answered me:
"lf you fire again will shoot throug
5 the door. and there is a big load {
buckshot I'm the gun"
! coaxed and attempted TO bribe. b,
I, she refused TO hold any conversatio
Z with me ! hoped that she would leay
2 the house to get help. i'm which case
L couple OF kicks would have sent II
!. old door flying, but she sat down In II
: Kitchen to act as guard until some or
L should come along.
4, IL was almost noon before anv or
, arrived, and then It was squad ,
Confederate cavalry beating I'M II
q country I'm search OF Federal SOM
u and spies. They We're passinc II
4 house when the girl called them Z
= and as the sergeant opened my pris,
Z. door and commanded me to sten for
e seven or eight others had their a.
a bines levelcd at me. They josed M
!, glsyed me not little and had much
O say in praise Of the girl
+. was taken 10 Lees headquarters
q be questioned and later on was sent
\ Richmond where l was confined
q Libby prison.
l. Long after the war I revisited
y farmhouse where was so ignom
!: iously captured. I found only an