The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-03-08

Mrs. a. with her two little girls, aged
respectively eight and six years, and
her devoted friend and companion,
Mrs. +. and the house servants, occu-
pied the mansion.
The Federal soldiers speedily over
ran the premises, helping themselves,
/ without let or hinderancc to every
thing Of value, but especially to
everything that was eatable, cattle,
poultry, eggs, bacon. corn, -four, all
these were taken or destroyed.
Desks, trunks, bureaus, all places
where it was thought valuablcs could
bc hid, were thoroughly ransacked.
The stables and barns were burned,
and five times the dwelling was fired,
but each time the brave women within
it, and faithful slave, put out the
fiamcs. till in sheer admiration of
their courage and endurance, and for
a certain reason which will presently
appear, a!,guard was set over it, and
it was saved from destruction.
Upon tho approach Of the army,
Mrs. A. had sccreted, in safe
place, small store of provisions, for
the use of herself and those depen-
dent on "her Necessarily the supply
was limited, and the somewhat pro-
longed stay Of the soldiers, in their
comfortable camp saw the little
hoard of food grow less and less until
1t finally disappeared. Then hunger
became an inmate of the house where
prodical plenty had been wont to be
known.
said there were vandals in all ar
mics, aud that there were finally in
Sherman's Army, but have also
said, or if | haven't said it heretofore.
| say it now, there are brave and Chi
valrous soldiers and Christian gentle
mcn in every army, aud there were
many who answered to this description
in the army Of which 1 am writing,
who revolted at the scenes of cruelty
and vandalism which they were com
peiied to witness, with no power TO
prevent.
Among the officers Of the Head.
quarters staff of Gen. Hunter, were o
number Of cultured and refined young
men who had asked and obtained per.
mission Of Mrs. A. to use the piano,
which had stood silent in the old
house since it's young mistresses had
aought refuge in the Convent. Natu-
rally, they saw, and were moved by
the signs Of distress and hunger visi.
BILE in the household. Among these
officers was Capt. Amerious Whedon,
Of company A, 32d Indiana volunteer
Infantry. OF fine form, slender pres.
ence and handsome face, he bore about
him the unmis.akalle impress OF the
gentleman. His Sind heart was
deeply touched by the evidence Of
! suffering within his view; but knowing
} the fortitude and unflinohing courage
of the Southern women, he hesitated
to offer either assistance or sympa.
thy.
At last, however, he approached
Mrs. A. and asked that the little girls
be allowed to go with him to the head.
quarters and get some food. The
kindly offer was promptly declined by
the Spartan mother; but Mrs. e. who
was not less patriotic, but more politio
than her friend, consented that the
children should go with the Captain.
The younger one, timid little thing,
held back, and resisted all the bland.
ishments of the young oficer--but
the older one promptly accepted his
invitation and in few minutes the
little blue.eyed, homespun.clad
"rebel" maidowas skipping over the
lawn, her hand safely clasped in that
of the yankee Captain" Her ac.
count. Of the gentle reception and
kindly treatment she had had, melted
the mothers heart, and her description
of the delicious food, including coffee,
"aure enough, real coffee,'' Chen 40
unknown article in that latitude) won
the sister, and thereafter whilst the
army remained in its camp these
children took their meals q. ''head.
4 quarters" But the army had to
move on in its relentless way, and
pretty soon the children missed great.
II the good food and the kindly hos.
pitality Of their friend. These they
i doubtless recalled and longed for,
when in the days following the de-.
parture Of the troops, they picked up
the grains Of corn with which
they appessed their hunger.
After the war the years went bv In