The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-03-15
WAR STORIES.
"A Southern Girls War Experience which
Sheds Light L pom Gen. Miles Char.
acter.
Norfolk landmark.

NrOMl1cnt lady OF Portsmouth and
read at recent meeting Of the Ports
mouth chapter Of the Daughters Of
The Confederacy. It's now pub
lished at the request Of many
cx Confcd crates, ladies and gen
tlcmcn, who wish the paper pre-
served in permanent form The ad
dress follows
Now tha: Gen. Miles is so proni-
ncnty in the rnhlic eye, 1t may be
3cll for me To recall, and give per
,uaDcnce 10 NY experience with him
just after the war.
aust premise, however, by little
personal history which will be ncccs
sary to a proper understanding of the
matter.
IN January, 1862, my mother,
3readipg the probable occupancy Of
our home by the Yankees, sent my
sister aud myself to Tuscaloosa, Ala. i,
whore our brother-in law, Mr.. S., was
principal of female college. In May,
1862, Norfolk and Portsmouth were
evacuated, and in june my mother,
whose three sons were in the army,
: vent by flag of truce to Nichmond,
where che could be in communication
with them. The house in which she
was living at the time was left in pos
session of her daughter, Mrs. b., who
foz come time past had been living
VITA us.
In 1864, by order of Gen. Veilc
this house, with it's furniture, was
taken possession Of, and soon after
wards 'hc whole Of my mothers pro.
perty was seized a1d turned over tu
the Freedman bureau.
Upon Io1xisitiou of Gen. b. II.
butler, my piano, with various other
articles Of furniture, was sent to For
Htress Monroe, Butler being at that
time commandant Of that department.
In September, 1865, after my
mother had succeeded in recovering
her house, my sister and l returned
from Alabama, LOO happy to be home
again to mind the baroness which con.
sfronted us on every side. But soon
found myself longing for ny piano,
and devisipg means by which it might
BE returned 20 me.
My brothers, having oil fought 70.
'the Confederaoy to The end, were pow.
erie 30 10 help, so on me devolved she
burden Of making the effort.
Ny mother longed for her comfor.
table beds, but I, with the feeling
Give me the luxuries and I will dc
without the 5necessaries," would ex.
claim II will sleep on the floor if
sran get my piano"
Then began the most active CORES
.'pondence with all officials who it was
thought could aid me, the details oi
: >rVhich 1 vill not give, although sev.
: eEal of the letters are now in my
possession; bnt the result was en- or.
>sder from President Johuson that the
furniture, wherever found, should, il
identified, be restored to US. A sofa,
recognized while looking through q
window at ball which was being
= held at the Macon House, wae given
'vas by order Of the general command
ipg at Norfolk, Va. I have the writ,
aeu order, signed by the acting I'D
. ,sutant general; but the name is such q
;, sceawl that I cannot decipher it, ex.
,'cept the first name, which is John.
Knowing that most Of the furni
s.Ere had been sent to Fortress Mon.
zee, my s...ner madc this her first OBJ
sectiVe point, aud, accompanied by
my eldest sister, began her quest.
yit gives me pleasure to say chat
with few exceptions those to whom
s1e applied for information gave US
willing help, and even showed decided
interest in the recovery Of our belong
/ ugs. This emboldened us to believe
that Re should have no trouble in Sc.
curing whatever Of our property we
might find within the Fort, but it re.
1,ained for. Gen. Miles to teach us
ahat Southern girl had no rights
which he was bound to respect or
aGaw. he had succeeded Gen. But.
s-ssr in command at Fortress Monroe,
aud the mantle of the immortal Ben.
had descended upon him, and was
most worthily worn. 81
! The first days search was without
!; result, and again my mother and sis.
#.ter started forth, this time I accom-
$50 ar2ing them.
I recall here a little incident Of
tsthis, my first visit to tho fort after
ESs a a xpar Wa hpd Ston,od "a mol,