The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-11-16
DAUGHTERS OF THE SOUTH.
They Did Not Love Their Enemies a Lit
tie Bit, and Had sharp Tongues In Pro-
claiming 1t.

well-written and interesting narratives
In recent issues of The National Trib-
une. recounting the experiences of
Lieut.. Wood while sojourning in the
confederate lines as prisoner of war,
and his ultimate permanent capture by
that peerless paragon of Southern fem
tninity, Miss Alice Maynard, will remind
old soldiers of our own experiences with
some of those ultra-Southern ladies who
were so intensely loyal to the Lost
Cause that they could not look upon q
Union soldier without showing their in
tense displeasure and the hearty man.
ner in which they despised and detested
those who Wore the blue. / presume
there were exceptional cases, such as
Lieut.. Woods, where love conquered
and stifled all feelings of resentment,
but in my personal experience the sem
timent of the majority of the Southern
ladies ran in the opposite direction. Let
me give your readers a few instances.
There were many.
One wet, cold, disagreeable day the
Army Of the Potomac was making
forward movement, and our corps was
plodding along over detestable coun-
try road which had been so cut up with
the cavalry and batteries that in places
we were wading knee-deep through per-
feet morasses of Virginia red mud.
Hungry, fOOtsOre and weary, we strug-
gled onward, soaked to the skin with
the rain that steadily drizzled upon us.
Finally we came to a clearing with
good-sized house and Outbuildings near
the roadside. A stray chicken flew up
on the rail fence, and in a moment
there was a scramble for that hen.
Everybody seemed to want it, and the
way the boys plunged through the mud
to gain possession OF that lonely fowl
was evidence that poultry was in de-
mand at that particular time. The hen
flew off and escaped, with great squawk-
ing and cheers from those who were
not in the race. Then the door of the
house opened, and down to the roadside
came bounding one Of the maddest wo-
men imagination could picture. Be-
tween the gate and the road ran a deep
ditch which was then filled with about
three feet Of water. On the opposite
bank from the marching column the
Infatuated Southern lady took up her
position, and in shrilling, piercing tones
hurled volley of anathemas at the
passing troops.
"Oh. you measly, ornery, blue-bellied
Yankee mudsills. / hope yo'-all will
come back daid. Ye miserable vipers
of the earth! Ye mean, low
Just then, in the middle Of her tor
rent of invective, the edge of the bank
on which she stood gave way, and down
she went into the water Of the ditch.
"Grab a root, sister! Grab a root"
shouted stalwart veteran, while others
hurried to the side of the ditch to help
her out Of her predicament.
Let me be, We miserable hounds"
she screamed as she wallowed in the
mire and scorned the well-meant as
sistance rendered by the gallant Union
soldiers.
''Marse Robert Lee will fix yo'uns,
ye off-scourin's Of the earth. I hate
vel"
All +ho.o 49, ao,,a5o.oa ea.h.- -
the mouth and pouring forth the most
terrible abuse on the Union, President
Lincoln and the whole Northern people
that she could manufacture. But bust
ness called US forward. and we were
obliged to march on and leave the lady
in her ludicrous plight. Doubtless by
this time she has been reconstructed.
On another occasion I was detailed
as safeguard on a fine mansion I'm
Virginia which belonged to one Of the
+. +. VS., who at that time was absent
from home doing service as a Colonel
in the Confederate army. His wife, a
stately matron of perhaps 45. and a
very pretty but naughty daughter of
about Is. with few faithful slaves,
were alone on the plantation. My or
ders were to allow no one to touch any
thing about the place, and to protect
the inmates of the mansion to the ut
most extremity. / had quite a contract
y,
numerous and there was quite a guam
tity Of desirable stuff in the way Of food
supply lying around that plantation.
When being posted by my commanding
officer he was very explicit in his in
structfons, and ! determined to carry
them out to the strict letter. He in
formed the lady and her daughter of
my presence as guard. and requested
them to inform me Of any intrusions or
depredations that would come within
my province to check. He then told
me to remain until recalled or relieved,
and rode away. The mansion was sit
Gated between our line Of TANKS and
the marching column, SO that I had
plenty OF visitors who were nosing
around to pick up anything in the line
OF poultry, bacon, sorghum, peach
brandy, applejack or any other little
delicacy that would be acceptable to a
hungry soldier. I had deposited my
knapsack and blanket in q corner of
the spacious verandah, and with loaded
rifle and fixed bayonet marched up and
down in front Of the mansion, warning
OF all intruders. occasionally taking
trips to the barn to see that nothing
there was being molested. For q few
hours I had the busiest kind Of busy
time, but when 1t became known that
the premises were under safeguard our
soldiers passed on, and towards evening
was having things comparatively easy.
had a few bareback, q piece Of salt
pork and a plentiful supply OF coffee
and sugar in my haversack, and feeling
hungry, thought 1t was about time to
get supper ready. had fondly hoped
that, under the circumstances, would
be invited to partake Of Southern hos
pitality in the way OF q sumptuous sup
per by the hostess Of the mansion. and
visions Of roast chicken, hot biscuits,
jam and other sweet tidbits f1oated be-
fore my imagination. But the invita-
ton did not come. AppetiZing odors Of
nice cookery came waited to me by the
breeze from the kitchen. but that was
all. The matron and her daughter had
retired to the interior OF the mansion
and closed all the doors and windows
when / had first been posted, and ap-
parently completely ignored my pres
ence. / was only a plain private Yam
kee soldier, doing my duty as such, and
! was as Independent as any mortal
could be. So I got out my coffee pail,
obtained some water from the spring,
and having built a little fire I'm the front
yard, soon had pot Of steaming fra
grant coffee ready. Then I sat down
on the verandah steps, and, fishing out
my pork and hardtack. was contentedly
munching repast such as every old
soldier has relished after q hard days
service. Whether the fragrance of my
coffee had penetrated the house or not