The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-04-07
GEN. MILES
Further Light Shed Upon it by the
Story of "A Girl, A Piano
And Gen. Miles,"
Norfold Landmark.

war Renaissance was written by a
prominent lady Of Portsmouth and
read at a recent meeting of the
Portsmouth chapter Of the Dauthers
of the Confederacy. 1t is now pub
lished at the request of many ex-Con-
federates, ladies and gentlemen, who
wish the paper preserved in perma-
nent form. The address follows:
Now that Gen. Miles is so promi-
nently in the public eye, it may be
we'll for me to recall, and give per-
manence to, my experience with him
just after the war.
I must premise, however, by a lit
tie personal history which will be
necessary to a proper understanding
Of the matter.
In January. 1862, my mother,
dreading the probable occupancy Of
Our home by the Yankees, sent my
sister and myself to Tuscaloosa, Ala,
where Our brother-in-law, Mr.. S., was
principal OF a female college. In May,
1862, Norfolk and Portsmouth were
evacuated and in June my mother,
whose three sons were in the army,
went by flag of truce to Richmond,
where she could be in communica-
ton with them. The house in which
she was living at the time was left
in possession of her daughter, Mrs.
B., who for some time past had been
living with us.
In 1864, by order OF Gen. Veile,
this house, with its furniture, was
taken possession of, and soon after
wards the whole of my mothers
property was seized and turned v
to the freed1nan's bureau.
Upon requisition Of Gen. B. F. But
Ter, my piano, with various other ar
ticles of furniture, was sent to Fort
ress Monroe, Butler being at that
time commandant Of that depart
ment.
In September, 1865, after my moth
er had succeeded in recovering her
house, my sister and I returned from
Alabama, too happy to be home again
to mind the baroness which confront
ed US on every side. But I soon
found myself longing for my piano,
and devising means by which 1t
might be returned to me.
My brothers, having all fought for
the Confederacy to the end, were
powerless to help, 50 IN me devolved
the burden of making the effort.
My mother longed for her com-
Portable beds, but I, with the feeling
give me the luxuries and will do
without the n~ecessaries," would ex-
claim Il will sleep on the floor If l
can get my piano"
Then began a most active cores
pondence with all officials VITO it was
thought could aid me, the details OF
which I will not give, although sew
eral of the letters are now in my
possession; but the result was an Or
der from President Johnson that the
furniture, wherever found, should, II
identified, be returned to us. A sofa,
recognized while looking through a
window at a ball which was being
held at the Macon House, was given
US by order of the general command
ing at Norfolk, Va. have the writ
ten order, signed by the acting adju-
tant general; but the name is such
a scrawl that I cannot decipher it,
except the first name, which is John.
knowing that most of the furnl-
ture had been sent to Fortress Mon
roe, mymothermarethis her first OBJ
j~ective point, and, accompanied by
my eldest sister, began her quest.
1t gives me pleasure to say that
| with a few exceptions those to whom
we applied for information gave us
willing help, and even showed decid-
| ed interest in the recovery Of our be-
longings. This emboldened US to be-
lieve that we should have no trouble
in securing whatever of our property
e. :Ht.~ L. LII l..4 -