The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-11-22
SCHOOLGIRL IN WAR TIMES
WOMAA,S MtMORIkS OF STIR- RING ETEATS IN MISSOURI.
Interesting Letter of a Woman COrres- pondent to T Kansas City Paper.

ment on the playground of our school in Michmond, Mo-, as it was in the ho- tel offices and dry goods and grocery stores Each girl wore a medal about the size of a nickel of her favorite can didate swung from her coral or gold neck chain, writes a woman correspon- dent of she Kansas City Star, and waxed warm telling of the respective merits of Bell and Everett, Breckin- ridge and Lane or Douglas and John- son. There were no Lincoln medals. remember mine bore the handsome face of John c. Breckinlidge, and the principle clinch with which l wound up my speeches was that ] was for him and he was sure to be elected, for my father said so.
 It seems a little hay to me now just how the girls took the news of Lincoln's success at the polls, but I suppose we did not give 1t much thought, as we learned from the same source we got our predilections that he would never take his seat, and we let matters run without neglecting our reading, writing and 'rithmetic.
 On coming home at the noon hour, April IS, 1861. found the neighborhood gathered, telling that the first gun had been fired at Sumter. The little com- munity was sitting up and taking mo- tice, business was almost suspended and school could as well have closed. as there was something intense and strange in the air that took precedence of all else. Mass meetings were held to learn the sentiment of each citizen.
 vividly remember the two lines drawn on Main street, the secessionists in the other but do not remember which outnumbered, but it made no difference as those who were that day in the Union line few months later shouldered their old muskets and went marching to the tune of Dixie" south ward. It was very monotonous for the girls they left behind them, and only an occasional letter came as the army was on the march. The battle of Springfield was the first to cause us to realize what was before us, as some of our best blood was shed that day. My chum and dearest friend was left fath- erless, and the young as well as old Wore the sign of mourning.
 I cannot tell just the day we saw for the first time the enemy, the soldiers of the northern army. It was while General Price was still at Lexington before the fort surrendered. General Sturgis, with his command, had been sent to reinforce General Mulllgan, and finding he could not cross the river came through Richmond, going in the opposite direction. We had some very exaggerated ideas about the manner in which they would act, and the older members of each houshold went to their rooms and remained. I had climbed to the top of a gatepost and saw the gleam of the first bayonet as they came over the hill In steady line, flags flying. They were very much worn, and when fairly in the town came to a halt, rested and dined from their hayetsacks. They could easily tell they were in a hostile country as doors were closed, binds down and no one to be seen except children and ser wants
 had some family spoons tied in my underskirt and was cautioned by my mother, from within, not to rush 80 fast from one good point of view to another for fear the spoons would jim gle and give away the hiding place
 Soon after this our village became a Federal post and we grew accustomed to the soldiers and ceased to regard them with so much interest. When we learned we were not to be molested the school girls grew saucy and wore small Confederate flags pinned on their sun bonnets to and from school, although cautioned by parents and teachers not to do so. We always lowered the flags when at home or school, but when on the street flags waved defiance. Very soon after this came order No. H. and the exodus from Jackson, Johnson and Cass counties and for weeks our town was filled with the homeless families seeking houses to rent.
 There was no monotony those days, as rumors of Lane and QuantreH com ing, meeting and fighting in the town were frequent-the soldiers would take possession of all the large buildings and remain for hours with their guns at the windows looking for the enemy, but alas, for the hopes of the young, the enemy never eame-we were will ling to risk everything just to see a battle. Not so the elders. They were feeling the iron hand of war In truth, and skies were very dark for the fami- lies whose men folk were in the south with the army. My father had not been home for three years, and under goods and stock had been sold. My piano and few more articles had been bought by the young men of Richmand and given back to me, and, in accord ance with deed made out to me, the piano could not be taken from me again.
 In the autumn of '64 occurred the skirmish between Major Cexs com mand and Bill Anderson's men, about fourteen miles from us. Anderson was killed and his body brought inti Rich mond to be photographed, anl the pub lie were allowed to go there to see it. I remember his uniform was handsome his gray flannel shirt was beautifully upright in a chair, to which it was tied in front of thme camera, caused me to regret I had gone to see hlm-it ,4tco cn oh et lU and
 In this autumn Gen. Price made his last march into Missouri. One com pany came into Richmond for few