The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-10-25


Elton Moreno in the Philadelphia
Times, that the fair county of Han
over was visited by the raiders
word that had often borne despair and
terror throughout the country side
and the rumor of whose coming was
constantly floating in the air, hanging
over us like the sword of sDamocles.
Yet never before this had the enemy
actually reached our own home. 1t
was a pleasant day in April, short
time before the fall Of Richmond.
Suddenly one of the little darkies,
Susannah, came flying to the house,
her eyes as big as saucers, and exclaim-
ed in terrified tones:
Misses, de Yankees is coming dis
time, sure 'nough."
We had heard false alarms so often
before that we hesitated to believe
that the dire calamity had really be-
fallen us, but to be prepared for the
emergency in a measure Mrs. G..
rushed to the store-room and had a
barrel of flour rolled out and then
down a slope at the side of the house.
There was no time for further precau-
ton, for, on looking out toward the
road-gate, we beheld the dense blue
masses galloping boldly up the walk
and over the fiower-beds and grass
plots. They hastily dismounted and a
number, headed by their captain, en-
tered the house and demanded the keys
to all the provisions Mrs. G. accom-
panied them to the pantry and they
helped themselves to all the flour there
in contained. She demonstrated, telling
them we had more than twenty persons
dependent on us for food. So the cap
tain very gracefully said we might
have a peck Of our own -four.
They filled pillow-cases they had APP
propriated elsewhere In the neighbor-
hood with this -four. All this time the
barrel that had been rolled down the
hill was exposed to view, lying care
lessly on its side. They took it for
granted that it was empty, and thus,
owing to this bold ruse, we were not
left destitute Of food. They rified the
smoke-house of its contents, elegant
homemade hams and shoulders, jowls,
ETC., while their colored brethren and
sisters looked on in dismay at this
novel way Of showing kindness to them.
The captain kept pistol in his hand,
ready to fire If any of the helpless peo-
pie he WIS pilIaging should dare to
resist One of these braves rode up
to Mr.. G.. an elderly gentleman, who
was wearing new hat. 1t had cost
about twenty-five dollars and was re-
garded with pride If not with rever.
ence by the family. This impious war.
rior leaned over and swooped the hat
of with the remark:
'Eome out OF that hat, old gentle
man: you've got no use for it.'' They
then insisted on searching the house
upstairs ard downstairs and In my
lady's chamber. During the progress
Of this inspection they found a pair OF
new saddle,bags, which they seized on
with avidity, and, although told they
had no right TO them, vet they main
tanned they were contraband OF war
and carried them of in triumph. These
were the only two new things that the
family possessed, and we considered Il
fortunate that they had neither time
nor taste for our ancient possessions
They had been repulsed at Ashland
and were retreatfng to their bridge OF
boats at White House, and wished e
devastate as much Of the country as
possible in their hasty flight. In some
previous warning Of this raid we had
sent our horses and mules over the
river, the North Anna, to a friends
for safe keeping. but, alas! they dis
covered our fayorite steed, "Old Bob
a large white horse of great strength
and some degree Of beauty. and can
tured him. We mourned him sincerely
and hoped he was well treated by his
captors, though grave doubts Of his
we'll being would haunt us. We have
never had news of him since. An &C
cident occurred to one Of a party OF
raiders in Caroline County. At Mrs
Ms they were dipping into preserves
and pickles and emptying bottles a,
such rapid rate that they had not
time to examine the labels, and one
more greedy than the rest, quaffed q
large draught of horse medicine from
what seemed to be a whisky bottle
His dismay and CONSERVATION or
swallowing the dose was so ludicrous
that even In the midst OF the wreck OF
crockery one could not but be amused
The commander Of that party was q
gentleman, and on being appealed te
with the request to save the contents
of trunks, which were about to be de
Ilolished and rified, he entered the
room and drove them out with lone
whip. The family were grateful tc
him and wished they had learned bis
NAME and so were we, for ORG of the
trunks was ours, having been Sent
thither for safe keeping. and contained
all of our silver plate and other valu
ables.
Our servants wer. faithful to our in
terests. Only one went or with the
enemy Those that were intrusted
with the mules kept them concealed
in the depths Of the forst until al
danger was over. and brought them
back in safety to Cedar Hill.
An incident illustrative Of the faith
fulness of our miIkmaid, Martha, de
serves to be recorded. These were
Sheridan's raiders, whose exploits
have peen mentioned. Even after the
fall Of Richmond stragglers from Sher
idan's army would come through oui
farm, intent on plumber. They had be
come so accustomed to pillage that II
seemed second nature to them On this
occasion most forbidding looking
bluecoat marched up to our door and
demanded milk in loud, authoritative
tones He was told there was none
for him. He replied that he would
wait till the milk was brought from
| the cow1pen and would then SCI
whether there was any for him. III
inquired the direction from which the