The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-01-10
WAR STORIES.
Wartime Hardships.
Baconton, Ga, Oct. +, 1903.

Baconton, Ca, Oct. i, 1908.
Dear Mrs. Felton,:
In response to your request for the
experience of those who passed
through the trying ordcals Of the
Confederate war, will relate some
of the trials and hardships, to which
the women Of this community were
subjected.
The height borhood was of recent
settlement, the majority of the fsmi-
lies being people Of small means, who
had moved in and cleared up the pine
land q few years prior to the war.
When the call came to fight for the
cause no better nor braver soldiers
could be found than were thoec sturdy
farmers, but much as l revere their
memory, it is Of the heroincs Of the
sixties that [ wish to prove wero not
lacking in moral courage nor flial
duty, nor any other of the attributes
that makes any loyal man feel like
uncovering his head in her pres
ence.
When the sad farewells were spoken
and they had taken the last look at
their loved ones, perhaps the last
with many a one, and they felt that
the loneliness Of their joyless homes
was more than human hearts could
bear, they we're confronted with the
stern fact that on them alone depend
ed the maintenance of their fami-
lies.
It is but e fitting tribute that q
monument should be erected to COM
memorate their sublime devotion to
the helpless ones left to their care,
but the art Of the sculptor will never
be equal to the task Of portrayiug tho
heartaches, the hardships 80 bravely
borne, the utter sacrifice Of self for
others, the courage it required to re-
main in their rural bones remote
from neighbors aud with no earthly
protection.
An aged lady (whose college bred
grand daughters would doubtless vince
if should use her name) tolfi me only
few days ago that she went bare
footed during the warm weather aud
saved her shoes for the winter months;
that the women did all kinds of field
work, some Of them even plowing,
md that the greatest draw. back to
j making crops was that the plowing
was either tho work Of women and
| girls ~ boys too young and inezp peri
enced to do good work. 4
The material for the families
clothes and everything was carded,
spun, dyed and woven at homo, while
the woods were sooured in search Of
the indigo plant, queens delight aud
various other roots, b,rks aud leaves
u-ed i9: :doloring the thread aud each
woman took pardouahle pride in tho
particular checks Of her Sunday home
spuu, dress. By indefatigable indus-:
try they kept themselves =aa sHAii..35FF sHAii.5 req i 9
clothed, although it often neoessita...
d working far into the might, and
the hum OF the spinning wheel, and
tie clack Of the loom could be heard
for hours after working all day in the
ielda: The new enterrrising city Of
Albany was only a town In embryo
then, but before the close Of the war
not yard Of calico could be found in
tho stores; the stock in trade consist.
cd chiefly Of "bunoh", thread, tobac.
90. salt, eto. The substitutes for cof-.
fee were. too numerous TO itemize-.
parched wheat, rye, barley, .okra,.
potatoes, meal. bran and many other
things being used. /. -. '5..' =.
Very little wheat being. grown in
this section, corn meal was used al
most exclusively for bread, while the
nearest grist mill was 20 miles asny.
All of the neighboring women would
have their corn shelled and two or
three would hitch up two.rnule
whgou and take a small boy Or two
along for protection t?) and 60 to mill
for the community. Owing to the
distance two days we're required: toi
mako tho trip. They would take with
them food FOR themselves aud Feed FOR
the mules and remain over night. 4: +
+. Before the close Of the war natural
~ enough the supply Of oroekery aud
kitchen utensils sadly needed replen~:
ishing. In lieu Of cups and sueksts1
gourds were largely used IS S. rs. ~;
quired the most :sorupuloas oare e.
keep them .tit for uae,, but many - i.
grandmother viewed her array 81 white;
milk gousds glistsning id theS y asun 81
With Is much pride as $her grand,
aaushte:s Dc their s;!rsrsars ns =,s; n ;
This being piney woods, The /, women: esil
q