The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-23
HISTORICAL.

one of the sturdy old patriots who was honored by the special hatred of the Yankees. suffered seriously in wanton. spitaful depredations on his property near Huntsville. Ala Think ing that some of the dotngs of the Yankee villains were beyond orders, he waited on the commander tcol. Alex- ander). and stated his case:
 Colonel: Well. Governor, I don't here."
 Well. Sir, if 1t is not mine, be so kind as to inform me whose 1t is2'' Colonel: Tt is the property of the government of the United States. sir" Governor: An! very well. Colonel. I have come to inform you. then. that your soldiers are treating the proper ty of the United States goverhment d-d badly. Good day. Colonel"
 A War Wedding.
 By Mrs. Reheeca Bayiiss.
 It is hard for young Southerners to realize the strange conditions sur rounding us after the close of the war in 1865, and we cannot wonder at the absolute refusal of Northern people to believe many things that happened. Nashville. Tenn. now so prosperous | and peaceful, was one of the points l at which the United States goyerHment concentrated troops-many of thsEi | negToes--to discharge them. filling the | country with vagrants, who turned | highwaymen and from then depreda- tions there was no redress.
 Franklin Pike before the war was | one of the most beautiful in all that | beautiful part of Tennessee. It was
 bordered with elegant. stately homes. | Boscobei, the home of the Vaux. with | its magnificent groves and beautiful lake. The lake was drained by the l owner because when tine Yankees occu- pied it, the officers did not hesitate l.. ftf1 xffA nf fa | family. The trees were cut from the | grove by the Federals. Thee the | homes of MT. James and Robert Woods. | A little removed from the pike Mir. John l Overton's place. Travellers Rest" next 1 the Erwin home, and four miles of was
 "Clenleven." the home of Mir. John. | Thompson, where the marriage Of his | step-daughter, Sailie House. to VIII
 Ewin took place in November. 1865.
 Between this place and the Ewins was | where the battle of Nashville was | fought the winter before, at which timo the Thompson residence was occupied | by Federal officers and the home wa@ | filled with wounded soldiers. Saliie House Spnarried her soldier lover who
 had cofhe home from the Confederate
 army with only one leg.
 The wedding was to be a big affair." | one hundred and fifty people came out | from Nashville and all in fine spirits.
 for young peoples hearts have to De | light, war or no war. My sister, Annie
 Thompson. and were guests. also Ida. | and Lenora Hamilton. Sallie House and the three were beautiful girls and | intense SoutheTners. They had carried
 news through the lines repeatedly: | were arrested at one time and taken l before Andrew Johnson, then Governor. He threatened them with imprisonment but finally released them on account ot' | their youth, commanding them nevs<H | to take news again or they would sdf-
 fer the fate of Miss Fannie Battle, then
 imprisoned in Nashville for tho BaFns | offense. 'Tis needless to say they dis
 obeyed the command, but were never l caught again. When the Federais
 took possession of Nashville. they re-
 quired everybody, men and women. over
 eighteen years of age. to take the
 oath of allegiance. To escape from
 that these girls cut of their hair and
 shortened their skirts to appear young.,
 It was not safe to travel after dark for l fear of being shot from ambush, nor
 was 1t safe to sit in a lighted room | with the shades up, The crowd all
 came together to the wedding. Ida | Hamilton of the party, had Yankes
 admirer. Colonel Thurston. who went
 as escort and as a protection. The
 wedding was arranged as tableau, the | folding doors opening on the bridal
 party The ceremony was performed | by the Presbyterian ministers, MT.
 Bardwen and Rev. Mir. Lapsley There
 were six bridesmaids. Misses Susie El- | liott, Lenora Hamilton. Eliza Branch,
 Susie Ewin, Berta Semstead and Annie | Thompson. I was not a bridesmaid.i
 but none were happier than l. in ny
 pink tarlton dress with deep pointed
 waist and white tulle overskirt. caught
 up with punches of artificial flowers.
 The guests stayed late into the night.
 returning home with the escort pro-
 tectIng them in safety. The following
 evening a large reception was given
 the bridal party at tho Ewin home
 All from Mir. John Thompson's drove
 over, the Nashville people went on the
 train. About 8 o'clock a buggy was
 driven to the door at break-neck speed
 by two yonng men. Mir. Ewin and Mir.
 House They had driven from Nash
 yille. been shot at and one of them
 was wounded. The bride and groom
 had to attend the reception, the rest of
 us remained at home to nurse and take
 care of MT. House. who died next day.
 Nobody can realize the gloom this
 murder cast over the community. and
 twas made more terrible as there was
 no appeal: no redress; not the least
 effort made to bring the criminal to
 justice and 1t is a deplorable fact that l l.. mn Ia f,aI