The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17
Families Separated.

One incident which occurred on tho
journey I remember we'll. A farmer
was taken forcibly from his home and,
despite the distress and entreaties Of
his wife and children, made prisoner
and carried off. Alas, there We're many
such sad partings in those days!
1t recalls to my mind a touching
scene l witnessed at the beginning of
the war. While watching the arrival
of troops from the interior at one of
the depots I noticed a company just
arrived, brilliant in their new uniforms
and FURNISHED weapons, accompanied
by many friends who had come to see
them off. 1 observed a very young
girl bidding a youthful soldier good
bye. With one hand grasping his mus
ket. his head resting on her shoulders
4and hers on his regardless OF sur
ronndings, they sobbed as If their
hearts would break. I have often
wondered If he passed through the war
scratchless. or IL his mortal remains
We're. laid to rest, perhaps in some
lonely field, perhaps by some bank
WHEREIN the wild thyme blows
And the nodding violet grows
r
the one faithful heart watched and
| waited for In vain.
We halted for considerable time
| somewhere near the Appomattox to-
| wards nlghtfull We crossed tho river
at night on pontoon bridge strongly
| guarded, and covered With pine tags
| very. thickly to deedcn the sound. a
| line of horsemen on either side,
| Wedged closely together, effcctually pre-
vented any attempt to escape. Every
| rev steps MS we passed down to the
| river and over tho bridge was a senti.
| nal: The gloomincss Of the forest, tic
darkness OF the night and the perfect
!! stiffness prevailing were very oppres.
sivc to our spirits. To mo it looked as
: II we were approaching the gates OF
1 the Inferno, over whose forbiddine
portals was written Who enters her,
/ leaves hope hehlnd', Completely brok
gu down, dirty and miserable. o,
(, reaehinS The cncmy's camp we wer,
smut UP III dirty negro cabin, whcr,
We spent u Wletched night. There wa
ny even enough room for all to lii
uo"h upon the hard floor. and thos
/ VINO Were wounded suffered n goo,
+, deal having to lie in constraina,
posture all night When tho lnornin,
came we We're allowed 10 como OFT m,
wash our faces and otherwise refres
4 ourselves as best as wo could. Ou
1 breakfast consisted chiefly OF fat porl
hard tack. few miserable irish potnt
4 oes and sour lirout some got coffc.
others less Fortunate went withou-
4 How we longed for some old Yirgini
\ corn bread and bacon! but alas, ".
/ might as well have wished for tn
heavens to drop mamma.
Not. Afraid Of Yanks.
However we resigned ourselves
our hard lot as philoaophIeally as "
could Lstle doe PEBBLES, WHO wa
captured In his shirt and pants wa
II the only one who Kept his spirlts ii,
. Ills lively sal!ies and impudent re
, torss amused Tho Federal soldiers I'M
! mensaly ana he was maze quite Do
/, During the day we wera taken up
"A Butler,a headquarterss Along with tw
Il Iaaa, tnere boys Who were severely wound
cd was assigned 10 g tent iinmediatel
phposile the generals luNuriously al
7. po11tted apaftei.i and VIE were broiItl
h come Very excellent yerinicelli6 SON
Z ~ we mad had hut littie TO eat Il
: t"S4tSt$ouf ItDafs, excepting Inc afofe
said ial pork and hard tack
4 NO