Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-04
SOME uNwRlTTEN HISTORY.
How a Pair of Pretty Eyes Helped to
Win a Southern Victory.

There are many interesting incidents
that 90 in the make up of several con
t3icts during the Civil War, but are not
recounted in any of the oHlciai repoitS
of the grand battles that nave peen VIII
ten. one of these was told by an eX,
officer of the Confederate army VINO had
personal knowledge of what he was talk-
ing about to few friends VINO had Sath-
cred at small dinner party one evening
last week. ..,.
."rhe circumstances that | am about TO
tell YOU" said this gentleman. hapPened
lust before the first battlc OF Manassas
Tor. as it is generally known. Bull Rum:
This town, as many of you VIII fecollect,
he remarked, referring to NUMBER OF
elderly persons, both gentlemen ana Ia
dies, who were present at the entertain
mcnt. was overcrowded then with sol
diers, and shoulder straps were thicker
than bees in a clover field. The wearers
of these military adornments were from from
the ardent country boys who had never
witnessed drill until they enlisted into
the army, to the dashing young blades
from the West Point Military Academy,
who were chatting at the delay in getting
into fight. -
MANY of the youngsters of the town
had already gone South and left behind
them a whole lot of sympathiZing sisters
who were not at That time AFRAID 10 ue-
clare their sentiments
Now the truth is that not every one
then thought there would be clash of
arms, at least not 50 far from Washing,
ton as the first fight proved TO be, ana
these young officers; particulaily tlie
were having whole lots of fun. Army
| rules were not 50 rigid as they cam" to
Re later on, and there was a great deal
of dancing. merriment and love nak ,nt
going or all over town. The girls, not
| Withstanding their Southern feelings
| we've not averse to flirting with ana treat,
| ing courteousy these young ofhcefS ana
making friends of Inany OF tnem, ana We
soldier bows were simply delighted 1T the
| admiration and homage that was paid 10
| them. It,; x;.,,
| NOV there were some very wise girls
| among the many bellies of this old town.
and these kept their pretty eyes as we'll
| as their ears open nearly az inc 1line'
and one Of these demure httle danseis'
| Well-knoWn in army circles then as Sile
| still is. for she is yet residing in the cap
ital, and is very happy srtndno,ner'
had more than one Of these eaNiy-adofh-
ed second lieutenants on his knees before
| her She was Il very lovable and KIND
| hearted young creature, and treated all
| her suitors alike, and what is more she
| learned ut lot of things concerning army
operations. which she determined to place
where the knowledge would be of very
"Hea lregard. the great Southern gem
| eral was known to be in the neishhor-
| hood of Manassas with his forces. one
of his outposts. the most extended one,
was in charge of Gen. Bonham, 81 Soutn
| Carolina, who was in command Of bfl-
| eade This young lady knew Bonham
Very we'll. He had often visited her ia
| TIERS home when he was in Washington.
| The lady learned directly from one OF her
ep1uletted admirers that about a certain
| time a large army force would move mo
Virginia and strike blow at the South
| ern forces
| '..fust at this time she was stricken
| with q vearning to visit some old friends
who had fine home lust inside me FED
eral lines on the south side of the Potu-
mac. Securing pass from the mllllary
| authorities was an easy matter for FER,
| and she made the journey without any
| DELAY She was determined to see Cen
| Eonham and there was little or no trou-
| bic about that.
| ."lhpre was good natured old fellow
who sold milk in that section. re nae
officers on both sides He didn't THINK INK
| anything about war. All he cared Tor
| was to sell pure country cream, ana ne
Was doing a thriving business. TINS lady
| from her beautiful eyes. OF course. he
would only be too glad to have her take a
ride with him, and when he came next
morning the girl was ready. and nad
| concealed in her thick tresseS an mn
portant note giving to any Confederate
| official size could trust much important
| information of what was gong ON thlS
side of the Potomac. The milkman Went
| straight to the Confederate camp. That
was her hone, for there she met Bonham
and told him all she knew Bonhan i'm
mcdiatelv communicated with Beaure-
gard who didn't lose Il second IN Gaining
tomac Thus was a junction of forces
that determined the first defeat at Full
Run. johnson was there on time
| The girl worked her part of the game
all right. I won't. for obvious reasons:
Won know her. Al least her action con-
| trbuted an item in tho unwrtten history
Of our Civil r"-Washington Post