Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-25
Picket Guards Christmas
A true Incident Of the Civil VA

IL Tennessee, U. 5. A. received the
following letter from a small town in
sowa:
Dear Sir and Friend am writ
ng This to you by direction OF my
grandfather who but recently learned
yonr whereabouts through an army
sournal lie has been trying to ID
cate you ever since the war--fhe big
var you know. He Is sitting by my
sl0ow telling me what to write, but
s am afraid my poor pen VIII fail TO
ponyey his earnestness and his graft.
utie. He says you viii remember
nat time, way back yonder, when
4uama was a little half-clad girl, in the
mountains Of Virginia, when you and
nose good soldier friends OF yours
afzyed Santa Claus to her and her
sbLAS SislST, "Hiie nc "dS o""y AiSHi
sssme. carrying musket In the army
u bob Lee. And he says for me toI
zeal you with the best words I can
use how often he has thought Of you
and prayed to the good God that IL
nay always be well with you and
yours for the kindness shown two for
sorn little girls, back in the mountain
wilderness,
with loving gratitude,
The incident occurred during the
irst December OF the Civil War. The
army Of Tennessee was in Virginia,
vatching closely every move on the
great chess board of strategy sergt.
Montgomery and a few men were or
1ered TO guard certain marrow pass
through the mountains. 1t was a mar
ow trail, much used, an important,
hough isolated poina Orders were
strict to permit no one to pass no
natter what the errand. The tension
vas high; spies everywhere; loosen,
ng OF vigilance anywhere along the
sine meant disaster. It was the
snsrny's country, and he seemed never
. sleep
Not far from the picket post was a
mali house, a modest dwelling, part
og and part frame. There lived a
young wife and two little girls. The
1zssband mad gone to war under the
Southern cross. There We're no habi-
atoms near-the little family lived up
he4r IN the mountains alone. The
xtfe was left with two COWS and
same potatoes and corn. She or her
ipZ girls Drought the Union soldiers
nns and butter; sometimes few
7. Tn. soldiers gave her what col
a. hey could spare, and plain ration
z9ua the quartermaster's stores, Tn
anantalu family lived with the utmos
rr~ality. the clothing of the littl
s+ns was frayed and ragged, but clea'
-Tnee needed heavier garments for tn
sius,u and better shoes Their littl
aardx would be rolled up in thei
x1Hms Nnan they came out to visi
Is. soldiers The names OF the girl
wa Mary and Susie: they Away
@aTn1&o camp together, sat down on
OF uery dose to each other and cor
9ersed WIZ INC soldiers, who Gale
fhea4 the fairies, They said they lii
a soldiers; that their papa was one
tnd mat they knew he would be gla
70 see these soldier friends OF their
n he could only get off, but he was s
sSusg somewhere shooting at tn
~s4a.ssees that they wouldn't let hir
Aesge.
ENom eaer childish lips the teri
-Erzasee" seemed one of affection.
Ene day, as the month was DRAWN
- CLOSE. Susie, the smaller of tn
sEarlgea." asked the sergeant why the
.'aerf always looking up and down tt
xssssso close.
'-Do see II anybody's coming, lit
,ne safd she grizzled officer. "Or
,rfsrs are 70 shoot any man who q
fempto to 90 by here"
hnatar-y Susie laid her head on n