Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-10

the lines, my wife receiving 1t with
a couple of days. This letter was
kept in the family as a war souvenir
for a long time. During Sherman's
passing through Georgia, a system or
espionage was kept up on both sides.
1t seems that a prominent Confederate
officer, meeting a refugee from NIL
ledgeville, asked him to give him the
name of some reliable party in MIL
ledgeville, male or female who would
do to trust, as he was going 10 send
daily through the lines one or more
spies and wanted to communicate with
a reliable party still in MilledgeviIle.
This gentleman. knowing we'll the many
intrinsic qualities of Mrs. Mary A. Bar
nett, at once gave him her name. and
so long as the army was at Miiledge-
vile, a spy was sent through the lines
every day. and TO my certain knowl-
edge, on at least two occasions, they
sat at the dining table, incognito, TAX
ing their meals with Federal Officers
To my certain knowledge Sherman was
sending spies through the Confederate
lines at the same time, gaining daily
information of the confederate ma
neuvers.
happen to be in position to be able
to extract from Mrs. Barnett's writ
ings. the real facts connected with the
preservation with the sea- of Georgia.
THE STATE SEAL
She says: 'On Friday afternoon, No
vember IS. 1854. a scout came into
Nilledgeville bearing the intelligence
that General Sherman was within
few miles of the city
The members of the Legislature,
then in session, were in state of con-
fusion and dismay at the rear approach
of the commanding General, Sherman,
whose name was but anotner for muir
der, theft, fire and sword
They stampeded from the capitol, as
none wanted. by any possibility Of ar
rest, to fill Federal prisons. or face death
or wounds worse than death, there being
no opposing force to meet the hordes
that would soon tramp the streets OF the
goodIy little town. Morning came and
found a silent city. The day passed on,
everyone in uncomfortable suspense, TIL
about O'Clock, when the advance guard
came in, who were quiet and orderly.
There was one. Col. n. A. Barrett,
who had not deserted his trust, but kept
at his post when the advance guard came
| IN. He was the keeper of the seals OF
the state and acts of the stampeded legis-
/ lature He took the seal and papers,
passing out the eastern door of the cap
| itol, came home, walking up to me, his
wife, and giving the seal of state and
ture into my hands, Col. Barnett said:
&" I leave tomorrow morning and you
: must guard these, for / am responsible
| for them
He ind I and the youngest son car
! ried them under the houBe and after
wrapping them carefully, dug deep hole.
and buried them. Just as we flnished
the clock struck u. Fearing the houssq
might be burned 1 carefully secured the
acts of the legislature. / carried them
to the pig pen and carefully buried them.
COWS CARRESSED HER
After General Sherman had crossed
/ the bridge and burned II. exhumed the
| acts and placed them in safety for Colo
mel Barnett Later when the state Of
ficials returned and the duties Of the
! government were resumed one Of the
seals of state was taken up from IT'S
| long resting place and found none the
worse for wear and that when the legis-
lature met and called to order II was
found that not one scrap of paper per-
tanning to the adjourned session had been
destroyed.
After the Yankee army had left Mil
ledgeville, having made clean sweep OF
almost everything. Mrs. Barnett conclud-
| ed to go out to the farm, about a mile
| distant Feeling desolate and hopeless,
and viewing the bleak expanse. suddenly
she heard the familiar tinkle of bell,
I and over the hill came one of her favorfte
cows, which running up to her affection-
! ately and lovingly rubbed her nose on
/ Mrs. Barnett's shoulder. Then, for the
! first time, Mrs. Barnett broke down and
wept like a child. One by one the other
| cows came up. The Yankees had driven
these cows over the river and burned the
/ bridge, but they swan across the stream
| ard returned to their home pasture Of
ten in after years, whenever Mrs Barnett
| told about the incident her eyes filled
with tears and her voice trembied with
! emotion.