The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-27

soda biscuit, enclosing . fried egg. eacn child rreedily took sandwich trom the basket before Mrs Semmes could ask the price. When the old darkey m answer to her inquiry. replied: aoi- lar apiece ma'am. and cheap at that, cos' them eggs is fresh" She hastily snatched the biscuits from the chil- dren's hands, dropped them back into the basket exclaiming: Good gracious, I shall not have money enough 10 tane us to Richmond" and hungry the cnii- dren continued to be until Peterspurg was reached.
 Mrs. ssmmess anxiety was consid-. erably relieved whom she was intormou of the ratio of gold to Confederate money.
 Here again, sitting down to supper, tea was served, and brown sugar; one of the daughters turned to the negro waiter and said. with tip tilted nose. T always take white sugar with my tea. Law sakes alive. you's mighty lucky to get dat--dat done cos three doiIarr a pound, and we aint got much.
 Richmond was reached at 12 o'clock at night. The station was a mile away from the Spotswood hotel. Stonemans raid was on, and every available man and horse had been sent ito the front'e not a vehicle was to be had; no way of transporting baggage, or or saie- guarding 1t. Mrs. ~Semmes ana ner girls, under the escort or q suanse man tho had volunteered his services. walked the mile to the hotel. and the little Raphael Semmes. boy Of II, anu suffering with the toothache at that. was mounted on top of the pile oi trunks to keep guard until the hotei could send a porter with a truck. The next day all Richmond was sad dened by the news of the tragic ia.s
 
 had come and the great soldier, coiu in death, lay in state in the capitoi at Richmond, Mrs. Semmes was one or those who esteemed it her high priv ilege to place memorial wreath up- on the bier of the peerless Jackson. Here in Richmond, Mrs. semmes was made happy by . reunion with her second son. the Capt. Oliver J. Semmes of the artillery, who commanoeo battery, unique in it's organization, being the only battery of artillery in inc regular army of the Confederate States. Oliver Semmes had just sue ceeded In making his escape from the Maple Leaf" which vessel was | transporting Confederate prisoners, Of whom he was one. to Fort Delaware, The officers on guard were overpow- cred. and the vessel run ashore on the Virginia coast, and these escaping prisoners had made their way to Rich- mond via the Dismal Swamp. In the summer of 1883 Mrs Semmes resumed her residence in Alabama, hers and her husbands adopted home, | where were his interests. his country home and his slaves. She established | her home in Mobile. which at this time, was not suffering so much from privations. as were other parts in the South. owing to the blockade running, which was comparatively successful. It was in this home that Mrs Semmes shone pre-em:nent. the center of a distinguished social circle: her home was a refuge and solace for soldiers from the front seeking rest and recuperation from sickness and | wounds. and she kept open house where the hungry and the needy ever had their wants supplied. The appe- tites of some of these may be judged | from one example. Maj. B. J. Semmes from the army under deneral Bragg. had been severely wounded and came | to Mobile to convaiesce. The first day of his stay, the servant brought in large tureen of raw oysters and set II | down on the table. preparatory to making the savory stew that was to form the piece de resistance for din ne,. Cousin Ann may l try few?" And calling for plate and accessories. the major proceeded to empty the tureeu. task he easily accomplish ed. l Nurses Sick.
 And more, she nursed the sick. she cheered the Respondent, she labored 1 for the soldier boys at the front. and
 more than all she gave up her own three sons. the youngest at twelv. years of age, to the service of her country. By her cheery spirit and pa i triotic enthusiasm, she inspired all those who came in contact with her tn give of their best to the cause of the South. and when the tragic end came. and the hopes of the south and ot her people, went down into the dust. she bravely struggled with her own sore heart to aid the conquered. to infuse new courage into them to com mence life anew.
 It was when this cruel war was over that the cruelest blow of alt was dealt to her On Christmas Eve, 1865, a guard of United States ma rines appeared at the home of Ao-