The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-15
A VIRGINIA EPISODE,
By HARRIET cAMeEv.
Ecopyrieht. 1909. BY American Press AS.
cintlon.l

ginia, while IN command OF the --th
New York volunteer infantry, was
advanced one evening into territory
that had been previously held by the
enemy. Near me was house. and
from the inmates received an invita-
tion 10 supper ! accepted and found
a lady and her daughter, the rest Of
the family. consisting OF two sons, be-
ing 10 the Confederate army. / will
call them Mrs. and Miss Bates. Con-
sidering that the blockade had de-
prived them Of all table supplies ex-
cept such as could be raised ID the
south, they gave me very fair meal,
made up Of the only chicken left by
the 'Johnnies" and the delicious hot
bread that southern. women know so
well how to make.
] was then twenty-elght years old
and considered myself passably attrac.
tive to women. There can be no Inn
modesty in my now saying SO, since
the wrinlxled. white headed old man
Of today is not the same bodily person
as the young soldier OF 1868. | had
seen those southern girls fall precipi-
lately in love on sight with our Yam
kee boys and was not especially taken
aback when Clara Bates showed sud
den admiration for me.
The young lady confined the express
sion OF her attraction for me to her
eyes and her speech. She would not
permit me even to touch her hand.
She seemed troubled at the proximity
Of two hostile armies. declaring that.
though her sympathies were with the
Confederates. she hoped they would
retreat farther south. set myself To-
work to draw from her any informa-
ton she might possess Of the enemy's
intentions. and she told me that q
southern general whom she spoke OF
Familiarity as Bob and who had left
her only that morning had expressed
an opinion that It would be some time
before he would see her again. Con-
sidering this 10 indicate a further re-
treat, was about to take my leave
for the purpose Of reporting It at once
to my general when / heard from the
next room the words. spoken In Mrs.
Bates own voice:
kiss me again, Bob"
Darling a glance at my companion,
saw the blood rushing into her face.
Then she started up to leave the room;
but, grasping her wrist detained her.
Immediately from the same room as
before came succession Of smacks.
Miss Bates made another effort to free
herself, but laughingly held her, say
ing:
This Is far too interesting to lose.
Please sit STILL"
CLARA! Sweetheart came another
voice. this time a mans, but sounding
rather as II It issued from a phono-
graph than a human being, followed
by a lot Of unintelIigible croaking.
Miss Bates writhed, but by this time
! had both her wrists ia my grasp.
and she could not get away. | held
her for perhaps Eve minutes, waiting
for something more from the adjoin.
ing room. Presently it came in q mas.
culine voice:
"AII tOgetherl Surprise 'eml Two
o'clock"
At this the heightened color left my
prisoners face. and she turned pale.
would not now let her 60 on any
account 1t must have been five min
utes before more came. Then II was:
"Goodby, sweetheart! Goodbye Good
byr'
There was long walt after this,
and l was beginning to fear there
would be no more when / received an
other installment, still in the mascu
line:
Bob, turn their right! Turn their
right! Turn their right Ohol Good
by, Clara KISS meg'
Releasing my prisoner, / left her
with derisive "Goodby. Clara" and
directing that a guard be Immediately
thrown around the house that there
might be no communication from 1t
with the enemy, rode at once 70 the
corps commander.
General" | said, Il have just pass
ed through an experience which 1 In
terpret as follows: ! have been enter
tanned by a southern girl who pur
posely gave me false information that
the enemy 10 our front would again re-
treat. There | learned, doubtless from
a parrot ii an adjoining room, which
had been used either for a council Of
war or from which orders were is
sued. that we will be attacked before
daylight IN the morning; though what
morning i can't inform you. Iomor-
row seems most likely"
THANKS. colonel" replied the gen
eral. EVEN take the preeaution TO be
under arms every morning"
1t was half past 2 the very next
morning that an attack was made on
our right. reinforced by artillery. fol-
lowed by infantry. all along the line.
But as soon as the enemy saw that we
were under arms and ready for them
they ceased firing and gradually with
drew. We followed and gained sub
gtantial advantage.
What interested me after the fight
was to learn the name of the Confed-
crate general who attempted 70 turn
our right. This ! had no difficulty in
doing from prisoners captured 90 the
field. From them ] learned that the
general was one Of the youngest and
most attractive IN the Confederate
service, that be commanded a division
IN a corps commanded by his uncle
and that his first name was Robert
Ten years after the war ended.