The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-10
ny sENEx.


have often thought that IL every
individual who lived at the South
during the four years of the war could
give the experience OF each ones life
at that time, II would prove of great
value and interest. do not speak.
now of the men at the front: but OF
those who were left e home TO watch.
TO hope and TO pray. for that was all
The majority OF our women could dc
the dear. devoted. women OF the
south--to scan eagerly. yet with dread.
the list OF dead and wounded in the
newspaper columns. 10 te9r open. with
trembling fingers. the Geographic dis
patch which might moan 10 them a
broken heart. widowed life, or the
crushing OF some sweetly cherished
hope The men could do and dare.
The women must wcep and endure.
Eut II the history of any one family
IN The South at that time could be
written II might show a community
OF interests, SORROWS. toys and priva-
uons. with the others. and yet, how
different in detsils Some families had
oeen driven from homes of wealth and
refinement. at an hour or two no.
,ice some who were already poor.
were SIN further Impoverished Little
Incidents, seemingly trivial at the time.
would illustrate character or
wrsathe romance about them. In
rorno humble farmhouse. the wife left
alone with hor little ones. while the
husband was lin the war" tended the
little crop and looked after the cattle.
In the rretentious mansion. the mis-
eress OF the establishment. planned
md managed In the absence Of hus-
pand or son. One could tell or hand
or deserters and marauders who came
nnd drove away the only COW or hors..
tho other could recite. with indiGna-
ton. the story Of an expedition Of
"nummers" in search OF gold. silver
ware and anything else which was
eatable. drinkablc, portable. or steal
nble Where II was possible there
Vas throughout many parts Of the
South. especially at points nearest the
hostile army, = constant shifting of
families from places or danger to those
or safety. I well remember the move
fnent OF one family which. IN the au-
rumn OF 1852 was thus compelled
~ circumstances to change Its abodc.
Western R-verscs.
In a former article certain Incidents
were related that occurred at college
IN Mississippi where was then To-
Gated. and one of the closing OF It's
doors. The aspect of an institution
OF learning when It's doors are shut.
Ior an indefinite period, although
pathetic in its appeal to sentiment, is
deserted and no!seless. its halls and
oormitories empty and silent, so that
10 restless lad the dine hung YEARLY
upon Ills hands. But near the end of
1852 we could look back upon stirring
apd important events. and forward
with apprehension, even though at
times IL was tinged with hope. Gradual
~ the army OF General a. S. Johnston
had been pressed back to the border OF
81 mi f,rn
v the Confederate forces turned on
their pursuers. and the battle OF
shiloh had been fought New Orleans,
thought TO be impre enable, had fallen,
and the river. from that point to the
vicinity OF Vicksburg, was IN posses
sion OF the enemy. The river above
Vicksburg was also commanded by
their fleet, The huge anaconda. slow
~, but surely, contracting It's coils,
though sometimes Grievously wounded.
stili persistently attempted 10 envelope
the South.
Although surrounded by some OF the
kindes; and most sympathetic peu"ie
in the world, we pincd for the M" e
eastern parts OF the South and Kindred
there, who had come by a commul
danger. still dearer TO MS. and we re-
solved to remove while 1t was possible
to do so. The next year, 1863, only
reasonable, and by the Fourth OF July,
that year, Nickst'trg and Its depend-
ercies had passe into hostile hands,
and the region we had quilted WAC
the scene of some of the hardest
fought battles of the war. Disposing
or everything. then, thu. was not
necessary Tor use and comfort and
packing our books and portraits in
cases. to he stored, we began our
travels.
There were i've women. ten negro
servants, big and little, male and fe-
male, and about twenty-six pieces OF
baggage, !, lad of about sixteen
was to he in charge of the caravan
This expedition would he no small un-
dertaking even In these DAYS of mar
vellous facilities. At that time IL ap-
peared ponderous task
We were n good distance from the
railroad; so the ladies, under charge
OF a faithful negro coachman. were
driven through the country In car
riage provided by our kind friends Two
fo"T mule VG=5Hs We're 10 carry ths
darkness the baggage and myself
perched on top of the pile of our he
longinss. The mere idea of such
Journey, tedious and protracted over
rough, hilly road. to q man of nv
present age would glve ono thu hor-
rnrs; but, at the time. IL my mind ~
was as good as froic. as A comb.na-
tion OF picnic and st-awbrrrv festival.
The country. the fields hnl hIllsl,ias
were white with cotton, AMI tn, cot
ton pickers were singing and laughing
merrily. as vet poor aouls, not know
Ing that the Ian oh promise" Wa al.
most in sight, and the 'rollins OF ma
waves 81 Jordan" alu.st Within !cnr
Ing That part Of the country was SO
hilly and the hills so steep that most Of
the hauling was done by mules and oven
The OK teams would have six. eight
and ten yoke. and u wasinteresting to
watch heavily .usLah XeS,1 c!.v.
go SLOWLY mp same steNo sill that tho
motion would he almost imperceptisle>
These OK teams were governed entire.
iy by the drivers voice and by the