The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19
inner harbor to prevent the English vs,

inner harbor 10 prevent the English ves- sel from approaching the city.
 After a short and ineffective lombard ment the vessel moved away. The people thought the vessel moved north but in- stead 1t circled and entered Osabaw sound, anchoring near Montgomery.
 "The officers took possession of my great grand fathers home and made the inmates practically prisoners, forbidding them to leave the place or have any com munication whatsoever with the outside world. The officers tents were pitched at the house, drawing on my great grand l fathers store of provisions
 "The purpose of the British was to select time and approach Savannah from the south, which was unprotected for the reason that the citizens and the small detachment of American soldiers there expected attack from the north or east.
 My grandmother, Henrietta, was loyal ] to the patriots. though her father had remained neutral so far. She sought some | plan to warn the people of Savannah of their danger.
 Now. among their salves was a shrewd old negro called Uncle Billie He was a good fiddler and Henrietta used him in a most ingenious manner to secure infor- nation of the plans of the British off i ccrs.
 Following her Instructions Uncle Bill lie took his fiddle and acting as crazy or half-witted, approached the tents of the l n1 op Ia looked upon as harmless by the officers and was encouraged with small coins and was permitted to sit near the door of their main tent.
 "All the time he was saving on his fiddle and droning in senseless manner he had his ears open for every word that he could catch from inside the tent. Ills patience and ingenuity was finally re- warded. He heard all the plans for the attack on Savannah. It was to be on the third morning at daybreak.
 Getting back to the house as soon as possible without giving suspicion he hur- ried his young mistress up into the attic and whispered to her every word he had heard.
 1 But the hardest task was yet to be per | formed. She must devise some excuse for going into Savannah with the news. She Twas equal to the task.
 "Ehe planned with Uncle Billie to steal | all the meat from the smokehouse dur l ing the night and conceal 1t in the attic. Next morning there was poor break | fast for the officers and they complained greatly. In the midst of the dilemma in which my great grandfather explained that someone had slipped in and stolen | everything and that he saw no way of procuring other provisions, Henrietta tim idly suggested that if the officers would permit her she would go into Savannah with the crazy negro. Uncle Billie. and procure 8 supply for a few days.
 "The officers, whose names cannot re- member, finally consented to give the slip of girl pass through the picket lines if she was not afraid to take the risks.
 With the pass she and Uncle Billie got into Savannah all right, gave the warning and started home During the day the picket had been changed and she was not recognized. She and Uncle Billie were arrested and held until an other picket who had seen her passed in the morning came up and she was per mitted to proceed.
 "The attack was attempted on the morning planned. but when within four miles of the city the company was sur rounded. s9me killed. some taken pris- oner, while others were able to escape to their boats and finally to the ship in the sound.
 "This incident does not appear in his tory, and while 1t was not one of the big events of the war. 1t serves to tlus- trate the daring and loyalty of the young women of the time." Mrs. Feagin enjoys most interest ing family history. On both sides she tracea her ancestors to some of the greatest men in the history of the country. and on one side 1t runs back into English royalty
 Mrs. Caldwell prizes as one of her most valuable possessions personal letter from King Edward, VII. giving her some solicited information of her royal ancestors.
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