The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-03-07
HOW THE WIFE OF GEN. ID. ~.
HILL SAVED THE GENERALS
HORSE, CHARLIE.
B II. A. Hunter.)

In the spring OF 1864. Amos, a shave
of Gen. D. H. Hill, was blowing corn
in the field, one mile north of David
son College, N. G. (now owned by MI
J. D.. Kerns), with a large bay horse.
named Charlie. his horse had been
presented to Gen. ID. III. Hill by the
citizens Of Charlotte at, the beginning
Of the war. The horse had been worn
out with hard service at the front,
and General Hill had sent him home
to ~recuperate. He had improved
very much and was q fine-looking ami
NAL. Randolph Hin was hoeing corn
after the pillow. Three soldiers OF
Faughan's Cavalry came along, and.
seeing such u fine horse at work, one
Of them disnlOunted and came into
the field and stopped Amos and de-
manded the horse. Amos pleaded that
the horse belonged to the General and
that he could not give him up The
soldier would take no refusal. but
compelled Amos to take off the gears
and give him the horse. BY this time
Randolph had taken in the situation
and was running to his mother at Il
rapid pace. Mrs. Hill and the chill
dren were living at that time in the
Allison house, next door to Schofeld's
store. General Napier was also in
town. with ninety men and eleven
hundred horses THESE horses were
at Davidson College because there was
a lot OF food there which could not
be shipped to the FRONT. Three thou
sand bushels of corn and a big yard
full OF p~rOvender. We're left there by
the tearing up of the railway. Tho
enemy had torn up a railway some
where in Virginia. and the Confe1-
eracy had no rails to repair the dam
age. They bought the railway from
Charlotte to Statesville at a dollar Il
foot and the rails from Charlotte to
Shepherds Cross Roads were shipped
away.
AS soon as Mrs. Hill heard that
Charles had been stolen by q soldier.
she caught up a sun-Donnet and ran
out and met the writer near Scofield's
corner She said: "Wha shal do?"
l told her to go to Colonel Napier.
lie was lodged in the Helper house
and had his office in the southeast
room. first floor. While she was lay
ing the case before the General. she
rocked UP the street and saw the three
soldiers coming. and one Of them was
riding Charles. She said: what shan
! do?' Follow me-" said the Gen
efai, and | will see that YOU get your
morse. The General also called 10
ms staff TO follow. BY this time a
number OF citizens had collected. and
we all went up the street and met the
thTec soldiers at the crossing between
the OLD chapel and the presidents
mouse. Colonel Napier had given in
s1ructlons TO Mrs. Hill, n when W.
met the men she stepped out in front
OF them, seized Charles bride and
claimed the horse. The soldier said
Madam, don't be in a hurry" Mrs.
Hill replied: furry or no hurry, get
Off my husbands horse Perhaps
nfty men, women and children had
assembled by this lime. and the sol
dleF was SO excited hat when he dis
blood gushed from his uosc.
Miss Fannie Kirkpatrick, daughter Or
he president of the college. ran into
the house and brought u towel and
basin OF water. As soon AS the blood
was washed away, the soldier trans
TERED his saddle to his own poor,
S~ofe-backed horse and rode away. The
situation was SO teaSe-all the men
being arm ed-that not q word was
spok en- by the Genera or any 81 his
men. Mrs Hill handel the bride rein
TO Randolph. and Charles was soon
IN his masters stable.
fUnffrSEiIfa ~ q