The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-12-13
INCIDENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR
RELATED BY MRS. M. c. GARY
"reminiscences Written by Abbeville
Lady Won u. D. c. Prize in
North Carolina

CarOllna OHelel prize IOf lHe DSSl
paper touching the incidents Of the
Civil war. Mrs. Frank S. Hassell,
formerly Miss Blanche Gary, present
ed the following article written by
her grandmother, Mrs. NJ. c. Gary of
Ahbeyille, S. c., which had been pub
lished in the Charleston News and
Courier and it was awarded the prize.
incidents of the Civil War
The Charleston News and Courier
requested that ''Our Women in the
War;" who had any experience would
write an account of it for publication.
AS had some at that time I respond
to the request.
When war between the North and
the South was proclaimed, compan-
les were formed all over the South
and men went to battle for liberty,
which they thought dearer than life.
Many of the women of the south
had been reared in wealth and luxury,
without the knowledge Of hardships
but when those near and dear to them
were exposed to the dangers of war,
they did not pine in idleness, but
bound themselves together to aid in
the cause with the zeal and heroism
that characterizes the true woman.
We cannot dwell upon the acts of
few, when all did so well.
My home at the time of the war
was in Cokesbury, S. C. AS that town
had never ben raided or invaded by
Union soldiers I was spared the in
suits, privations and cruelties that
many noble women of the South were
subjected to when Sherman's army
passed through South Carolina devas-
tating everything in it's way.
At one time the citizens of Cokes-
bury were greatly excited and alarm
ed when news reached the town that
Yankee soldiers were on thir way
there, as there was no one in the
place at that time, except few old
men, women, children and servants.
The servants were told to get the
wagons and haul all provisions to
place of safety, or everything would
fall into the hands of Yankee SOL
diers and then there would be moth
ing for them to eat as we had no
money with which to buy more. They
began their work at once and soon
everything was beyond the reach of
the enemy, while the women busted
themselves in secreting their valua-
bles.
Then we quietly awaited their
coming, knowing not what the result
would be. At last night came on, and
still we watched for what we dreaded.
There was no one in my house except
myself, four little children and the
nurse.
All was solitude and we were
startled even at the dropping of an
acorn, with no hope of human aid un-
less there was a Mason among those
expected. My husband having taken
the precaution before he left for the
war, to have me given a Masonic de-
gree, telling me if 1 was ever in dis
tress and made the sign of distress
if, there was Mason present he
would be bound to protect me. The
trying moment, ,came-footsteps were
heard upon the front piazza and
rap on the door. ! can never forget
the expression on the faces OF the
children and nurse, or my own feel
ings, but to the door we went and
when the door was opened, ray of
Joy came over all as there was Nc
Lendon Connor and another young
man who had come to tell me l could
retire without fear as there would be
no Yankees there, they having been
unable to cross the river at the ferry
as they had expected, and were fore
ed to cross higher up which would
cause them to go through different
part of the country.
At the beginning of the war I had
a carriage and fine pair of horses,
which Gen. Stewart learned of in
some way and sent an order from Vir-
ginia for them which was granted at
once, and when l saw them being
driven away, knowing that l could
have them no more it was without re-
gret, as I felt I was aiding in the
cause for which brave men were
fighting.
Early in the great struggle for lib
erty the ladies of Cokesbury, as they
did everywhere else, formed them
selves into societies that they might
readily aid in their work for the SOL
diers.
Work was being constantly done by
5,, ,nd n;obt We uSed ta1lOW can