E 605 
 .H17 
 Copy 1 
 
MAJOR HALL'S WIFE. 
 
 A Thrilling Story of the Life of a Southern Wife and Mother, while a Refugee 
 in the Confederacy, during the late struggle. 
 
 Zsp a 
 
 "WIRITTIEISr IBY HERSELF. 
 
 SYRACUSE, N Y.: 
 
 WEED & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 
 
 1884. 
 
Copyright, 1883, by T. K. Fuller. 
 
 ALL RIGIITS RESERVED. 
 
 
I 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 r 
 v. 
 
 i* 
 
 PAGE 
 
 ountain Mice 7 
 
 rewell to Home 11 
 
 Manchac - : - -- 15 
 
 'n Camp 16 
 
 Jrandon . 1? 
 
 s it Forever? 23 
 
 Vcross the River 28 
 
 rhe Salt Lake. _ ---- 35 
 
 iVas it Haunted?. 38 
 
 VIount Lebanon 43 
 

PEEFACE 
 
 The thrilling experiences detailed in the following pages, are not imaginary, but 
 ,, dents from real life. This story is a true one. She, who lived the reality, has sur- 
 ged to tell the tale in her own simple, unobtrusive though forcible language, without 
 * alteration of a single word. Those who peruse these lines will wonder how a lady o1 
 elicate fibre and constitution could go through so much, and still live. 
 
 When one views the plans she laid, unaided by a husband's thought, -the happy 
 ome she abandoned for a wilderness of wandering, -the obstacles that obstructed her 
 leparture and seemed to settle in her pathway at every step.-the difficulties she sur- 
 lounted and risks she run, against the advice of friends, to accomplish her one fixed and 
 [etermined purpose to follow the footsteps and fortunes of him she loved-the father of 
 ,cr children, then, then indeed! one will get a new idea of the beautiful love of the wife, 
 md the noble daring of the mother! 
 
 Too modest still, notwithstanding all her achievements, to write the preface of her 
 own story, she commits that task to a friend. 1 have read the story. I am silenced m 
 amazement at the labors she performed, the privations she suffered and the ends she 
 accomplished' But more than all, do I admire the wifely love which prompted all this. 
 I can only say— read the story. ^ FRIEND. 
 

MAJOR HALL'S WIFE, 
 
 A Thrilling Story of the War Written by Herself. 
 
 I CHAPTER I. 
 
 I "THE mountain mice." 
 
 \ "No volcanic eruption rends a mountain, without 
 "disturbing the existence of its mice Thus, every 
 "historical event has its bearing: upon the lives of its 
 "private, and even ob-cure, individuals." 
 
 Thus the fraternal war of our country 
 disturbed and u>fluenced, for many years, 
 the lives and fortunes of myself and family, 
 whom I will designate "The Mountain 
 Mice." On every street, from every house, 
 were heard the popular airs of "Wearing of 
 the Gray," "My Maryland," and "D xie." 
 All was blithe and gay, for no doubts of the 
 ultimate success of the Confederate cause 
 entered the minds of the people. Not a 
 single fear agitated their hearts, in regard 
 to the fleet below the city. The blockade 
 runners brought the only news from the 
 puter world; and, occasionally, a letter from 
 some Northern relative, reached us through 
 their hands. 
 
 The Confederate troops, under the com- 
 mand of Brigadier-General Lovell, were 
 quartered on the old battle fields below 
 New Orleans, and were under strict military 
 discipline. Profiting by, and assisting in 
 that discipline, were companies of English, 
 French and German troops, the brilliant 
 uniform of the Chasseurs, the odd Zouaves, 
 forming a striking contrast to the sober 
 gray. They were all subject to every rule 
 of camp life; but the Confederate portion 
 of those quartered there afterwards found, 
 by stern experience, that this was but holi- 
 day camping after all. 
 
 The gay city showed its full appreciation 
 of this splendid mimicry of war; for its eve- 
 ning dress parade, and its Sabbath religious 
 exercises, combined to make the trip to 
 camp the height of fashion. 
 
 The ensuing week, camp was to be broken 
 up; The Confederates were to be stationed 
 in the city, part of them tenting in Coliseum 
 Place; the remainder, in Magazine Square. 
 So, this last Sabbath, it seemed as if the 
 whole city had conspired to do honor to the 
 day, 
 
 To add to the attraction, the Chaplain of 
 the Confederate Brigade, the Rev. Mr. Ful- 
 ton, was to officiate 
 
 He was one of the most eloquent and 
 popular men of the city. Women and chil- 
 dren, accompanied by their servants, who 
 attended to baskets of provisions anr 1 wines, 
 and looked after the welfare of the little 
 ones, crowded tne Poochartrain cars. Such 
 a chattering — English, Parisian French, 
 Creole French, German and the soft patois 
 of the Louisiana negro— filled the air. We 
 were swiftly whirled to camp. As the white 
 tents, the flags of the different companies, 
 with the stars and bars rampant over all, 
 came in sight, I little realized how soon the 
 animated scene, the crowds of smiling peo- 
 ple, — even my own beautiful boy arrayed 
 in his Major's uniform, "Dess like p*pa," — 
 the tender looks of my handsome husband, 
 would be all lost to my view midst tears; 
 and the gay pageant disappear in terror and 
 darkness! 
 
 It rises before me. The gay chatter, the 
 
8 
 
 light badinage, followed by the reverential 
 hush of the multitude, as every head was 
 bowed in prayer! The impressive figure of 
 the chaplain in bis severe black, surrounded 
 by the staff officers, whose uniforms flit- 
 tered with gold and crimson ! Above them, 
 the large banner, whose heavy folds droop- 
 ed, as if it feared, by raising itself on high, 
 it might lose a word of that forcible prayer 
 for its success! 
 
 Below the stand, the brilliant and the 
 gray uniforms were well contrasted with 
 the light and airy costumes of the ladies. 
 Ladies of all nations, of a31 degrees and 
 ages, were there. The American southern 
 ladies, with their aristocratic languor; the 
 highbred vivacious French beauty ; the gold- 
 en locks and blue eyes of the German. The 
 grandmother, with her snowy puffs crowned 
 with an airy bonnet of priceless lace, her 
 rich silks and her unpurchasable diamonds; 
 the little ones, dressed as no other city 
 dresses her little ones. All were here rep- 
 resented. 
 
 Ah, the gay, the happy scenes! After the 
 sermon, the crowd dispersed, and gathered 
 itself into larger or smaller groups of 
 familiar friends— to dine. 
 
 I soon found myself, with a few of my 
 own immediate circle of intimate friends, at 
 the door of the tent appropriated to my hus- 
 band and his brother officers. There, with 
 sunny laughter and niild flirtation, we 
 whiled the time away, whilst awaiting the 
 summons to lunch— lunch, consisting of 
 delicious gumbo, game of all kinds, and 
 fruits only to be found in their perfection 
 in the markets of New Orleans. Wines, 
 both light and heavy; the inevitable cham- 
 pagne. The beautiful children, with their 
 dusky nurses, filled the pauses with their 
 soft tones and sweet laughter. All was jest 
 and merriment. Only one remark made in 
 those joyous hours, recurs to my mind, 
 after all these intervening years. Our 
 youngest and favorite officer present, says, 
 carelessly: "Next month will see the Fed- 
 eral fleet on the Mississippi River, overlook- 
 ing these 8»me fields, unless the powers that 
 be, see fit to send our own General here. 
 Here's to the health of General Beauregard! 
 Glasses down, ladies!" 
 
 Happy, holiday soldiering— when we 
 in rocking chairs and drank our differ 
 wines, each m its respective glass! 
 after dining, retiring to our husband's p 
 vate tent, to repair damages to toilet 
 arrange dishevelled hair, finding in that 
 all the appurtenances of the toilette, in 
 form of pearl handled brushes, powd 
 boxes and plate mirrors. 
 
 Effeminate, yes! But where did thi 
 effeminacy vanish, when, disorganized an< 
 disbanded, they were scattered in all direc 
 tions— some to lay in "Vicksburg's trenche 
 —some to die in prisons— some, midst car 
 non's roar and smoke of battle, to meet 
 soldier's death! 
 
 There was one at lunch, then, exchanginj 
 repartee with "Belle Marie," who alway 
 attended dress parade with snow white kids 
 instead of the regulation cotton, as cotton] 
 was so shoppy— his father was a cotton 
 planter— who died bravely, with his face to 
 his foes. He fought his enemies "without 
 the gloves. " 
 
 Happy days! To be viewed now through 
 oceans of tears! Laughter, to be listened to 
 now as an echo deadened by sighs and 
 groans for the loved ones! All to be seen 
 and heard as ghostly memories! Gay 
 soldiery — sweet laughter — obscured and 
 deadened by the presence of black-robed 
 wives, sweethearts and mothers, who, with 
 their sighs, filled the air around me! 
 
 A few days after we find our soldiers in 
 gray encamped in the city, and the tide r| 
 fashionable life flowing towards tho \ 
 squares. \ 
 
 Whil-t in camp in the city my husban I 
 was a frequent visitor at home. During \ 
 those visits we had many discussions as to 
 the advisability of my remaining in the city 
 with my children, in the event of the troops 
 being ordered into service outside of the 
 city. Having no misgivings as to the im- 
 pregnability of the forts Delow, we finally 
 decided that a comfortable borne, well 
 stocked with the necessaries of life, was not 
 to be lightly abandoned 
 
 The morning of the 23d of April dawned 
 cloudless; and, with bright ai.d cheerful 
 faces, the families of New Oi leans gathered 
 in their breakfast rooms. How, when or 
 
9 
 
 ■where, the cloud of mistrust or anxiety 
 arose, who can tell? But soon, at each un- 
 locked gate, on neighboring galleries, wom- 
 en, children and servants, were gathered, 
 whispering low, that there was a possibility, 
 only a possibility, that the Federal fleet 
 could pass the forts! 
 
 Later in the day I resolved upon visiting 
 camp Finding no street cars running, 
 I inquired the reason; was answered, "The 
 mules are taken and being used by the mili- 
 tary authorities;" but no one seemed to 
 know on what duty. 
 
 I walked to camp. All was uncertainty 
 there. Rumors were afloat, as to the where- 
 nouts of General Lovell. Some said, he 
 as out of the city; others, that he was 
 rf connoitering down the river. The truth 
 w\ae, he was closeted with the civil author- 
 ities, discussing the best plan to pursue, in 
 tiase the Federal fleet succeeded in passing 
 the forts. 
 
 The whole atmosphere of the streets, as 
 
 well as of the camp, seemed dispiriting and 
 
 j saddening. A. loud tone or laugh jarred 
 
 | upon one's nerves, as if in the presence of a 
 
 {great sorrow. 
 
 Our home, like many Southern homes, 
 
 Jconsisted of many rooms on one floor; that 
 
 • -mp, the house proper. Large rooms, opening 
 
 ,into a passage through the centre of the 
 
 t. Chouse; and long windows in each room, 
 
 ,iopening upon a broad gallery extending all 
 
 around the house. The kitchen department 
 
 iwas a separate building, two storied. The 
 
 lower floor consisted of storeroom, kitchf-n, 
 
 wash room and servants' parlor. The upper 
 
 floor was divided into sleeping rooms.whicb 
 
 p»ened up'>n a gallery extending across the 
 
 ront of the building. This building was 
 
 ^connected with the house by a covered 
 
 Iwalk. 
 
 As the short, southern twilight died away, 
 and darkness usurped its place, I heard ex- 
 clamations from the servants' quarters. I 
 jjtarted to inquire into the cause of this dis- 
 turbance, when the gate bell rang, and my 
 llWsband was admitted. 
 
 r 
 
 lttus 
 
 aBefore I could ask a question, he ex- 
 ckirced, "Francie, have you observed the 
 bght from the cotton burning? Come, go 
 vith me to the servants' gallery ; I think we 
 
 can see it from there." The street car ani- 
 mals had been hauling cotton, all day, from 
 the warehouses, to places designated for that 
 purpose, that it might be burced. 
 
 At that moment the cook ran in, exclaim- 
 ing, "Oh, Miss Francie! The city down by 
 the river must be all on fire!" 
 
 In silence, my husband led the way. 
 After reaching the gallery, from which we 
 could see the glare of the fires, he tenderly 
 said: "My darling, this is not an omen of 
 good. I feel very sorry, that I did not, 
 while my time was my own, send you and 
 the children out into the Confederacy." 
 
 The servants fell asleep. We sat long 
 and late, upon the gallery, in almost utter 
 silence. The baleful light of those fires did 
 not incline us to conversation. I could not 
 find it in my heart to press my anxieties on 
 my husband, when his own depression was 
 so evident. About midnight he rose, saying 
 wearily, "Do not waken the servants. My 
 wife must open the gate for her husband 
 to-night. It may be the last time!" 
 
 We went into the house. With his eyes 
 filed with tears, he kissed our sleeping lit- 
 tle ones. Lingering, he looked around the 
 room, as if impressing upon his memory 
 each familiar object. Each room we vis-- 
 ited in succession; and, as each detail came 
 to our notice, we recalled the circumstances 
 under which, and with what &rdor, we had 
 purchased each article for our home. 
 Finally, taking the gate key from its nail 
 on the gallery, he remarked: "Remember! 
 If the forts should be passed, the signal is 
 this: all the bells of the city toll nine 
 o'clock! Stop, and repeat twice. If you 
 hear these, let nothing deter you: come di- 
 rect to camp!" 
 
 The tun's glittering rays on the morning 
 of April 24th could not dispel the gloom 
 from the hearts of the people. As I was 
 standing on the gallery, too dispirited to 
 reply to the childish prattle around me, I 
 heard a bell! ONE, TWO, THREE— 
 Yes, the fatal nine! Butwnii! There may 
 be a mistake! Again, solemnly, the nine 
 strokes fall upon the ear! A pause — and 
 again the banshee strokes! NEW OR- 
 LEANS IS DEAD ! 
 
 Before the last stroke had ceased, with 
 
10 
 
 my hat on my head, my parasol in hand, 
 breakfast forgotten, I stood at the unlocked 
 gate saying, "Remember, Lucy! Keep chil- 
 dren within; and on no account open the 
 gate to a stranger!" 
 
 On reaching camp I found all quiet. No 
 orders had been given. General Lovell was 
 reported to be in consultation with the 
 Mayor. My husband proposed, if I felt 
 equal to the walk, that I should proceed to 
 his store and investigate the condition of 
 affairs there. I proceeded to do so. I 
 found the business houses closed. Not a 
 person to be seen in that locality. Crowds 
 of people were hurrying towards the r 
 
 e 
 
 i, officers and soldiers, now there |was 
 nothing! I rubbed my eyes-, gazing aro und 
 as if dazed! When at last I perceive d at 
 the gate farthest from me, a wagon bt :mg 
 loaded with the remains of the camp eq aip- 
 age An officer galloping past me revised 
 me into action. I rushed after him, asking 
 eager questions. His reply contained no . 
 information. Their substance was oijily, 
 that camo was to be removed, but to what 
 
 point few ofi the officers and none of the. 
 
 men knew. 1 
 
 Aa the camp wagon lumbered away 1| 
 
 turned and mechanically followed it. Oi 
 
 on, through street after street totally nr 
 
 y v 
 
 31 
 
 of people were hurrying towards the river ^ ^ e until weie80he d the deposit 
 with empty baskets and buckets; whilst ^ MlMiMippi Railr0 J. 
 
 yet again, as great ^mbers were coming th and understanding, tje 
 
 from the levee with utensils filled, and io . ^ 
 
 carrying flitches of bacon and hams. scene before mo ^ fo fU1 
 
 Whilst looking at the sight in mute won- lessness of fiadmg any c P £ 
 
 der, I heard a voice: "Bnrdy, Mars Geoff scope; but to me * on y g 
 
 ffiuS t be sick, to let Miss Franc, be on the though J^^ m/Lband's face 
 ^in"* I beheld the head man of the once more before he left me-perhaps for 
 store, whose dignity was sorely hurt at see- ever! freight and passenger. 
 
 ing his mistress on the street, unattended, Every car, o> 8 ^ 
 
 and on foot. I ordered him to f ol ow me was £ ™ m ° 1 The eg ^ 
 
 towards the river that I might see what was ed. In t hem on op ^ ^ 
 
 being done. Whilst on the way he explain- ™*™*™™ 8 , lent , y marcfced into dfa 
 ed to me that the owners of the warehouses ^ WJ1 " ere t L the tap of ti 
 
 on the levee had opeoed them requesting yard Sdent exeep ^ m 
 
 the people to take from them all they wish- drum and the ^ £ 
 
 ed, preferring this method, to letting their were J^ ^«° P £ aDtg wto 
 goods fall into the hands of the enemy. Wof^ n cbi d ^ from tbe ^ 
 
 Hogsheads of sugar and molasses were ^7^^^ rt<mtd oort 
 opened, each person carrying away all that I Indeed, tt 
 
 was possible. Turning in the direction of 
 camp again, I kept William in attendance 
 until free from the crowd. It was not until 
 long after that 1 realized the force and 
 earnestness of that crowd. There was no 
 rudeness, no quarreling. Neither was t 
 
 1UUCCU, 1"^ v;"~.~., 
 
 and in imagination, we already saw ou j 
 houses pillaged and ourselves wanderei*; 
 
 upon the earth. 
 
 The coolness of the soldiers contrasted 
 well with the confusion and mad U-rrc 
 around them. I turned helplessly, I 
 
 1P re was any I way and that-too apathetic and weary nl 
 any oirth or laughter. If there was any way suddenly one of our Louisianvl 
 
 conversation it left upon my mind "oH^^ bucke1 , of watl 
 press of words. It was a mass of human be- showers came up 
 
 Jog. m such deadly earnest that there seeme ^ f all *m ac ^ ^ 
 seemed to be no room for words ^ a r, d welcome deluge seemed to waken 
 
 By the time that I reached Magazine ^^Xn d inftu* new energy |i- 
 atreet square my nervous excitement had my dull edm a j 
 
 reached such a height that 1 ran, rather to my ^ spirits 1 cocUy 1 
 
 than walked, into the gate. Am I dream- against a V^™**™*£ ^ 
 
 L? Where a few hours before there were 'in search of an available po 
 
11 
 
 questions. Among the many officers in 
 sight, I selected the one whose trappings 
 betokened the highest rank. Climbing 
 over baggage, picking my way over the 
 rail9, I approached him. But it was not 
 until I was near enough to seize his bridle 
 that I succeeded in attracting his attention. 
 "Where is Company 'C.'?" said I. I now 
 think it wa3 only his amazement at my sud- 
 den appearance that prevented him collect- 
 ing his thoughts quick enough to shake his 
 bridle from my hand instead of answering 
 me, as he did, in his surprise. Raising 
 himself in his stirrups he pointed over line 
 upon line of cars, to the farthest train, say 
 ing: "The last row of cars. Be careful as 
 you approach them, for there is a fearful 
 ditch, and in this blinding rain you might 
 easily fall into it." 
 
 ' This kind and courteous gentleman could 
 not, even then, give a short answer to a 
 woman. And let me here say that in all 
 my experience and adventures during the 
 war and on both sides, Federal and Confed- 
 erate, the kindness I have met with has far 
 overbalanced the rudeness. 
 
 By the time I had reached the designated 
 train my weary feet stumbled. My eyes 
 were filled, not only with tears, but with 
 the water which had soaked through my 
 bonnet and gay flowers, and was now in 
 various colors streaming down my face. 
 
 Suddenly I heard the exclamation: 
 "Major, surely that is your wife!" Some- 
 thing in the tone arrested my attention, and 
 I looked up In time to see my husband's 
 horrified countenance as he elbowed his 
 way out of the car, calling on William, j 
 could not speak. I could ODly clasp my 
 arms around his neck, forgetful of specta- 
 tors, of all and everything, save the one 
 fact that my love was going — I knew not 
 where; and I might never see him again! 
 With fervent kisses* he gently unclasped 
 I my hands, saying to William: "Take your 
 mistress into the depot. Fetch a carriage; 
 and do not leave her until you put her safe 
 in the house under Lucy's care." The en- 
 gine shrieked. And that train, the first or- 
 dered off, started. 
 
 Owing to the confusion, William found 
 that he could not get any one to order a 
 
 back, and not daring to leave me long 
 enough to go home after horses and car- 
 riage, he stood helpless at my side until a 
 gentleman stepped forward and suggested 
 that, as I was thoroughly wet, I had better 
 walk home, anyway. 
 
 Long before we reached home I had to 
 avail myself of the assistance of my faithful 
 boy. My nervous excitement having 
 waned, physical distress, aggravated by my 
 not having tasted a morsel of food that day, 
 was added to my mental distress and terror. 
 It was night when I entered my own gate. 
 My poor children and servants, who had 
 been in an agony of suspense since morn- 
 ing, alarmed at my appearance, conducted 
 me to my room. There Lucy administered 
 the true Southern panacea — a cup of 
 strong coffee. 
 
 Two days afterward I opened my eyes 
 upon her face, anxiously waiting for me to 
 recover consciousness. I was too weak to 
 speak In answer to my inquiring looks 
 she related to me that I had lain uncon- 
 scious during all that time: that she had 
 called a physician, who had insisted upon 
 perfect quiet, telliDg her that they must 
 not allow anything to arouse me suddenly 
 from that lethargy which had seemed like 
 death to her; as, in that absolute repose, 
 was my only chance of retaining reason. A 
 couple of days more and my brain was 
 clear. Physical strength was lacking, but 
 this was soon remedied by good care and 
 attention. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 FAREWELL TO HOME 
 
 One afternoon the clergyman of our 
 church — the same we had listened to at 
 camp — came in. He then gave me the ex- 
 planation of the sudden movement of the 
 troops. Brigadier-General Lovell really 
 wished to make a stand below the city, but 
 upon consulting with the civil authorities 
 he found they represented so much foreign 
 element in the population that he was over- 
 ruled. It was finally decided not to surren- 
 der the city, but simply to withdraw the 
 Confederate troops. In this he bad com- 
 plied with their wishes, therefore the hasty 
 
12 
 
 movement. He further informed me that 
 the city was being patrolled by the German 
 and French troops, to keep order and pre- 
 vent demoralization amongst the ruder por- 
 tion of the populace. The Federal fleet 
 lay in front of the city. None of the troops 
 had disembarked, owing to a discussion 
 which had arisen between Commodore Far- 
 ragut arid the Mayor as to the proper mode 
 of transferring the authority from the city 
 to Federal rule Commodore Farragut in- 
 sisted upon the flag which was flying being 
 hauled down and a formal surrender made 
 to him. This the Mayor refused, as the flag 
 that was flying was a State flag. There were 
 no Confederate troops in the city, and all 
 the Federalists had to do was to march in 
 and take possession. On the morning of 
 the day of which I am speaking, Commo- 
 dore Farragut had threatened to bombard 
 the city if things did not proceed according 
 to bis wishes. The Rev. Mr Fulton had 
 called to say that he feared rumors of this 
 threat would reach me and alarm me. But, 
 in such an event, time would be given to 
 remove the helpless portion of community, 
 and he had already procured a large house, 
 above Carrolton, for such of his people as 
 needed his assistance, in which class he in- 
 cluded my family. By night, however, we 
 were told that, owing to the number of 
 English, French and German residents scat- 
 tered throughout the city, there was hardly 
 a point which wus not defended by a foreign 
 flag. 
 
 A couple of days intervened of absolute 
 quiet in our part of the city. The Federal 
 troops disembarked, but did uot spread 
 throughout the city. The gunbnats were 
 gradually extending up the river. Each 
 day a train was run to the depot upon the 
 Jackson and Mississippi railroad from the 
 country. This depot was crowded with 
 women and children whose husbands and 
 fathers had gone out with the troops. Each 
 train brought in a few gentlemen, who, up- 
 on reaching their destination, had decided 
 upon returning and doffing the Confederate 
 uniform to await the coming events. 
 
 About the sixth evening after the depart- 
 ure of the troops, and between nine and ten 
 o'clock at night, a ring at the gate startled 
 
 me so much that I accompanied the servant 
 to the gate. Immediately upon opening it 
 a gentleman entered, hastily closing the gate 
 behind him and turning the key. Owing to 
 his plain country dress I did not recognize 
 him until the light from the house fell full 
 upon his face. He had a letter for me from 
 my darling husband. It seems, now, as if 
 no joy I have ever experienced equalled 
 that with which I received his first message! 
 I imagine that a reprieve from death must 
 seem like it! He explained that he, the 
 bearer of this message, with others, was de- 
 tailed to come in on the trains and prepare 
 the guna and ammunition belonging to the 
 troops for transportation. At dark they 
 were taken to the depot, hastily put upon 
 cars, and transported to the camp, which 
 was situated about five miles from Magnolia, 
 on the Mississippi railroad. This, he ex- ( 
 plained, was easily accomplished, as the 
 Federalists had not as yet spread themselves 
 over the city. The easy entrance afforded 
 them had evidently made them a little cau- 
 tious. My husband wrote me that he had 
 fully decided upon casting his lot with the 
 Confederaey, and was sorry that he had not 
 had me removed from the citv. As it was 
 not likely that any communication would 
 be allowed between New Orleans and the 
 Confederacy he was virtually consigning us 
 to a separation that would exist during the 
 continuance of the war. He had heard that 
 ladies and children were besieging the depot 
 to catch an opportunity of leaving the city, 
 and it might be possible for me to succeed 
 in coming in that manner to him; but, on 
 no account to start out into the country 
 without nay own and the children's ward- 
 robe and all other necessaries I could man- 
 age to bring. 
 
 Our friend made his stay as short as pos- 
 sible, as any moment might bring him into 
 danger. He left, saying that he would call 
 the next night for an answer to my hus- 
 band's letter. 
 
 That night was a sleepless one to me. 
 Plan after plan revolved in my mind in re- 
 lation to quitting my home, i had four 
 young children. I should leave a comfort- 
 able home, stocked with every necessary 
 article and many luxuries. My store 
 
13 
 
 room had solid provisions and groceries 
 enough to last at least six months. On the 
 other hand was the to me unknown country. 
 The country in the South has not every few 
 miles a thrifty village with its reliable 
 stores, but, at its best, has only a clearing 
 in some woods with a few straggling board 
 houses, and, for a store, a shanty filled with 
 a little of everything, but more tobacco and 
 whisky. Now, however, the chances were 
 that nothing would be found in them. 
 Could I, though, decide upon a separation 
 .rom my husband? Would we ever see one 
 another again? Might not death— here my 
 feelings gave way! That thought, that hor- 
 rid word decided me! There were no pros 
 and cons after that. When morning came 
 my plans were laid. 
 
 As soon as I thought it probable to find 
 my friends stirring I sent for two friends of 
 my husband, to consult with them as to the 
 ibjest means to employ in carrying out these 
 pllans. They came at my summons, looked 
 n;rave, and both declared me wild to think 
 (jit exchanging a home for roaming over the 
 ZJonfederac)', houseless and homeless, with 
 our small children. They showed me most 
 learly the deprivations we would bave to 
 ndergo, and made me fee! that our pres- 
 ence migbt increase the anxiety of a bus- 
 band and father. I assented to all their 
 objections, as they were founded upon good 
 sense, but I stood firm to my resolution of 
 trying to go. 
 
 Finding me immovable they, with as good 
 (grace as possible, offered their assistance in 
 carrying out my wishes. At this juncture 
 ithe servant I had already despatcbed to 
 reconnoiter the depot returned. He report- 
 ed more families at the depot awaiting 
 (transportation than could be tafcen; but, 
 ^what was more discouraging still, he 
 brought me a copy of an order from the 
 Superintendent of the railroad to the effect 
 , that no baggage would be allowed, not even 
 a small trunk. Then, indeed, I met real 
 I opposition. But I only replied, "Go I will!" 
 For by that time my excited brain and 
 lerves had pictured every known evil that 
 «var could bring between my darling and 
 <jnyself. I think three days of such warring 
 hi good sense and strong resolve— resolve 
 
 made strong by love — would have made me 
 capable of leaving even tbose little ones for 
 the greater love I bore their father. I 
 busied myself that day and night packing 
 trunks, and the next morning found me 
 with seven large trunks filled and ready for 
 flitting. 
 
 My cook I had put at baking breadstuffs 
 and boiling meat. My dining room boy 
 was filling a basket with bottles of wine and 
 boxes of guava jelly. That night our friend 
 ran the risk again of bringing me another 
 letter from my husband, in which he im- 
 plored me to come out, but said that I must 
 trust to my own mother wit, for the trains 
 were to stop running the next day. Our 
 friend told me, however, that the next night 
 a train consisting of two cars and an engine 
 would run as far down as Kenner. Kenner 
 is a small, hamlet-like village about twelve 
 miles up the river. So that night I resolved 
 to reach Kenner early the next day. But it 
 proved true that "L'homme propose, mais 
 Dieu dispose." 
 
 Early the next morning the two gentle- 
 men made their appearance to inform me 
 that the last train had been run down the 
 day before, that the Federalists had or 
 would take possession of the depot that day, 
 that the engines and rolling stock had by 
 that time been run off into the country, ex- 
 cept a few freight cars, by the engine com- 
 ing in at night, the same engine by which 
 our friend brought me my letters. Also, 
 that some smaller gunboats had been put 
 upon Lake Pontchartrain, which would take 
 possession of Pass Manchac — thus shutting 
 off communication with the country on that 
 side. As I dared not tell the source of my 
 information I could only ask them to assist 
 me a little, promising that if my schemes 
 failed this time I would be reasonable and 
 give up my, to them, wild projects. To one 
 I gave all tbe money I had in my possession, 
 asking him to get it changed into gold. To 
 the other I said, "Please engage, at any 
 price, a carriage and a delivery wagon to 
 take us to Kenner." 
 "To Kenner! For what purpose?" 
 "Tbat I cannot tell," said I, "but I will 
 go to Kenner today. I will be ready at 
 twelve." 
 
 
" 
 
 They left the house, thinking that of all 
 willful women I was the most so. At twelve 
 I sat with my hat on my he«d ready to start, 
 when my dear friend, Rev. Mr. Fulton, 
 came in with satchel in hand, saying, "My 
 dear madame, I have heard of your mad re- 
 solve and should have been here sooner, but 
 I waited, it being Friday, to procure a sub- 
 stitute for my pulpit, for I shall remain with 
 you until I see you safe on your way to join 
 the Major or back in your own house. I 
 thought I might not be able to return before 
 the Sabbath." I could not, speak, could only 
 gaze at him with thankful eyes. The two 
 gentlemen to whom I had entrusted my 
 commissions just then appeared at the gate. 
 
 I rushed to open it myself "Where is 
 the carriage?" I asked. "You had better 
 ask after your money, that is of more con- 
 sequence." 
 
 But I would not be put off. They had 
 turned the money into gold, as that might 
 prove wise in any event; but, having con- 
 sulted with my husband's business friends, 
 they had become fully convinced it was a 
 mad scheme, concocted in a mad woman's 
 brain, for if I succeeded in getting to Ken- 
 ner what good would that do? For I could 
 get no farther. 
 
 Only for a moment did despair seize me! 
 Then I said firmly. "Gentlemen, mad or 
 sane, I shall go! If you will not do me the 
 favor to arrange for teams I shall go into 
 the city and arrange for myself!" 
 
 Mr. Fulton then spoke and said: "Let 
 her go. Make it as easy for her as you can. 
 I will not leave her until she is safe some- 
 where." , 
 
 As it was then nearly one o'clock it 
 
 would be at least four before arrangements 
 could be completed. For the first time 
 since I saw the depolate square of Magazine 
 street, I laughed as I ordered fire started in 
 the kitchen and coffee made; saying gayly, 
 •'Bid a long farewell to the old stove, Lucy 
 for you will not build a fire in it a«ain, 
 soon — perhaps never!" 
 
 At four my carriage came. Then, in a 
 few minutes, a baggage wagon drove up. 
 The driver, however, insisted upon feeding 
 his mules before starting; which would take 
 an hour at least; as he had some distance to 
 
 go before reaching his barns. So he left, 
 agreeing to be back as soon as possible. 
 
 We sat ourselves down to wait for him; 
 when a loud noise in the street caused us to 
 step through the window. Behold! A 
 wagon load of bricks had run against the 
 carriage waiting at the door and taken one 
 of the hind wheels completely off. 
 
 A chorus of voices at once arose, "Every- 
 thing conspires against you! Surely, you 
 will yield now and give up going!" 
 
 It seemed to me, however, that a new de- 
 termination arose within me that I would 
 not be beaten. Stepping out to the car- 
 riage, I eaid: "It is now half past four. 
 How soon can you return with another car- 
 riage?" 
 
 "I cannot be back before six o'clock, try 
 as hard as I please." He then added: 
 "Madame, at Carrolton there is stationed 1 a 
 gun boat. Yesterday I tried to take some 
 ladies past there on their way to Kenne*\ 
 The officer in command of a squad of mel«i 
 patrolling there turned them back, althougl 
 the ladies cried and entreated. I brough 
 them back and lhey are still in the city." 
 
 Not one moment did I hesitate; but said 
 Never mind : I may have better luck." 
 
 I do not think I uttered a word upon re 
 turning to the house until the baggage* 
 wagon drove up to the door a few minutes! 
 after five Then I ordered all the trunks) 
 put in. Finding spire room in the wagon 
 opened the store room and had an unopened) 
 barrel of flour and some blankets and pil-i 
 lows added to the load. Then I sat downj 
 and gazed at the wagon with feelings akin 
 to despair! I seemed to hear the ticking of, 
 the French clock on the mantel yet, as it 
 counted out the seconds! When Lucy said,j 
 "Miss Francie, it is six o'clock!" 1. 
 stamped my foot at her; but said not a, 
 word. Exactly at five minutes past six the^ 
 carriage came in sight. By the time it] 
 reached the house I had babies, servants 
 and all out on the walk; whilst a friend ., 
 locked the door of the house. 
 
 In leaving that house I left il and its conl. 
 tents for ever! I never saw them again 
 All became the property of some one — n( 
 one can tell who. A crowd of idlers, ai 
 well as friends, had gathered to see us off 
 
 0) 
 
15 
 
 Upon reaching Carrollton I found the 
 officer of the day standing by the side of 
 the baggage wagon which had preceded us 
 about fifteen minutes. On the river lay the 
 first gun boat I ever saw: grim, black and 
 defiant it looked. As we reached the of- 
 ficer, Mr. Fulton explained to him that the 
 baggage belonged to the lady: that he him- 
 self was a clergyman who wished to return 
 i,o the city as soon as he had seen the mad 
 ame and her children safe. 
 
 A moment of dreadful uncertainty ! Then 
 a manly face appeared at the window of 
 the carriage. A hand raised the fatigue 
 cap and a pleasant voice said, "Do not be 
 alarmed, madame! I only wish to speak to 
 your servants. Do you go with this lady 
 voluntarily?" 
 
 A trembling "Yes" was heard. Then, he 
 ! ;*aid, "God speed you all: drive on, 
 driver!" 
 
 This was not the last time I spoke to a 
 
 Yankee officer; but I did not find them all 
 
 10 courteous. However, I never exper- 
 
 enced absolute rudeness, nor ill treatment. 
 
 That starlight drive along the river bank, 
 
 with the southern breeze which, at that 
 
 lime of year, sweeps at twilight over the 
 
 « sountry, had a soothing effect. It was 
 
 3 lard to realize that I might be a wanderer 
 
 ton the face of the earth for an indefinite 
 
 jeriod of time. 
 
 We had driven about two hours when 
 1 he shriek of a locomotive was heard. In 
 i second the command was given for the 
 carriage to hasten on. The driver of the 
 baggage wagon was to make all possible 
 3peed. His mules had been worked all day, 
 be said, and they could not hasten ; but he 
 would do the best he could. 
 
 The carriage hastened forward. We 
 
 reached Kenner, and there found a crowd 
 
 of men who had come down on the train, 
 
 resolved to go into the city to ascertain the 
 
 fate of the city and their loved ones, truet- 
 
 □g to get out again in some way. 
 
 Upon appealing to the conductor he de- 
 
 ilared that he could wait only fifteen min- 
 
 tes for my trunks; that his orders were 
 
 eremptory to make no delay in returning 
 
 cross tbe pass; for smoke had been seen 
 
 sing from the lake: that a gun boat might 
 
 reach there before he did ; and in capturing 
 the engine hat he was running the rail- 
 road would virtually fall into the hands of 
 the Federalists. 
 
 I deposited the children and nurses in the 
 empty car and paced the ground. The 
 engineer holding his watch in his hand to 
 count the minutes. Never were tnere min- 
 utes so short ! As the snap of the watch-case 
 fell upon my ear I sprang forward to im- 
 plore him for a few minutes more, when 
 the rumbling of wheels was heard. My 
 baggage comes! Whilst they are throwing 
 my trunks into a car I put into Mr. Fulton's 
 hands the one hundred dollars in gold to 
 pay for the teams and bade him adieu ! He 
 had fulfilled his promise. He had seen me 
 safely started on the road to join my hus- 
 band! Honorable gentleman — true friend 
 — devoted christian! I have never seen him 
 since. 
 
 A shriek trom the locomotive, a cheer 
 from the crowd and we plunged into the 
 darkness! 
 
 Whilst the servants made their charges 
 comfortable with food; then making them 
 beds on the seats with the pillows and blank- 
 ets I had brought, the conductor explained 
 to me that I must not be frightened at the 
 speed with which he should be obliged* to 
 run his train in order to make up the time 
 lost in waiting for my trunks. Then he 
 left me and mine alone: alone on the train, 
 save the conductor engineer and fireman. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PASS MANCHAC. 
 
 Miles ahead of us was Pass Manchac. 
 This was a draw-bridge across an arm of 
 Lake Ponchartrain. The water looks so 
 peaceful, lying still under the starlight as if 
 asleep. Does it seem possible that on one 
 side of it is approaching one of those deadly 
 monsters, a gunboat, while on the other 
 side is a more frightful appearing object, but 
 not so formidable, an engine and car con- 
 taining children, servants, and an anxious 
 mother, in the care of men sworn to cross 
 that Pass with that engine safe or sink it in 
 the lake? 
 
 As I sit with ray face pressed against the 
 
car window, looking into the darkness of 
 the night, only a sense of exultation fills 
 my heart. The tall beams of the draw 
 bridge reared themselves like watchmen set 
 by the forest to guard its domains. To- 
 night, on the far side of the bridge, there is 
 a low murmur of voices and an occasional 
 gleam of stetl. A quick and guarded move- 
 ment, followed by a cautious hist, as a 
 sound reached their ea^s. It comes nearer! 
 and the last train rua by the Confederacy 
 from New Orlears thunders over the bridge 
 greeted with loud hurrahs. A few moments 
 more and the swirr of the axes, the clank- 
 ing of chains, the splashing of the water as 
 the beams fall into it, and Pass Manchac 
 bridge is destroyed, and 1 am in the Con- 
 federacy. 
 
 Wiih kindly words to me, and wondering 
 ones to each other, in regard to the "plucky 
 woman," the men who destroyed the bridge 
 took tbeir seats in the car, and the train 
 moves on, more slowly now, as the need of 
 such great haste is over. In about, au hour 
 we make another halt. I look out with 
 curiosity. On one side the blackness of the 
 swamp, intensified by the dense orest trees 
 covered with hanging moss and its low 
 cypress knees, on the other a clearing with 
 a house a little way back. Its windows 
 were all alive with the cheerful glow of the 
 pine knot burning on its hearth. By this 
 glow 1 discover outside, lying down, sitting 
 and louDging against the trees, gray figures. 
 The air is filled with the odor, not of the 
 far famed orange and magnolia, but with the 
 more prosaic smell of fried bacon and 
 Bteaming coffee The conductor came in 
 to tell me that he should lay by here until 
 daybreak. He advised me to remain in the 
 car all night, as the house was not really as 
 comfortable as the car. 
 
 Declining the supper of bacon and corn 
 bread offered, I accepted with thankfulness 
 the tin cup handed me filled with coffee 
 hot and strong With a grateful heart I 
 laid my weary head upon the car seat and 
 fell asleep. Asleep, locked in a car stand 
 ing in a swamp, with no one around me but 
 soldiers! In the hearts of those men, un- 
 cultivated though some of them undoubt 
 edly were, were the instincts of true man- 
 
 hood. Not once during that night, although 
 their merriment at times rose to a wild 
 height, akin to revelry, did one of them 
 approach the car to disturb our slumbers. 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 IN CAMP. 
 
 A short ride m the clear morning si| 
 shine brings us to camp, where we 
 received with loud cheers, for much anxi 
 had been felt for the safety of the tra 
 Amidst those who thronged around the c 
 I soon discovered the face of my husbai 
 Evidently, by his sober appearance, he i 
 not expect to find his loved ones tbei 
 How soon those looks brightened as 
 heard the cry "Papa, papa! Here we J 
 are! Mama, Lucy,— and we have brou: 
 the baby, too, — to camp out!" We w 
 soon installed in what was to be our h<f 
 tor some time — tents. 
 
 This was real camp life. And it o{ 
 occurs tome, when I see the pleasure seel 
 of to-day camping out, that perhaps if t 
 had tried the real camp life, they like my 
 would think of it with a shudder ineteai 
 pleasure 
 
 The camp was located in the woods, v 
 only one farm house near. The countr 
 the Southern States is very different fr 
 the country of the North. The houses ar 
 at a great distance from each other, an 
 thi3 was the only house within a distance o 
 six miles. 
 
 I had three tents at my disposal — two fo 
 sleeping purposes, and the other for my sit} 
 ting room. They had floors made by layin 
 down a few planks. Upon these was spreac* 
 a large quantity of pine bows. These bows' 
 were covered with army blankets and form 
 ed our beds. A couple of stools, and pile 
 of shawls and clothing thrown down t 
 lounge upon, furnished our sitting-room 
 
 In front of the tents, and against the sid— 
 of a stump, was built a fire, which wa 
 never allowed to go out. At night thd 
 negroes slept near this, and kept it replei/ 
 ished, to drive the mosquitoes away. Foi 
 tunately my good, thoughtful Lucy ha 
 taken down and put with her clothes a larg 
 bed net, which was soon fastened up ovc^ 
 
17 
 
 the children's pine bows to protect them. 
 
 We lived on camp fare— coffee without 
 
 milk, bread and bacon. The farm house 
 
 did let me have a little milk for my baby, 
 
 u but, without robbing themselves, they could 
 
 dc not let us have anything more. 
 
 fie We were very happy there. My children 
 
 b? were the pets of the camp. The men who 
 
 se longed for the sight of their own wives and 
 
 to little ones soon found pleasure in calling 
 
 an upon us and telling of incidents in their 
 
 jOwn home life to the only family amongst 
 
 a xthem. 
 
 lh< I ate on, and drank from, tin. The homely 
 
 ca fare and tinware were brightened by the 
 
 a ]s;fact that we were together. Whilst here 
 
 yo the news was brought that the dismembered 
 
 vo brigade was to report to General Pember- 
 
 ,ton, at Jackson, to be assigned to duty at 
 
 sapther points. I will mention here that this 
 
 dri'pecial camp was retained, and some of the 
 
 officers of the brigade were assigned to keep 
 
 ifa'P the recruiting service. 
 
 iO The vexed question then arose in my hus- 
 
 ea)and's rnind as to what was to be done with 
 
 ivife and babies whilst he reported himself. 
 
 wit^he same night reaction from my excite- 
 
 t ,ima ent 8et m an d I again became too ill to 
 
 i jouvalk. 
 
 3 ian The next day I was carried to the cars 
 fay *nd- taken to the nearest town— Magnolia. 
 J Here w-e found an unoccupied house owned 
 \ as a surn^mer residence by a New Orleans 
 « merchant^. We took possession . The fire 
 J place in jthe kitchen and the necessary 
 Y articles fo»r light housekeeping found there, 
 made us muite comfortable, and I slowly 
 ; regained Jmy health, whilst my husband 
 proceeded i to report at headquarters. 
 
 Amongst our friends who returned to the 
 city to lcjok after his family and personal 
 interests^ was one who had been followed 
 by a favorite negro boy — Tom. When his 
 master tiok leave of my husband, this boy 
 entreated to be left in camp with Mars 
 Geoff, aihd, much to my pleasure, I found 
 ;hed to our service. The Colonel 
 if the boy wished to remain out in 
 federacy he was willing that he 
 o so. 
 
 him atta 
 > thought 
 1 the Con 
 \ Bhould d 
 
 tween th 
 
 During the long and tedious interval be- 
 
 is time and our return to New Or- 
 
 leans, we were indebted to this boy for many 
 a comfort. One day, whilst his mars Geoff 
 was away, he came in from camp bringing 
 a large English mastiff to the children. It 
 was a welcome addition to our numbers, for 
 it brought a feeling of security with it, very 
 pleasant in those days of no law but one — 
 ''Might makes right." 
 
 Here we rested about two months, wait- 
 ing for orders from the General command- 
 ing as to the disposition of the remainder 
 of the brigade from New Orleans. 
 
 At the expiration of that time it was 
 decided that my husband, with a small por- 
 tion of the men, should be trans erred to 
 the Trans-Mississippi department. Upon 
 reflection we decided that Magnolia, having 
 been only a summer resort for the city peo- 
 ple, with no com forts available for the rainy 
 season which would be soon upon us, it 
 would be advisable to loca'e the family be- 
 fore his departure. Accordiagly we took 
 the cars for Jackson. Here we remained at 
 the hotel in great discomfort, whilst my 
 husband searched for a temporary home for 
 us. Our discomfort was caused by the in- 
 adequacy of the town to supply accommo- 
 dations and food for the number of refugees 
 from New Orleans and Vicksburg who had 
 thronged there, also by the number of sol- 
 diers who were quartered there. Jackson 
 was then the post where the General com- 
 manding had his headquarters. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 BRAN DON 
 
 An old county seat in the State of Missis- 
 sippi was the pleasant village of Brandon, 
 situated about twelve miles from Jackson, 
 on the railroad leading to Meridian, Ala- 
 bama, and thence to Mobile. 
 
 Finding in this village a quiet hotel, and 
 that the country was not then entirely eaten 
 up by commissary demands, my husband 
 determined on placing us there for awhile. 
 So, once again on the move, we arrive at 
 Brandon, sick and weary of heat, the bustle 
 and confusion attendant upon traveling on 
 a train so full as to have hardly standing 
 room, and shopping nearly every half mile 
 to put iff or receive passengers and pack- 
 
IS 
 
 ages, as military requirements necessitated 
 
 A few weeks there convinced us that a 
 house must be found to remove the children 
 and servants from the evils attending 
 boarding at a hotel frequented by soldiers 
 from military posts and from the hospital 
 which was located there. 
 
 One day Tom rushed in— "Miss Francie! 
 Where is Mars Geoff? I done heard tell of 
 a house to rent." 
 
 "Yes, Tom; but is it furnished?" 
 
 "Yes, Miss Francie; least ways the man 
 says so." 
 
 So that evening we went to see the house 
 spoken of. We found the house situated in 
 a clearing about a mile from the village. It 
 consisted of three rooms and an outhouse. 
 
 My Northern friends will think: "Surely, 
 a comfortable house," unless they have 
 been in the clearings of Mississippi and 
 seen what some of the summer houses are. 
 
 This was a frame house with board parti- 
 tion walls. JNot even cloth drawn over the 
 boards, as they were in my San Francisco 
 experience of earlier days. A cheap paper 
 had once covered them, but now that was 
 cracked in each place where the boards met. 
 In one room was a fire place. The outhouse 
 was the kitchen. It was made of rough, 
 unplaned boards. The cooking utensils 
 consisted of an old rusty stove, two skillets 
 and a drippiDg pan. 
 
 The house was well shaded by trees. 
 Across th« front ran a gallery, upon which 
 two of the rooms opened. The furniture 
 consisted of one small round table, four 
 chairs and two old-fashioned bedsteads 
 Upon each of these lay acorn husk matiress. 
 
 After hiring this furnished hou e, we 
 found for sale, in one of the stores of the 
 village a few dishes; and in another some 
 calico and cotton. This last i soon convert- 
 ed into bedding, and commenced house 
 keeping. 
 
 After settling us in our new home my 
 husband left us for the Trans Mississippi 
 department to which ht> had been assigned. 
 As Lucy had become homesick he took her 
 away with him, to send her as far back as 
 Magnolia, leaving me in the woods with one 
 young negro girl, my faithful T^m, and 
 last, but not least, our glorious mastiff. 
 
 Now commenced the life of trial, toil and 
 privation, which I look back upon with 
 wonder that I am alive to day to tell the 
 tale. 
 
 Imagine a woman born and bred in a city, 
 accustomed to all the comforts of life, in a 
 house— no — with a rouf over her head sim- 
 ply, with nothing but trees to be seen 
 around her! Her nearest neighbors a quar- 
 ter of a mile distant through the woods I 
 Her only protectors a negro boy nineteen 
 years old, a colored girl of twelve years, and 
 a huge dog! Her only companions four 
 small chiJdren— the eldest a boy but eight 
 years old! 
 
 Many happy wives of the present day 
 may think, what a brute, to leave his wife 
 in such a place! But thev do not know that 
 a soldier has no duty that can be allowed to 
 take precedence over obedienc -j to orders. 
 
 There were no means of transportation 
 for such delicate ware as a tender woman 
 with still tenderer babies to the river and 
 across it. 
 
 Buying a few matches and candles, and 
 locking them up to save them in case of 
 sicknefs, I relied upon the famed pine knot 
 for my light at night, and a pine torch held 
 by Tom was my light with which to go over 
 the place before retiring. 
 
 There was once a Southern gentleman 
 who boasted of a candlestick valued at five 
 thousand dollars. Upon being called upon 
 for a description, his friends found that his 
 bed candle was a pine toich held ,by a valu- 
 able negro. This was my condition; only, 
 I don't think, that five times fivt: thousand 
 dollars would have induced me Up part with 
 "Our Tom." 
 
 Our Tom 1 Who walked to the village 
 for supplies; who, when the rain poured in 
 torrents, and the mud was alrrfost knee 
 deep, went to the village if there? was any 
 reasonable expectation of a Jettc r frj-om Mars 
 Geoff; who would go hoping, anol if those 
 hopes became realized he would brreak into 
 a run, as soon as he reached a poijnt where 
 he could be seen from the houae.P waiving 
 the letter above his head ! 
 
 Faithful Tom! Who romped with the 
 children; who found food and millk no mat- 
 ter how far he had to walk ir.lt 1 > the sur- 
 
19 
 
 rounding woods in search of a plantation ; 
 ■who found wood in the adjacent forests for 
 culinary purposes, and pine knots sufficient 
 for Miss Francie to keep burning all night, 
 so she might not be afraid ! 
 
 Kind, good Tom! Who cooked all our 
 meals; who helped Callie Wash and iron our 
 clothes— ruling that poor child with a rod 
 of iron, for fear that his mistress should 
 lack attention! 
 
 Brave Tom ! Who watched three nights 
 alone before he informed me that three men 
 had walked past the house several times 
 each night. As they had mad*; no efforts 
 to enter the yard he thought he had no 
 right to meddle with them; but he was sus- 
 picious of them — all the more, because if 
 he showed himself they walked away. 
 
 At first I thought out little of this; but as 
 night approached again his talk recurred to 
 mv mind. I remembered the last time I 
 was in the village, having walked up to the 
 hotel to chat with the landlady, that she 
 had laughingly told me of the reports in 
 the village: that my large trunks contained 
 a vast amount of silver plate and that I also 
 owned elegant dresses and diamonds. She 
 also told me that this report originated 
 with my own servants. At the time of 
 hearing this it made but little impression 
 on my mind; as I knew that all servants 
 laid great stress upon the wealth and stand- 
 ing of "My white folks," and fully despised 
 "Poor white trash." 
 
 Sitting now with my baby on my lap, and 
 the hateful twilight shadows darkening 
 outside, the full siguificance of the fearful 
 result which might follow this seemingly 
 harmless vanify of my good boy dawned 
 upon me. I bitterly regretted not trying to 
 get some one to come down from the vil- 
 lage to stay at night to, at least, make a 
 show of force. 
 
 It was now so late, however, that I dared 
 not send anyone away from the house. 
 Darkness came on, it seemed to me, with 
 marvellous quickness that night. My cour- 
 age must rise equal to the occasion and my 
 H>lans be formed to meet any emergency. 
 .4)Ls soon as the little ones were asleep I 
 nailed my eldest son to me and told him 
 what Tom had said. The pure blood in his 
 
 little frame showed itself in the dilated eye, 
 the small clenched fist and the straiffhten- 
 ing to his full height as he exclaimed: "Go 
 to bed and have no fears s mamma: Tom 
 and I will take care of you and the chil- 
 dren!" 
 
 Kissing my little son and thanking him 
 for his regard for my comfort, I told him 
 what I wanted him to do and my proposed 
 line of action. 
 
 Letting Callie remain unawares of our 
 fright, she was soon asleep on her pallet, by 
 the side of the little ones' bed; whilst Tom 
 patrolled the yard. I went to the door and 
 gave him one of the pistols, bidding him to 
 keep within the yard with the dog and 
 shoot without mercy the first man who en- 
 tered the gate! My brave little son I station- 
 ed at the window with a rifle resting on the 
 window sill with orders on no account to 
 fire until I gave him the word: I stood be- 
 hind him wiih a revolver in my hand; and 
 thanked God that I had at my husband's re- 
 quest, when in California, overcome a girl's 
 natural horror of fire arms sufficiently, not 
 only to fire off a pistol, but to be a tolerable 
 marksman as well. 
 
 Soon by the side of the window I heard 
 the low growl of the dog, followed by Tom's 
 low hist. A man's form was seen through 
 the trees passing and repassing, but outside 
 of the fence. Tom raised himself to the 
 window ledge and whispered, "I am going 
 to take the dog around the house. If you 
 hear me firing on the other side do not 
 leave the house nor this room!" 
 
 Soon after Tom left the window two men 
 appeared in the road, evidently consulting. 
 I heard no noise from Tom I concluded 
 that he had found watching, instead of act- 
 ing, necessary. The men went away and 
 returned three times; and I, as well as 
 themselves, was waiting for their signal. I 
 could think of no other reason for their de- 
 lay. Soon the deep, sonorous baying of 
 Major broke on my ear! But no pistol 
 shots! The two men retrfated a few 
 steps. They separated, then came together 
 again and seemed to be consulting. Sud- 
 denly a low whistle sounded and they were 
 gone. A welcome sight was Tom appear- 
 icg to report. He had seen the third man 
 
20 
 
 on the other side of the house. He had 
 kept even with him in his circuit around 
 the place, with Major at his side. He had 
 with difficulty kept the dog quiet — 'Conclud- 
 ing that this man was the one appointed to 
 reconnoiter; and, when all was ready, to 
 give the signal to his comrades. A misstep 
 and the breaking of a branch under this 
 man's foot caused the barking of the dog; 
 which was followed by the instantaneous 
 disappearance of the man. He probably 
 whistled to his comrades. 
 
 Feeling that the danger was over for a 
 couple of hours at any rate, and concluding 
 from their extreme caution that thev did 
 not intend murder unless forced to it for 
 their own safety, I had Tom light a small 
 pine knot. I called the dog into the house 
 and sent my young knight to bed. 
 
 In a few moments the light was out and 
 Tom and myself were on the watch. We 
 kept up our vigils until daylight with no 
 further alarm. As soon as my overstrained 
 nerves had recovered their tone sufficiently 
 for me to think of being left by him, I sent 
 Tom to the village to report to the officer 
 in command of the hospital and ask his ad- 
 vice. 
 
 When Tom returned he informed me 
 that the officer was comiog down to see 
 me in ahe course of the afternoon: that the 
 men were stragglers from the army; as in- 
 quiry had beer made of him if stragglers 
 had been seen. 
 
 When the surgeon came he said that he 
 did not think that I would be annoyed 
 anymore — at least not by the same men ; 
 for they had been inquired after so closely 
 they had left on the noon train. Still, he 
 said, it was not Sife for me to remain there 
 any longer: that I must go to the hotel to 
 sleep that night and move all my things the 
 next day, to remain until my husband re 
 turned. His principal errand, however, 
 was to ask permission to vaccinate my little 
 family; as he had some bad cases of small 
 pox in the hospital. Just at that moment 
 Tom came in, coughing violently; and as 
 he had been coughing some days, I asked 
 the surgeon to prescribe for him. Upon 
 questioning him, the surgeon pronounced 
 it a violent case of whooping cough. 
 
 As T could not take a family of coughing 
 children to a hotel I was obliged to remain 
 where I was for a few weeks at least. Whilst 
 waiting for them to recover I made such in- 
 quiries as the circumstances permitted, for 
 a place to go where I should not be exposed 
 to tramps. 
 
 Fortunately my husband came over the 
 next week. He found me with both ser- 
 vants too ill to wait on themselves and all 
 the children miserably sick with vaccination 
 and whoopiDg cough; whilst the care of 
 everything, even to preparing wood and 
 food for all, had devolved upon the older 
 children and myself 
 
 Never did I more fully appreciate the 
 beauties of pine knots. As soon as the 
 children were well enough we were trans- 
 ported to a plantation about five miles from 
 Brandon village, to board with a kind fam- 
 ily, consisting of a widow lady, her two 
 daughters and a niece. A log cabin was 
 built expressly for me, containing one room 
 with a little room partitioned off for Callie. 
 Tom was to leave me to attach himself to J 
 Mars Geoff's service. 
 
 No one who has not been South can ap^ 
 predate my one comfort. That was a fire-l 
 place extending across one end of my cabin 1 
 In cold weather a stout man toted in every 
 morning part of the trunk of a tree, which 
 he put in the fireplace for a b\ck log to my 
 fire. In one corner, winter and summer 
 evenings, were the pine knots. In front of 
 the fire every evening, my large dog stretch-/ 
 ed himself at full length for the four chiM 
 dren to seat themselves upon him to toa6t 
 their toes for a few minutes before retiring. 
 He would lie there and blink as if he waa 
 the happiest dog in existence. 
 
 After Tom and his master had gone I 
 suffered fearfully from loneliness. This 
 was only relieved by riding on horse back 
 to the village for news every night and 
 morning without regard to the weather. 
 
 In spite of my efforts to keep my energy 
 and cheerfulness from flagging, after a few 
 months I broke down. The smell of bacon 
 and corn meal, or sweet potato coffee sick 
 encd me; and I turned disgusted from m j i 
 healthy boys to think that thev could eat 
 
 It is said that a person will becom bc,i 
 
21 
 
 hnngry they can eat anything. But I Droved 
 the fallacy of this; for I ate nothing and 
 did not become hungry. When I found 
 that any little exertion brought on fearful 
 fainting spells I called a physician, who 
 said: "Sbe is dying for want of food; and 
 she will soun die unless she can have things 
 to eat more like her home fare." As the 
 family were giving me the best they had 
 this was an impossibility. My sense of 
 duty led to an effort to procure at least 
 tea and flour. Hearing that in Mobile I 
 might be able to procure rice flour, if not 
 wheat, I sent funds there to purchase such 
 articles as could be found. 
 
 After sending three times and not receiv- 
 ing any returns, finding my funds running 
 low and no news from my absent hus- 
 band, I gave up all hope. As I kissed my 
 two-weeks-old baby boy, as ne lay in his lit- 
 tle coffin it was with the full knowledge 
 that only a few days could elapse before I 
 joined him. "Slow starvation 1" "Try to 
 eat!" I smiled as I thought of poor Mrs. 
 Dombey who "Would not make an effort,;" 
 but I turned so sick at the thought of eat- 
 ing that those around me were convinced 
 of the impossibility of an "effort." 
 
 That same night as I lay trying to form 
 jBome plan for the future of my children, 
 [the clock that my hostess had put into my 
 room to help soothe the wakeful hours, 
 struck one. Only a few hours more and 
 |.hey whose soft breathings fell on my ear 
 would be orphans! I listlessly looked 
 Around the room which the light of the pine 
 knot revealed to my eyes but dimly through 
 the mosquito bar. The walls of my cabin 
 were decorated with such articles as the 
 ^ children and their nurse could make from 
 ^ihe rude material around us. 
 
 j At the head of my bed asleep in her chair, 
 Sfit one of the young ladies of the house. 
 4'k.cross the foot of the bed lay my Clevvie, 
 rmy nine year old boy, with his head lying 
 Gin his arm, still sobbing in his sleep 
 B(| On a little table beyond lay the little 
 Cloffin with my baby in it Are my senses 
 dljeceiving me! Or is it really the slow tread 
 0}]t a h rse that I hear coming through the 
 Mijoods towards the house! If it is a horse 
 ill must be before my own coffin; for it is a 
 
 funeral tread! Slowly, but surely, it ap- 
 proaches nearer and nearer. As my cabm 
 is the first for it to reach, soon I hear it at 
 my own door! A sudden flash like electric- 
 ity goes through my veins! A.nd I who for 
 weeks had not raised my head from my pil- 
 low, sprang from the bed and rushed out 
 into the night! My attendants thinking me 
 crazed, followed, only to find me appar- 
 ently dead, lying in my husband's arms. 
 
 If it had not been for the light from the 
 open door which fell strong upon the group, 
 it is doubtful if any of them would have 
 dared to approach ; for the blackness of the 
 woods behind, the spectral light of the 
 stars overhead, the gigantic black horse 
 with his master beside him, holding a 
 white robed corpse in his arms, made an 
 apparition well calculated to awe the stout- 
 est heart! For the avenge Southern per- 
 son and their dusky attendants are by no 
 means devoid of superstition. 
 
 It wan indeed Mars Geoff, who bad been 
 sent with dispatches to Jackson, the then 
 headquarters of General Pemberton. He 
 had come from the Trans Mississippi de- 
 partment. After crossing the river he had 
 ridcien day and night so as to save a few 
 moments from duty to see his family ; as 
 his orders demanded his immediate return. 
 
 Finding his horse too jaded to go farther 
 he bad purposed remainvug at the village 
 over night; but being told there that his 
 wife was dead, his good and faithful heart 
 had brought him the rest of the way, walk- 
 ing all the way and leading his tired horse. 
 
 Then followed a few days of delicious 
 rest, in which I lay conscious only of his 
 presence. When I lay with closed eyes, 
 feeling him near; or with eyelids languidly 
 raised, I looked upon his dear face, children, 
 all my cares and sorrows were alike forgotten ! 
 
 At the risk of a court martial he sent an 
 aid from Jackson back with the answering 
 dispatches; whilst he waited for life to re- 
 turn to mtt. This was slowly but surely 
 accomplished; for his presence aided the 
 nourishing food which his energy supplied. 
 He put money into the hands of a reliable 
 persou to go to Mobile to purchase flour, 
 tea, all and everything to be found; and to 
 stand guard over them until delivered. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 IS IT FOREVER ! 
 
 For three weeks my husband staid away 
 from his military duties nursing me into 
 life, and directing the children, poor babies, 
 as to the way mamma was to be cared for af- 
 ter his departure. During that time he 
 found a plantation, where they had raised 
 some wheat, which they made into flour by 
 grinding it in the same mill in which they 
 ground tbeir corn. This was flour unbolted 
 and coarse, but wholesome. There he 
 found board for us; but we had only one 
 room for us all. They agreed to have wheat 
 bread and tea for one meal each day. At 
 the expiration of three weeks, we heard of 
 the impending tall of Vicksburg; and my 
 husband, having moved his helpless family 
 to this plantation, reported at Jackson and 
 left me again alone. Is it forever! 
 
 Northern women! Wonder not when 
 you are exclaiming and expatiating upon 
 the misery you endured during the war, 
 that a Southern wife and mother turns with 
 a smile from you and says, "You know 
 nothing about it!" 
 
 You were left in comfortable homes, with 
 sympathizing relatives and neighbors 
 around you. You received almost daily 
 news from the front. You were in tele- 
 graphic communications with the army; 
 whilst I — well, I will try in my feeble way 
 to describe my situation. 
 
 Imagine a < me -story house of three rooms, 
 with a gallery all around it: a yard of about 
 three acres fenced in, with the necessary 
 gates for driving or walking. Back of this 
 house, the smoke house, store room anc 
 loom room, (for on nearly all plantations, 
 the coarse cloth and bedding were woven 
 on the place,) and carriage house. Outside 
 of the fence and in rear of the house, 
 stretching back for at least half a mile, was 
 a road lined with low, whitewashed cabins 
 on either side, with their chicken houses 
 and gardens in the rear. At the head of 
 this street was the overseer's house, then 
 empty, for he had gone to the war Stand- 
 ing on the front gallery, nnd looking be 
 yond the fence, a dense forest of trees ap- 
 peared with two roads cut in different di- 
 rections, just wide enough for the passage 
 
 of a carriage. In other directions were 
 paths which were used by horse back riders; 
 as on horeback, one could go through diff- 
 erent plantations, thus shortening a little 
 the nine miles to Brandon, which was the 
 nearest village to us. Carriages were 
 obliged to drive three miles through the 
 plantation from the hous<? to the main road. 
 
 Standing upon the back gallery, the eye 
 rested upon an immense peach orchard, 
 corn and cotton fields, in their turn also 
 shut in by the forest. Our nearest physician 
 and clergyman were at the village, and the 
 nearest neighbor, four miles through the 
 woods, and six miles by the road. 
 
 My husband had to ride seventy-five 
 miles before reaching the Mississippi River; 
 then, cross that river in the night— the 
 blacker the night the better — in a canoe 
 rowed by a negro, to whose faithfulness he 
 must trust his life and liberty. His horse, 
 swimming behind the canoe, led by a halter 
 held in his band After reaching the other 
 side, he had a ride of a hundred miles be- 
 fore reaching his troops; and, perhaps, a 
 court martial awaiting nim there, for his 
 delinquency in the matter of the dispatches. 
 As communication was only accidental, we 
 had never heard whether the return dis- 
 patches, for which he was responsible, had 
 ever reached their destination; and he him- 1 
 self, absent from duty for three weeks with- 
 out leave! For a much less offense many a 
 many had been considered a deserter, and 
 shot. 
 
 Tnink of the next three months spent 1 
 this solitude! My gnly relief from despai 
 was, that every other day I rode th 
 nine miles through the woods to Brandon 
 to ask for news and find none. 
 
 Can you imagine the faint hope wit 
 which each day I would 6et out? Wbic 
 hope would, on a fine day, become quite ii 
 spired by reason of the energy which 
 brisk gallop would infuse into my veins 
 and then, the drooping head with which 
 left the town behind me! And with m 
 eyes filled with tears, was carried back b 
 my then ungided horse to my shelter! 
 
 Can you imagine the feelings with whic 
 we listened to the muffle booming of ti 
 cannon at Vicksburtr? Knowing that 
 
23 
 
 held the key to the unlocking of the Missis- 
 sippi to our enemies! 
 
 Vicksburg fell ! Soon after the firing at 
 Jackson ceased, and my rides were put an 
 end to; for the woods were filled with run- 
 away Degroes, and deserters from the army. 
 
 Then I met with the only Southern cow- 
 ard I ever met, in the person of my host. 
 He announced his determination to avow 
 himself a Yankee in sentiment, in order to 
 save himself from the Union Army, which 
 was reported to be en route from Jackson 
 to Brandon. 
 
 My board was paid for six months in ad- 
 vance, for myself and children, one servant, 
 my horse and pony. He told me that, as 
 my effects would not be safe, and as he 
 would not afford me any protection, (For in 
 so doing be would compromise himself with 
 the Federalists,) I must leave his place. He 
 would take me to a cotton landing on the 
 Mobile road, and put me aboard a train for 
 Mobile. My horses he would keep as his 
 own, until I could safely return and claim 
 them. 
 
 He so worked upon my fears for myself 
 and children, if we should fall into the 
 hands of the Federal soldiery, that after a 
 few days of argument, I consented to go. 
 
 The cotton depot was in the midst of 
 dense woods. It was merely an immense 
 shed for the storing of cotton waiting for 
 'transportation. Not a house was to 
 be seen. He and his driver staid with me. 
 mtil a train of open cars came along On 
 one of these open cars a few wounded sol- 
 diers were lying. A few stools were there; 
 and I was placed on that car, 
 
 I rode that afternoon only a few miles; 
 ithen stopped at a small town to wait for a 
 Wain to start for Meridian. At dark I en- 
 ered a car filled with soldiers, most of them 
 pounded : some of them terribly so. I was 
 .be only woman to be seen anywhere; and 
 jnany were the wondering looks and ques- 
 tions I received; but I satisfied no one's 
 juriosiiy. 
 
 j With my babies I rode all that night in 
 Hat car. Not a ray of light but once, 
 hen the conductor came in wilh his lan- 
 3rn to inspect tickets. Then he went out, 
 jcking the car door. Oh, the agony of 
 
 that long night! Locked in the car with 
 wounded and dying soldiers, who, although 
 mad with their own sufferings, suppressed 
 their oaths, because "Ed, there is a lady 
 somewhere here, shut up in this cursed 
 darkness with us!" 
 
 I heard exclamations of pity, when the 
 suppressed crying of my frightened chil- 
 dren became audible over the confusion in- 
 side, and the fearful howling of the wind 
 and rain without; for even God seemed to 
 have forgotten to be kind, and allowed 
 nature to arouse herself in one of her mad- 
 dest and wildest fits of anger! 
 
 At last a poor fellow laid himself down 
 on the floor by my seat, saying "Good bye, 
 boy^! God bless the Confederacy!" and 
 died. 
 
 For about an hour after that, silence 
 reigned. Only whisperings were heard 
 amongst the men My babies fell asleep; 
 whilst my poor little darkey girl slid down 
 to the floor at my feet, pillowing her head 
 on one oi them and also slept. 
 
 In that still hour my resolve was taken. 
 When, with a slight ray of daylight appear- 
 ing, the cars stopped and the conductor 
 opened the door, announcing our arrival at 
 Meridian, I only waited for the soldiers to 
 be removed with their dead companion, to 
 ascertain the best and quickest method of 
 realizing that resolution. 
 
 After the train was cleared of soldiery, 
 the conductor returned to ascertoin my des- 
 tination : announcing the fact that this train 
 would not proceed any farther; bin would, 
 in about an hour, return to the place that 
 we had started from the night previous. 
 
 His astonishment was great when he 
 found that I intended returning on the same 
 train. At first he almost insisted on my 
 leaving the car — so absurd did it seem to 
 him that I should go immediately back; for 
 certainly I could not have taken that trip 
 for pleasure. I vouchsafed no explanation, 
 and parried all his inquiries as to who I was, 
 or where I belonged. 
 
 At last, seeirig that my determination re- 
 mained UDshaken, he piloted me out to a 
 freight car in which were my trunks By 
 the way, when my host left me at the cotton 
 depot, he had the assurance to boast of his 
 
24 
 
 magnamimity in allowing me to take ray- 
 baggage; as his duty, as a good Unionist, 
 would have required him to confiscate it; 
 but his kindness of heart would not allow 
 him to despoil a woman! Such are the in- 
 fluences of war! After much parleying, and 
 many side talks between the conductor and 
 the baggage man, leaving me standing in 
 the dark, (For daylight was as yet scarcely 
 visible; and they carried their lanterns with 
 them during the conference,) they consen- 
 ted to lock up the car for the night, leaving 
 my trunks in it; disclaiming all responsibil- 
 ity, however, if during the interval of 
 waiting, the car was broken into and my 
 baggage taken. 
 
 Their hesitation in acceding to my wishes, 
 and the sinister, villaitfenis look that the 
 lantern gave to their countenances, led me 
 to fear that I would never see my trunks 
 again; and that possibly they themselves 
 would- be the gainers. The Conductor 
 lighted me back to the car in which I had 
 left the children. I had left, in their charge 
 the shawls and wrappings, with strict or- 
 ders to let no fear, curiosity, or above all to 
 let no person entice thersa.even to the door. 
 I found them safe. The conductor left us, 
 utterly refusing to let me have a key to one 
 door. 
 
 Mow welcome was the daylight! Not 
 only to myself, but to the weary children 
 who, however, with the enviable fatality of 
 childhood, had eDjoyed a game of hi^e and 
 seek among the seats. When the conduc- 
 tor unlocked the doors, I went out and at- 
 tended to my bsggage; which, very much 
 to my surprise, I found all safe. 
 
 We were s<>on on our way back, reaching 
 our destination about noon. Here I re- 
 mained nnt.il nearly night; when a train of 
 open cars was dispatched to haul away the 
 cotton remaining in the shed I climbed up 
 on one of those cars, sitting on a trunk, un- 
 til we reached the shed. Then, the sol liers 
 in charge of the train requested me to alight, 
 as they wished to load up the cotton ; at the 
 same time advising me to send up to the 
 Confederate camp, about a mile away, es- 
 tablished there that morning, for a*isisKnce 
 in getting back to the plantation I had left, 
 the previous morning. I had determined 
 
 upon reaching that place even if I had to 
 walk. 
 
 Whilst waiting for an answer to my re- 
 quest from camp, and old countryman rode 
 down a path from the woods, and, for the 
 first time, I saw a genuine specimen of what 
 the negroes call "Poor white trash." By 
 this time my trunks were upon the ground, 
 and wo were standing around them. Tying 
 his old horse to a tree, he walked around 
 and around us. Finally he opened his 
 mouth, and emptied it of an enormous quid 
 of tobacco. Then a stream of questions 
 poured forth. He out-yankeed a Yankee, 
 in that species of torture. 
 
 There was no use. No amount of reserve 
 dignity could withstand it. He soon under- 
 stood the whole situation. When I men- 
 tioned the planter's name who sent me 
 adrift, he said, "I know him— a mighty 
 mean man!" 
 
 After hearing my story, told amidst the 
 noise of soldiers loading cotton, the letting 
 off of steam, he cooly looked at ihe sky al- 
 ready darkened with the shades of night, 
 (For we have no lone: twilight in Louisiana 
 and Mississippi,) then said, "Can you ride 
 on horseback?" Upon my replying in the 
 affirmative, he proposed that I take my 
 youngest child before me on his saddle, 
 ride to his home three miles distant up in.' 
 the woods, and send his boys with the ox. 
 team back for my remaining children, him- 
 self and my things. He would remain with 
 the children until his boys arrived. 
 
 It was already so dark that the forest be- j 
 hind us looked black. The engine was get-j 
 ting up steam preparatory to leaving. . 
 What better could I do? Still, to leave * 
 .those precious little ones at the mercy ofi 
 that old crazy looking man ! But, my owW 
 brave boy spoke up, "Nevermind us, maml- 
 roa! This kind gentleman will not leav 
 us!" 
 
 The old man's face fairly beamed! "Thar. 
 I won't, my little man! And your mothe(r 
 will be a brave woman to ride through the 
 woods alone. But the old horse wts. 
 on the place, and knows the way, and is ajs 
 sure-footed a beast, as ever growed." 1 
 
 Think you that I had no fear as I entered 
 that dark path, through an unknown cou 
 
25 
 
 try, on a strange horse, sitting on a man's 
 saddle with my baby upon my lap? 
 
 The old horse stepped along so surely and 
 firmly that, after a time, I gained courage 
 to glance up through the trees at the stars; 
 when suddenly I was startled by a soldier in 
 uniform, musket in hand, standing in my 
 path. After a few questions he remarked, 
 "GoonI Old Stebbins's horse is a guaran- 
 tee that all is right." 
 
 Three several times, before I reached the 
 old man's cabin, I was stopped and ques- 
 tioned by scouts; and each time the horse 
 was recognized and accepted as my en- 
 dorser. 
 
 At last I reached the cabin. I can see, 
 even now, the looks of wonder, as tbe two 
 tall sons and three daughters rushed out, 
 each with a flaming pine knot in their hand ; 
 and it seemed to me a legion of dogs at their 
 heels, barking at the top of their canine 
 voices. 
 
 To add to the confusion my baby boy, 
 frightened at the dogs, began to scream at 
 the top of his voice; and being blessed with 
 a good pair of lungs, he made it absolutely 
 impossible for any one to be heard. 
 
 Their father's horse, a strange woman and 
 a screaming baby ! — No wonder they seemed 
 to stand appalled at the apparation! But, 
 with native kindness, they assisted me down 
 from tbe horse, led me into the cabin, shut 
 tjhe door upon the dogs, and waited for me 
 tip get the child quiet so that I could tell my 
 story. At that moment another scout en- 
 tered the room, and leaned upon his musket 
 awaiting my explanation. This was soon 
 given. The boys finished their suppers to 
 Which they invited me. This supper con- 
 sisted of common corn pones, chunks of 
 bacon fried, and some non-descript dish 
 lcjoking like cold boiled greens. 
 
 'When I declined their preferred hospital- 
 ity (and I tried not to show the loathing 
 w hieh I felt towards the coarbe food, know- 
 in ig that it was the best they had), one of the 
 ty'ltis made me a cup of sweet potatoe coffee. 
 TiLis I forced myself to drink; whilst the 
 bc'pys hitched the oxen to a low- wheeled 
 faym wagon and started for the railroad. 
 
 They informed me before they started 
 thiat they could not return under three 
 
 hours, as the road cut for a wagon was con- 
 siderably longer than the bridle path I had 
 taken. 
 
 My baby, having become quieted down, 
 was delighted with the notice that he re- 
 ceived from the girls ; who, after a noisy 
 romp with him, came out of doors where I 
 was sitting upon a log, weeping such tears 
 as people only shed when utter despair 
 seizes them, to beg as a great favor that they 
 might undress him and give him a bath; to 
 which I of course assented. 
 
 After a while I went in to look after his 
 welfare in those seemingly uncouth hands. 
 I found him splashing in a tub of water 
 with two of the girls watching him; whilst 
 the third had unlocked a small old-fashioned 
 chest, and was reverentially lifting out some 
 garments, until she had reached nearly the 
 bottom She there found a few articles of 
 baby apparel yellow with time. From these 
 she selected a night dress and brought it 
 forward to put on my boy. 
 
 No girls brought up in dainty, luxurious 
 homes, could manifest greater tenderness 
 over relics of their own fastidious mothers, 
 than did these red-handed, coarse-appearing 
 girls over the mementoes of their own dead 
 mother. Coarse, homespun garments, laid 
 away in that chest with sweet smelling 
 herbs, and handled with bated breath! 
 When they put that little gown upon my 
 boy not a word was uttered by either of 
 them— only the crowing of the boy himself 
 was heard. 
 
 As they all seemed so contented 1 walked 
 out of doors again, where I was soon fol- 
 lowed by one of the girls. After saying that 
 ber youngest sister was rocking the baby to 
 sleep, she told me something of their 
 mother. 
 
 She had died many years before. The 
 baby, over whose coming all had rejoiced, 
 died with her. Their lives, hard before, 
 became still harder; being bereft of the love 
 which this poor, uncultivated mother seem- 
 ed to have lavished upon her children. 
 
 Whilst we were sitting upon the log, wait- 
 ing for the cart with the trunks and chil- 
 dren, our attention was attracted by the red 
 appearance of the sky in the direction of 
 Brandon. 
 
 
^ 
 
 When the old man and boys came in, 
 after putting up the oxen, (which they did 
 whilst their sisters were admiring the chil- 
 dren, and feeding them with cornbread and 
 milk, which came very acceptable to the 
 weary and half famished little ones), they 
 told me that the scouts had informed tbem 
 that Brandon was occupied by Federal 
 troops, and was on fire; as some of the 
 negroes had fired the town. But tney 
 thought it would not be all destroyed, as 
 the troops were doing their utmost to ex- 
 tinguish the fire. 
 
 The children were soon asleep. To give 
 you an idea of the isolation of that class of 
 people in the Southern States, I will inform 
 you that not one of that family, except the 
 father, had ever been in a town — not even 
 Brandon; and had never seen a lady or chil 
 dren like my family before. Even the 
 nature of some of the children's garments 
 was entirely unknown to tbem 
 
 After they were asleep, the old man and 
 myself planned our arrangements for get- 
 ting me back to the plantation. With great 
 good sense he showed me the folly of allow- 
 ing myself to be forced away from there 
 My board was paid. I had horses which I 
 could ride— no one better. Oo one side of 
 the plantation was the Confederate camp; 
 on the other, the Federal. Either of them 
 would protect me from any violence; and I 
 need not be afraid of his threats, for my 
 power would be as strong as his could be 
 with either side "For," the old man 
 shrewdly said, "a smart and pretty woman 
 has more influence anytime than a man." 
 
 He agreed to take his ox cart, his only 
 vehicle, as soon as it was light enough to 
 start, and take me to the plantation, or as 
 near there as was practiceahle; for, if ihe 
 Federalists had marched beyond Brandon 
 very far, it might not be possible for us to 
 proceed. 
 
 I promised to give him two hundred dol- 
 lars if our venture was successful; and one 
 thousand dollars if his oxen were confis- 
 cated by either side. 
 
 This old man knew that I had this sum, 
 and still more, on my person. And do you 
 not think that it required some nerve to sit 
 there at the mercy of his sons and himself, 
 
 in that pine forest, and show no fear? 
 When I thought of those girls around my 
 baby, with their dead mother's precious 
 garments upon him, my fear all vanished— 
 even if the simple homeliness of the man 
 had deceived me. 
 
 At dawn he aroused the boys and girls to 
 provide such breakfast as their larder afford- 
 ed. This was soon done, and I bade good 
 bye to them for ever, giving each of the 
 girls a portion of the children's ribbons and 
 saches as keepsakes. 
 
 Were there ever such long fifteen miles 1 
 I was stopped at the camp, but allowed to 
 proceed without annoyance. 
 
 After traveling about eight miles, and I 
 was on the ground walking behind the cart, 
 for the jolting had become intolerable to 
 me, and I could ride no farther in it, we 
 were suddenly met and surrounded by a 
 Confederate General and his staff. All dis- 
 mounted at the strange spectacle we pre 
 sented. He demanded with authority who 
 I was, where I was going, and the contents 
 of my trunks. 
 
 My tale was soon told; and the farmer 
 was called upon to speak as to the character 
 of the planter, who had virtually turned me 
 out of doors. 
 
 If their time had permitted, they woul< [ 
 have sent an escort with me, with orders t|) 
 threaten devastation and ulter ruin to minje 
 host; but their orders were imperative tb 
 break up camp immediately and retire far 
 ther into the country. 
 
 The commanding officer, however, ad 
 vised me to wait only a reasonable time j 
 and then, if I did not hear from my hus 
 band, to go to the Federal authorities, an 
 ask their protection through their line 
 some relatives of my husband in the Nortl 
 
 This little episode cheered up all. We le t 
 our military friends, who swept the grounl 
 with their plumed hats as they bade nb 
 "God speed!" 
 
 When, after hours of weary travel, ije 
 reached Mr. Robinson's house, I was amaz. 
 to see upon the gallery, chatting familiar 
 with him and his wife, a soldier in tl p 
 familiar gray. i 
 
 I was greeted with horrified looks froi >( 
 
27 
 
 [r. Thompson himself; but I walked deter- 
 xinedly into my old room. 
 
 He ordered Mr. Stebbins not to take the 
 funks from off the cart, and the children to 
 tay outside the yard. 
 
 The soldier in gray, who proved to be 
 Irs. Robinson's brother, turned to me for 
 n explanation of my reappearance; for 
 hey had told him of their happy riddance 
 t me. 
 
 i He had evidently heard their side of the 
 tory; but, knowing his brother-in-law well, 
 lad not put implicit confidence In his ver- 
 don. Neither had he wondered at his wish- 
 ng to rid himself of me, in order to save his 
 ;redit With the Unionists. It was also quite 
 is evident that he had not been told that 
 i ny board for six months was in his brother's 
 aands, for when I mentioned that fact, also 
 ihat the saddle horse and pony in the yard 
 fwere mine, he muttered an oath; and going 
 into the yard, he ordered the negroes stand- 
 ing around to take those trunks into the 
 house. Whilst they were obeying those 
 orders, he took his brother in law one side. 
 What arguments he used I never knew ; but 
 no more opposition was made to my return- 
 ing. It was some time after that he in- 
 formed me that Mr. Thompson had led him 
 to think that I had to leave the horses for 
 payment of my board, and was still in his 
 debt. 
 
 I My old farmer, with native independance, 
 [had demanded food for his oxen and lunch 
 for himself; for which he paid. Then, tak- 
 ing me one side, he strenously urged upon 
 me the necessity of using every endeavor to 
 [ascertain if my husband was still alive ; and 
 if I found he was not, or if, after waiting a 
 reasonable time, I heard nothing in regard 
 'to him, to be sure and adopt the officer's 
 ^dvice and go North. 
 He utterly refused the sum I had agreed 
 ) give him, accepting only the amount that 
 e had paid Mr. Thompson for his own and 
 is oxen's dinner; saying, with emotion, 
 This will be one of my donations to the 
 ause; and you will need all that you have 
 ot, my poor girl, before this cruel war is 
 iver." The next day a detachment of sol- 
 liers in gray rode into tho yard with wagons, 
 lemanding a certain amount of corn and 
 
 fodder, which they loaded up and took 
 away with them without payment. Before 
 they left the place the noncommissioned 
 officer in command rode to the gallery, 
 touched his cap to me and said: "I was sent 
 to inquire after your safety and your recep- 
 tion by this man." 
 
 I was too much taken by surprise to 
 reply readily; and, whilst I stammered out 
 a reply, he turned to Mr. Thompson and 
 sternly told him he had orders to the effect 
 that, if he did not find the lady comfortably 
 and safely housed, he wa6 to take all the 
 produce that he could find on the place, and 
 fire the buildings; and remember," he con- 
 tinued, "we have orders to watch you, and 
 if you are the cause of her leaving here 
 again, it will be done. In protecting her, 
 you are protecting yourself." 
 
 At this they rode away. Whether this 
 threat would have ever been fulfilled or not, 
 I do not know ;^but it answered the purpose 
 of procuring at least present civility to- 
 wards me. 
 
 A couple of weeks of comparative quiet 
 followed, broken only by stragglers from 
 the Confederate Army, asking for something 
 to eat. They were numerous ; for we were 
 on the line of retreat from Jackson into the 
 country. The Federalists marched no far- 
 ther into the country than Brandon; and at 
 the expiration of a fortnight, being ordered 
 back to Jackson, the town was free from 
 military. 
 
 As soon as this occurred I began my rides 
 into town again, in hopes of finding some 
 means of communication with the troops in 
 North Louisiana; as the brigade to which 
 my husband belonged, was there the last I 
 knew anything in regard to it. Finally, 
 after many weary and anxious days of 
 searching, I found an old gentleman, a non- 
 combatant, who owned an estate about fifty 
 miles from where the brigade was stationed, 
 at the time of my husband's last visit to me, 
 I had heard nothing from him since then, 
 and this was nearest to an address that I 
 could give. 
 
 I wrote all of my sad experience down in 
 the form of a letter to him, and asked this 
 gentleman, if he found that my husband 
 had not returned to his command, to give it 
 
28 
 
 to the officer commanding the brigade, add 
 ing a note to that officer imploring him, if 
 possible, to send me word of my darling's 
 probable fate, giving a stated time for 
 which I would wait for an answer before 
 leaving, or tryirfg to leave, for the North. 
 
 God, in his infinite mercy, did not let me 
 lack for employment during that fearful 
 period of suspense. Not only the servants 
 on the place, but all of the white children 
 were attacked with malignant diphtheria; 
 and in fighting that dread disease for our 
 children's lives, I had little opportunity to 
 brood. 
 
 All were out of danger; when, one fine 
 day, while I was pacing up and down the 
 gallery, counting the days that still remained 
 before my final decision in regard to en- 
 deavoring to get through the lines to the 
 North, had to be reached, I saw, driving up 
 to the fence, a large ambulance with two 
 large gray mules driven by a negro. Fol- 
 lowing this was a four mule wagon, empty. 
 I stepped into the house to send a servant 
 down to the fence, never doubting that it 
 was some one on their way to the plantation 
 beyond us, when my host passed me to in 
 quire for himself in regard to their wishes. 
 I stopped to hear for whom they inquired. 
 I saw the driver of the ambulance hand a 
 letter to Mr. Thompson and heard the word* 
 "Mrs. Major." I waited for no more. I 
 dashed to the fence, seized the letter, saw 
 that It was directed in my husband's own 
 handwriting, got back to the gallery, and 
 fainted dead away 1 
 
 When I had recovered, and read my let- 
 ter, I found that the gentleman to whom I 
 had entrusted my piteous appeal, had kept 
 his word. He had, as he had promised, 
 found their camp then located in the south- 
 ern part of Arkansas; and he himself, with 
 his own hands, had put into the Colonel's 
 possession my letter, and the Colonel, the 
 true, kind hearted friend, had dispatched a 
 courier with it to that portion of the troops 
 where my husband was stationed. 
 
 They together devised a plan for sending 
 for me. They sent to a planter friend, who 
 lived on the same side of the river where I 
 then was, a letter by a special courier, a^k 
 ing his assistance in getting me in some 
 
 manner to the river bank at Rodney. This 
 friend wrote me, that to land me at Rodney 
 was all he could undertake to do, that every 
 three to five miles up and down the river 
 were stationed gunboats, and that one of 
 these had a regular station at Rodney. It 
 was the duty of these gunboats to patrol the 
 river, and prevent any one from crossing 
 without their knowledge. Also, that the 
 courier who brought him my husband's let- 
 ter, crossed in the night in a canoe, and tell- 
 ing me where and how to find the boat and 
 oarsman, provided I had to ' cross in that 
 manner. He also informed me that there 
 was a ferry boat run, by permission of the 
 gunboat, from Rodney to a landing on the 
 other side, which landing, however, was in 
 the woods three miles from the village of 
 St. Joseph, and two miles from the nearest 
 house Having explained all this, he added : 
 "The men I send are fuliy trustworthy,! I 
 can give you no advice as to the manner in 
 which you had better proceed after reaching 
 the river, but will have to leave that to your 
 own good judgment, after seeing the situa- 
 tion of affairs. 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 ACROSS THE RIVER 
 
 The next morning, a bright and beau if ul ' 
 one, saw me started on my venture At th0 
 risk of seeming a little tedious, I will give^ 
 an account of my experience on the way to, 
 the river. 
 
 The baggage wagon carried my trunks 
 and two well-filled lunch baskets; for my 
 skill in nursing his sick children, had won 
 Mr. Thompson's heart to such an extent, 
 that he did everything in his power to start 
 me off comfortably. 
 
 The ambulance was one of the largest 
 known, with four seats in it. The two 
 middle seats we took out and put them into 
 the baggage wagon. In the space thus 
 made in the bottom of the ambulance, wie , 
 put blankets, comfortables and pillowy, 
 some of which I purchased from a neign-1 
 boring planter. This for four days w^,a 
 my children's play house; for I put in lit 
 plenty of picture books and playthings, j 
 
 We drove about fifteen miles that day| 
 
29 
 
 and bad already begun making inquiries at 
 t,be different bouses on our route, for a 
 place to sleep. Finally we drove up to a 
 large white bouse on tbe main road, with 
 every window on tbe first floor aglow witb 
 tbe ruddy light of the pine knot on the 
 hearth. 
 
 Here, before the gentlemanly negro who 
 ; drove the ambulance, could rid himself of 
 ; the doejs which spraDg from all sides to wel- 
 come us, a jovial voice at the side of the 
 J ambulance startled me, as some person ex- 
 claimed, "My soul! Where did all these 
 ! babies come from? Want to stay all night, 
 ,#f course! Here Jim, Sam, call your mis- 
 v ^ss! Tell Jane, Suke and all the women, 
 to ■'icome and carry these children to the 
 house! Leave the babies to my good-for- 
 nothing servants, take my arm and walk 
 right in! Now isn't it lucky you come 
 along just now ! I was just telling mother 
 how lonesome I was! I tell you it's tough 
 times siace the boys went off to the army 1" 
 With this kind welcome, how could I but 
 be my old self, and let tbe five or six col- 
 ored girls that he called take charge of my 
 , children, whose stomachs were soon filled 
 \ to repletion : after which ceremony they 
 (were carried off up stairs to bed; whilst I 
 related to the kind planter and his motherly 
 [wife my adventures, finding at times a 
 icomic side to these same woes, by which I 
 /called up the laughter of my listeners. 
 I They had no daughters; and theii three 
 'sons were with that portion of the troops I 
 had encountered on the farther side of 
 Brandon, when I was with tbe ox cart. 
 
 When I retired to my room I slept 
 soundly. One day of my dreaded journey 
 was over, and in my cheery planter I beheld 
 an omen of good. 
 
 I Before light I was aroused by an awful 
 commotion in the yard under my window. 
 
 I I looked out and beheld my host confusing, 
 witjh his orders and counter-orders, a lot of 
 legJTO boys, who with pine torches were en- 
 Jeajvcring to catch squalling chickens. 
 
 ^Lbpvs the din could be heard: "Here Sam, 
 
 " void lszy boy, hurry up and get those chick- 
 
 tns 'to the kitchen! Yes, Dinah, stop your 
 
 squalling at me: we are coming!" 
 
 I Tlhen, again and again would come: 
 
 "Mars John, hurry) up dem lazy, good-for- 
 nothing niggers!" 
 
 I laughed till I cried and then returned to 
 my bed; for orders were given me the night 
 befoie, on no account to let him know of 
 my being out of bed till "Old mammy," the 
 head nurse of a planter's family, had been 
 up and given me leave. 
 
 Shortly after old mammy came in with a 
 cup of coffee, hot and strong; saying that 
 Mars John was sorry to call me so soon, 
 but he thought I ought to start early on my 
 journey ; and he had sent me a cup of real 
 coffee, which they kept only for sickness — 
 like all others who were fortunate enough 
 to possess a few pounds. 
 
 Then appeared all the younger darkies of 
 the place to help prepare the children; and 
 my own girl, finding her services not 
 needed, stole off to the kitchen where, judg- 
 ing from her sleepiness the rest of the day, 
 old Dinah must have stuffed her until even 
 her negro stomach could hold no more. 
 
 When breakfast was over I found that 
 my lunch baskets had been brought in and 
 replenished from the well filled table we had 
 left. Mars John refused all remuneration 
 except for the corn and fodder that the 
 mules had eaten: taking no pay for what 
 my own horse and pony had consumed. He 
 sad that it was given me because my hus- 
 band was fighting for the cause, like his 
 own boys 
 
 That day's ride was a pleasant one; but 
 my driver, at the close of tbe afternoon, be- 
 gan to express his fears that we would be 
 obliged to sleep ^n the ambulance that 
 night, as he had no recollection of any 
 place on that side of the' Bayou where 
 there was a house. The^ Bayou was very 
 high with water; and the ferry boat used 
 was a heavy flat boat, held by chains and 
 pulled across by a uegro; and he was afraid 
 to venture on it with his team in the uncer- 
 tainty of twilight. 
 
 Just before we reached the Bayou we 
 heard the sound of singing. Turning a 
 bend in the road, we came upon a camp 
 fire surrounded by men singing as they pre- 
 pared their supper. A little to one side in a 
 charing, was a log cabin of two rooms. 
 Back of that was the kitchen, from which 
 
30 
 
 wt could hear the splattering and smell the 
 odor of frying meat. 
 
 Upon inquiry the woman of the house 
 said that she would give up her own room 
 to me; which room had a very good bed 
 and a trundle bed in it. 
 
 We Bupped from my basket and slept in 
 that room. 
 
 In the morning I asked her where 
 her children and herself had slept, as 
 I saw no other bed or place for a bed on the 
 place. She showed me a little room with 
 the floor covered with pine boughs, and a 
 coarse blanket thrown over them. 
 
 She explained that her husband and a 
 grown up son, sixteen years old, had joined 
 the army, leaving her with four little girls 
 and an aged father to take care of the farm, 
 with the assistance only of an old superan- 
 nuated colored man and his wife. She only 
 had some bacon and sweet potatoes to do 
 with ; but the soldiers who came that way 
 were glad to get a hot supper of bacon and 
 corn bread, whilst she used the potatoes 
 only for coffee. The soldiers, she said, 
 paid her whatever they could afford. She 
 left entirely to myself the amount of re- 
 muneration for the use of the room. Her 
 little girls were very much pleased with the 
 gift of a picture book from the stores of the 
 ambulance. 
 
 This sweet potato coffee was made by 
 paring and cutting the raw potatoes into 
 thin slips, drying and parching them the 
 same as you would coffee berries. If one 
 had a little coffee to flavor it with, it was 
 the best substitute for coffee we had. 
 
 As we were obliged to allow the soldiers 
 to cross the ferry in the morning ahead of 
 us, it was late before we were on the other' 
 side and fairly under way. 
 
 That day was an anxious one to me ; for 
 the next one would find me at Rodney. 
 My driver had informed me that he knew 
 of an excellent stopping place within a half 
 day's drive, where he thought we could 
 find good accommodations for the night. It 
 was at one of the planter princes, who still 
 had sufficient supplies to treat generously 
 all friends of the Confederacy. 
 
 According to his expectations we reached 
 there and were treated most hospitably and 
 
 royally. The next morning we started foi 
 the river. I had formed no plans as yet 
 How could I?— knowing so little of the con 
 dition of affairs. 
 
 My drivers and teams belonged to j 
 planter too far back from the river to hav< 
 been as yet molested by the enemy : how 
 ever, they had never been allowed permis 
 sion to go down to the river for fear of con 
 flacation. See how they trusted their faith 
 fulboys, even now! Their orders were V 
 drive me to the door of an acquaintance c 
 his in Rodney, who was a widow lad} 
 Having arrived at her door they were I 
 unload me and my trunks as rapidly as pc 
 sible, without waiting to see whether I 'i 
 admitted to the house or not. They JL 
 not to venture into the village with me, 
 they saw any of the men of the gun boat c" 
 shore ; but to wait until the coast was clea 
 
 Upon a hill overlooking the village an 
 river we stopped to reconnoiter. Not i 
 soul was seen on the street. On the rive 
 bank was a rude ferry boat, but no on 
 near it. The gun boat was not in sight 
 but, down the river, a thin curling line c 
 smoke revealed its whereabouts. 
 
 This was better luck than our wildea 
 hopes had anticipated, for it allowed m; 
 teams to deposit us and leave town withou 
 molestation from anyone. 
 
 I was soon standing on the sidewalk i: 
 front of the door of Mrs. Dumont, with m; 
 baggage beside me; and, before my sun: 
 mons at the door was answered, I had bi 
 good bye to the boys, and they were drn 
 ing rapidly out of the village, just as th 
 gun boat steamed lazily into town and fire 
 its salute. 
 
 After peeping through the glass of th 
 hall door, a negress grey with age opene 
 the door about the width of a hand an 
 volubly protested that "Missus" was awaj 
 "All right," said I; "but here is a not 
 from Mr. Stevens which you must givel 
 as soon as she comes in ; and I will sitT 
 the door step until she returns." 
 
 I fancied that this threat of sitting or 
 door step might be a formidable one.f 
 we were in plain view of the gunboat; 
 I judged that the sight of a group of pe<| 
 with a number of trunks, a horse and pi 
 
 ll.Li.n-.4PK— ■■■ 
 
31 
 
 would be likely to bring an officer on shore 
 to inquire into it: also, that the village 
 people would naturally dread any attention 
 from that quarter. 
 
 Scarcely a moment elapsed before a smart 
 negro boy emerged from the back gate and, 
 seizing one of the horse's bridle reins, in a 
 breathless way intimated the wish of his 
 mistress, that he should get the horses into 
 the stable and out of sight as soon as pos- 
 sible. Sending my little son with him, I 
 assisted tne old negress, who by this time 
 had the door wide open, in getting the rest 
 safely housed. 
 
 The mistress was in the house; but in 
 v such a state of terror at my invasion, that I 
 1 really began to think ber demented. 
 
 After she had treated me to a violent fit 
 of hysterics, I was informed of the reason 
 of all these precautions and fears. 
 
 The villagers, as I had judged, dreaded 
 nothing more than a visit of inquiry from 
 the gun boat. Therefore they kept doors 
 and window shutters tightly closed. Not a 
 sign of life was visible, unless in the dark- 
 ness and under cover of night, trie negroes 
 stole out to visit one another. Neighbor 
 was afraid of neighbor; for who knew but 
 that their best friends might betray them in 
 order to curry favor with the enemy. 
 
 This old lady lived alone here with her 
 grand-daughter. All her servants had left 
 her except this old negress, the mammy of 
 the place, and the boy whose attachment to 
 the grandchild had kept him faithfully with 
 them. 
 
 In imagination she already beheld some 
 
 one reporting my arrival at the house and 
 
 the soldiers on their way to take my things 
 
 and despoil her house in punishment for 
 
 harboring the wife of a Confederate officer. 
 
 On the other hand was the command of a 
 
 trurty friend — on peril, of the loss of his 
 
 confidence and esteem if she allowed the 
 
 Vit/ite of his friend to stay in the streets or 
 
 •egouie to harm through her fears. This last, 
 
 i ea ombined with her own native kindness and 
 
 Aboodness of heart, overcame her fears. 
 
 yoi After talking with her servants and her- 
 
 tnslf. I for the first formed a plan for cioss- 
 
 gqu-g the river. 
 
 ( TThey had told me that in order to cross 
 
 upon the ferry boat, I would be obliged to 
 ask .permission of the gun boat ; as the ferry 
 was entirely under their control, of course. 
 
 My plan was this. I would take my little 
 son, his horse and pony, down to the river 
 bank that afternoon and humbly ask per- 
 mission to cross with tnem. Then, riding 
 on horseback to the vUlage of St. Joseph, 
 and thence three miles to my aunt's planta- 
 tion There I would procure teams to come 
 back to the landing with me on the following 
 morning, to get my children and baggage, 
 which I hoped they would allow to cross at 
 that time: leaving them, in the meantime, 
 over night with Mrs. Dumont. 
 
 The old lady was pleased at the idea of 
 getting rid of us so soon; but expressed as 
 much astonishment at my bravery in daring 
 to ask so much of the Federal officers, as if 
 I waa venturing into a lion s den. 
 
 P^or old lady I With what fear and 
 trembling she saw me stare out on my ven- 
 ture! Htr last words were, "I snuli pray 
 to God all the time you are away, my 
 dear." 
 
 When I reached the river the ferry- 
 man told me 1 would be obliged to sig- 
 nal the gun boat from that point; as he had 
 orders never to approach the gun boat with- 
 out first receiving permission from them to 
 do so. If they were willing to receive me 
 they would give a certain signal to that 
 effect. 
 
 We signaled and signaled again, with no 
 response; although we could see them look- 
 ing at us through a field glass. 
 
 The ferryman says, "No use, Missus: 
 they sometimes will not let the ferry run; 
 and to-day is one of their bad days, I 
 reckon." 
 
 I turned to him and asked him why he 
 would not take me to the gun boat without 
 waiting for an answer to our signal. He 
 turned ash color at the suggestion ; protest- 
 ing he would not dare. 
 
 "See here," said I; "do you know Mars 
 Geoff Hall? Well, I am his wife!" 
 
 "Oh yes, Miss Francie, I knowed you all 
 the time; but thought pr'aps you did not 
 dare have any of dese fool niggers around 
 here know; for dey mought make you 
 heaps ob trubble." 
 
32 
 
 My pleasure at the success of this chance 
 shot was great; for I was by no means sure 
 that I was addresstng one of my aunt's ser- 
 vants. But I had hazarded the remark 
 upon a slight resemblance I fancied I saw 
 in him, to one of my aunt's most trusted 
 boys. "Well then, George, you know that 
 I will keep my word. If you will take me 
 to the gun boat, and any harm comes to you 
 from it, you shall have my horses as your 
 own." 
 
 Finally, with the aid of a couple of gold 
 pieces put directly in his hand, I prevailed 
 upon him to consent to my wishes. 
 
 Upon arriving at the side of the black 
 monster, a lieutenant in undress uniform 
 condescended to lean over the side; and, 
 hearing my petition, lazily signified his con- 
 sent. When he had done this, I remarked : 
 
 "To morrow is Sunday. Will that make 
 any difference in your allowing the ferry to 
 
 "No madame; we do not allow the ferry 
 to run any trips, any day, except by special 
 permission; and we will grant that to you 
 for tomorrow.'' 
 
 In a few moments we were in the woods 
 on the opposite shore, and riding rapidly 
 away ; for it was already growing dark, and 
 a horseback ride of six miles was before me. 
 
 As we reached the village of St. Joseph, 
 I stopped to return the greetings of my 
 many acquaintances. They would have de- 
 tained me half the night, detailing the news 
 from the other side; but, I dreaded my three 
 mile ride which still lay before me through 
 plantation paths, too much to tarry loDg. I 
 staid long enough to learn that my hus- 
 band's command was in Arkansas; and that 
 the family to whom I was hastening having 
 left the plantation on a visit, it was doubt- 
 ful my finding the requisite teams for my 
 purpose. 
 
 On arriving at the plantation, I received 
 a hearty welcome from the servants, who 
 informed me that they expected their mis- 
 tress home the next day. There was an old 
 carriage in the carriage house, which might 
 hold together; and the head man of the 
 fields said that he would take some of the 
 field mules to haul that, and also a large 
 wagon. 
 
 
 Behold me the next morning with two 
 mules hitched to an old broken down look- 
 ing carriage! Another pair of mules to a 
 rough home-made wagou. The harness was 
 tied together with ropes ; and the four ne- 
 groes who were to accompany me were 
 ragged and shoeless. I do not think there 
 was a piece of the original garment left on 
 any of them. 
 
 With this cavalcade I lumbered back to 
 the river bink — leaving horses and son to 
 the cafe of the servants at the plantation. 
 
 After what seemed an interminable time, 
 we reached the river opposite the gun boat, 
 and the village of Rodney. 
 
 I signaled the gun boat; and soon had A 
 the satisfaction of seeing a full-manned 
 officer's boat, commanded by a midshipman, 
 shoot from the side of the gun boat towards 
 the side of the bank on which I was sit- 
 ting. 
 
 Upon its arrival, much to my surprise, I 
 was politely informed that, owing to its be- 
 ing the Sabbath, no one could be permitted 
 to cross the river. I remonstrated — remind- 
 ing him that I had called attention to that 
 fact the day before, and had been assured 
 that the rule need not be enforced on that 
 day. 
 
 I could only state to him the facts of the 
 case, in regard to the young children I had 
 left on the other side with utter strangers, 
 and ask him to urge some action in regard 
 to my situation upon his superior officer; 
 which, promising to do, he returned to the 
 boat. 
 
 In spite of my chagrin, I could but watch 
 with admiration that little boat as it dashed 
 from the shore. How true the strokes of 
 the oars; so evenly taken that they made 
 scarcely a ripple on the surface of the water. 
 
 He did not return. My men made a fire 
 by the side of a stump; and, producing 
 some cornbread and a coffee pot of eubsti 
 tute for coffee to warm over, proceeded to 
 make themselves comfortable. 
 
 Being unable to account for their 
 rent preparation for a long stay, as 
 put implicit confidence in the promises of 
 the officer, I inquired of one of them hi w it 
 had happened that they had brought eat- 
 ables with them. 
 
 :ded to 
 
 f »ppa-LV 
 I had^j 
 
38 
 
 "Ob, we know dese Yankee tricks! And 
 can stay here a week if you want us." 
 
 A tumult ot feelings arose within me as I 
 spent that Sabbath — one of nature's most 
 tranquil days— gazing out on that river. 
 Can any one wonder that at times I would 
 have felt almost glad to have seen that huge 
 black monster sink out of sight! It, looked 
 as grim and inexorable as death— lying upon 
 the still water! Not a sound disturbed the 
 stillness! Not a person was visible any 
 where! The only sigo of life around was 
 that displayed at my fire. 
 
 I watched that scene until nearly dark, 
 loth to give up hope even then ! When 
 tne of the men said, "Miss Francie, 'bout a 
 mile back from here one of Mars Geoff's 
 friends has a plantation, and I tfaink dat we 
 can find you a bed and something to eat 
 there. The white folks are all gone; but 
 some of the niggers are there. Den we can 
 be at de river early in the morning; as thai 
 young man told you you might have the 
 ferry as early as you pleased " 
 
 I took his advice, and we drove to the 
 house he had spoken of. It was once one 
 of the finest houses in th;;t section of the 
 country ; but, at the first visit of the Feder- 
 alists, the family had secured what they 
 could, and become refugees. 
 
 Most of the outbuildings had been already 
 burned; and the few that were still remain 
 ing, were being rapidly demolished to make 
 fuel, by a few family servants. These serv- 
 ants, like others, had gone to Vicksburg 
 after its fall; but sickness had so thinned 
 their number, that in desperate home-sick 
 ness tbey had returned to the old home. 
 
 Here I passed the night, the only white 
 person on the place; in fact, the only one 
 for miles around. I slept on one of their 
 beds in a cabin, end ate a piece of cornbread 
 washed down with water. These poor 
 creatures parched corn and use:l it for tea 
 and coffee; no milk in it, and sweetened 
 jth the blackest of molasses. 
 
 hen morning came, I returned to the 
 Ver bank with servants and teams. My 
 amazement was great to find no gun boat 
 there; but, supposing that it had gone 
 patrolliDg the river, I 3at in the carriage 
 whilst the negroes replenished the fire. 
 
 About noon a small supply steamer ran 
 up opposite me; and two gentlemen got into 
 a row boat with oarsmen, and pulled up 
 stream. 
 
 By the middle of the afternoon my im- 
 patience at the delay had become almost 
 intolerable. I was meditating a return to 
 St. Joseph, to see if any feasible plan could 
 be hit upon there, by which I could get 
 across the river; wren one of the negroes 
 exclaimed that a carriage with some gentle- 
 men in it was approaching from the village. 
 
 It proved to be an acquaintance from the 
 village, accompanied by one of our most in- 
 timate friends from New Orleans; and, what 
 was still more surprising, also by a brother 
 of my husband, from the North. They 
 were the two gentlemen who had rowed 
 from the supply steamer. Tboy had come 
 from New Orleans in this little steamer, 
 from sheer curiosity — not dreaming of find- 
 ing any one on their route whom thr-y ever 
 knew before. 
 
 These supply steamers brought the vari- 
 ous articles needed by the gunboats; and 
 this one was to set out on its return that 
 evening. 
 
 My brother-in-law said be would return 
 to St. Joseph, and report to the gunboat 
 there my condition, and see if they could 
 not arrange in some manner for my gettir g 
 across to the children Then he sh' u'd in- 
 sist upon my abandoning my project of get- 
 ting into the country, and of my going im- 
 mediately to the North with him. Our 
 arguments were all pleasant ones, until he 
 denounced my husband for not going to the 
 North upon the breaking out of the war, in- 
 stead of dragging his wife and children into 
 such desperate straits. Then my over- 
 wrought nerves gave way, and I sobbed so 
 uncontrollably that he was glad to desist and 
 leave me to my own will. 
 
 As soon as I was quiei they left me; and, 
 returning to the village, as I afterwards 
 learned, they did lay a complaint before the 
 officer stationed there.who, happening to be 
 a senior officer, sent word to the officer in 
 command of the Rodney gunboat, to return 
 immediately and fulfill his promise to me. 
 This boat was then above St. Joseph wood- 
 ing up. 
 
34 
 
 It seemed along time; but the gunboat 
 did at last return, and sent its boat full 
 manned, with the same midshipman in com- 
 mand who had interviewed me the previous 
 Sabbath morning. 
 
 Telling the negroes to remain where they 
 were until I returned, or seat them word 
 that 1 had given up all hope of success, I 
 joyfully stepped into the boat, never doubt- 
 ing that a few hours would find me with 
 them again. 
 
 Instead of taking me to the villsge, they 
 rowed directly to the dreaded gunboat, and 
 courteously invited me to go aboard. I de- 
 clined, saying "I wish to go direct to Rod- 
 ney to my children." "Presently madame," 
 was the pleasant reply; "but for the present 
 you must go aboard here." 
 
 Feeling that remonstrances would be use- 
 less, I followed him up stairs, where I was 
 ushered into a room I judged to be the 
 cabin. It was lighted by port holes, which 
 were too high up for me to look from, even 
 if the glass in them had not been so very 
 thick that the daylight became a very faint 
 twilight. 
 
 In the centre of the room was a table cov- 
 ered with books, apparently new magazines 
 and papers. Easy chairs were scattered 
 around the room. When I heard the key 
 turned upon me, I realized all at once that I 
 was a prisoner, and passionately threw my- 
 self into a chair. 
 
 Although I could see no one around, po 
 strong was my conviction that I was only 
 detained to annoy me, and that nothing seri- 
 ous was intended, and that any expression 
 of annoyance would be but a pleasure to my 
 jailers, that I sat perfectly still with an 
 assumption of indifference I was far from 
 feeling, although the wheels moved, and 
 the sound of the paddles in the water an- 
 nounced the fact that the steamer was in 
 motion. 
 
 My conjecture proved right. At dark the 
 motion of the steamer ceased. The door of 
 the cabin was opened, and a voice an- 
 nounced that I was at liberty to go ashore. 
 
 As I had not the slightest idea in what 
 direction we had been moving, 1 naturally 
 inquired, "At what point are you going to 
 put me ashore V" 
 
 "At Rodney," was the answer. 
 I never knew where we had been, but 
 concluded that they had taken me on their 
 nightly patrol. 
 
 As I stepped into the captain's gig, I 
 looked at the river bank, and was cheered 
 by the sight of the negroes around a brill- 
 iant fire Their teams were picketed, and 
 everything showed that my orders were be- 
 ing obeyed, and that they were waiting for 
 me. 
 
 Seeing this, my courage rose to the point 
 of asking, "Might I not take the children 
 across this same night?" 
 
 "No," was the reply; "but early in the 
 morning ; as early as you can get the ferry 
 man up, you may cross; but remember that 
 you must come to the gunboat first, to have 
 your baggage examined." 
 
 My heart sank! For had I not been prom- 
 ised twice before that the next day should 
 gee the fulfillment of my. hopes. 
 
 How glad the poor children and the old 
 Udy were to see me! I found to my sur- 
 prise that they had, with the aid of a field 
 glass, kept watch of me the two days I had 
 passed on the river bank. Using the glass 
 had proved a happy thought, for it had 
 shortened the hours of my absence. 
 
 No sleep for me that nis;ht. Early in the 
 morning I went to the house of the ferry 
 man, to get him to assist in the removal of 
 my baggage to the ferry boat. The moving 
 figures on the opposite side revived my 
 drooping courage. 
 
 We were soon at the side of the gunboat. 
 I handed my keys to the lieutenant, and ho 
 proceeded to open and inspect the contents 
 of my trunks. It was evidently an unwel- 
 come task, and he performed it as quickly 
 as possible. 
 
 My little colored girl had her clothing in 
 a large carpet bag That escaped investiga- 
 tion, because it belonged to the favored race 
 of colored persons! How I did wish it was 
 filled with quinine, for Callie would nevi 
 have told. I 
 
 At last we were free from that awful gm(^ 
 boat; and, for the first time in maDy days, 
 I laughed. 
 
 "Hist, Miss Francie! You aint out of the 
 woods yet," said the ferry man, and coniin- 
 
 i^fMMI 
 
35 
 
 ued, 'De udder day I took a poor sick Ger- 
 man and his wife across. De offsur sarcbed 
 her baggige; but she had a mighty putty 
 pair of pistols in a little bag on her arm, 
 and dey did not think to sarch dat. I put 
 dem on shore and pulled off. She climbed 
 up the bank, den laffed jus as you did, 
 pulled her pistols out and waived dem. My! 
 How quick dat Cappin had his boat out. 
 Dey dun took her pistols way from her, and 
 put her and her old man back to Rodney in 
 no time. If dey hear you l&ff, dey will haif? 
 you back." 
 
 I looked back and saw two glistening 
 
 glasses levelled at me from the gunboat. I 
 
 laughed no more, but in dead silence clam- 
 
 < bered up the bank, where I was warmly 
 
 welcomed by the rough negroes. 
 
 Rough, dirty fellows though they were, 
 they seemed like tried friends to me then. 
 They were in as much hasce as myself to 
 get out of the range of those glasses, and 
 we were soon in motion for town. 
 
 As long as we were in sight, we could see 
 the gleaming of those glasses. When we 
 reached the plantation, I found the mistress 
 had returned. All need of present exertion 
 removed, I found myself obliged to remain 
 quiet the rest of the day. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE SALT LAKE. 
 
 The next morning dawned, ushering in 
 one of those bright and beautiful, perfect 
 days, when nature seems to bid all mankind 
 rejoice. I arose with energy restored. 
 
 My heart sickened though, when, after 
 breakfast, I walked around the place and 
 , noted the changes — the desolate changes — 
 which war bad brought to that once lux- 
 urious home. 
 
 Those elegant homes of the old regime, 
 having become things of the past, I will try 
 and give some idea, thougn it may be an 
 
 J imperfect one, of them. 
 I My aunt was a native of Louisiana. She 
 |ad never been north but, twice and then 
 ODly for a brief season. She had inherited 
 from her father (who was one of the old 
 style planter princes) a magnificent planta- 
 tion and a force of three hundred slaves. 
 
 These slaves had now increased to nearly 
 five hundred. The house was a story and 
 a half house ; but the height of the rooms 
 io a first-class house in the south makes a 
 building full as high as a two story house 
 in the north. A passage ran through the 
 centre, with double parlors on one side, 
 and two immense bed rooms on the other. 
 A gallery ran all around this house. Open- 
 ing from this gallery, was a very large dining 
 room with china closet and store room for 
 sugars, coffees, wines and lighter groceries 
 attached. On the other side of the house, 
 and opening upon the main gallery, were 
 three guest chambers with galleries also ex- 
 tending around them. The house stood 
 about eight feet from the ground. It was 
 ;ill open underneath; and, being kept thor- 
 oughly clean, it made a good place for the 
 tremendous ice chest. This was also an 
 excellent place for the white and colored chil- 
 dren to play. 
 
 In the rear of the house waa a large smoke 
 house ; and a store room also for the sugar, 
 molasses and coarser groceries needed for 
 the servants. In another small building 
 was kept a large supply of tobacco for the 
 use of the negroes. 
 
 Every Saturday afternoon the overseer, 
 assisted by the bead olored man, weighed 
 out each negro's supply for the ensuing 
 week: adding for the aged and infirm a 
 package of tea, coffee or white sugar, as 
 they might desire. 
 
 Quite a way from the house was the broad 
 street, with the white cabins on each side, 
 and chicken houses and gardens in the rear. 
 Whenever they had produce (rom their gar- 
 dens, or eggs andchickenstosell, they were 
 brought to the house, and "Missus" bought 
 them at the highest market price of the vil- 
 lage. Twice a year the cabins and palings 
 surrounding them were whitewashed. 
 
 The overseer's house was a large white 
 house, nearly as large as "the house," as 
 the dwelling where the owners lived was 
 always designated. 
 
 There was, also, at the head of the street 
 a large hospital building fitted up with a 
 drug room, beds and all the paraphernalia 
 of a regular city hospital. One large room 
 was devoted to the care of the small chil- 
 
36 
 
 dren whose mothers worked in the field. 
 They were brought each morning to this 
 room and put in charge of such of the wo- 
 men as were incapacitated, from age or any 
 other cause, from hard work. A little far- 
 ther down was a long, low building, de- 
 voted on Sundays to their religious exer- 
 cises; and on festive occasions to their 
 dancing and other amusements. 
 
 In another direction was the mill to 
 grind the corn into meal ; and there the cot- 
 ton gin, the blacksmith shop, carriage 
 houses and stables — making in itself a pros- 
 perous village. 
 
 All was surrounded by tall trees; and, 
 seen through these trees, was a flourishing 
 flower garden. Back of the kitchens, 
 which were two in number, was the pride 
 of the cook's neart — a splendid kitchen gar- 
 den. 
 
 Then, the change in their manner of liv- 
 ing. In the winter going to New Orleans, 
 with unlimited credit, indulging themselves 
 in buying any and everything that taste, 
 fashion or caprice might dictate— either to 
 wear or for replenishing their house Then, 
 returning home with a full steamboat cargo 
 of luxuries to eat and drink: filling their 
 houses with guests, who did not come with 
 a shawl strap, but with a wagon load of 
 trunks, and accompanied by their own im- 
 mediate servants. Nothing apparently to 
 do, but to enjoy themselves to the fullest 
 extent of human capacity for enjoyment. 
 
 The ladies of the north envy this, and see 
 in it only the highest form of indolence 
 They did not bake, brew, wash or scrub; 
 but their responsibilities were proportion- 
 ately heavy. Every week during the home 
 living, the mistress of the house was expec- 
 ted to go into the cutting room, and see if 
 the neccessary amount of cloth and thread 
 for the cutting out and making of the 
 clothes for the field hands w-js there; as all 
 their clothes were made by a force detailed 
 for that purpose. If a servant of whatever 
 age or sex was ill, "Misus" must go and see 
 that servant as well as prescribes. Every 
 complaint, whether fancied or real, was 
 lightened if "Misus" wou'd listen to the re- 
 cital; and many a time I have seen the ele- 
 gantly dressed, frail, languid looking lady 
 
 of this house leave her guests and go to the 
 gallery to look at a puny, fretful, ash col- 
 ored child, or an old, rheumatic negress, 
 from whom our fair northern sisters would 
 have turned with disgust. 
 
 True, if she dropped her pocket handker- 
 chief, she did not pick it up herself; but 
 let the little dat key playing at her feet pick 
 it up- or, if she needed anything in another 
 room, she sent one of them after it; but if 
 that same little darkey should fall down, she 
 would be one of the first to be on the spot 
 to inquire into his hurt. 
 
 Who should or could care for these poor 
 blacks like the one who had been brought 
 up amongst them; whose earliest recollec- 
 tions were associated with those old, grey- 
 headed negroes: whose baby will, even, was 
 law to these childlike natures? 
 
 What a contrast now presented itself to 
 my view as I stood on the gallery waiting 
 the summons to breakfast. The large cot- 
 ton gin was partially destroyed by fire. 
 The mill for the grinding of the corn, dingy 
 and dark for lack of paint. Tbe hospital 
 and overseer's house, with an air of desolate 
 neglect. A few of the cabins were newly 
 whitewashed, making the contrast between 
 them and the larger portion more marked, 
 as they had a tumble down look and were 
 closed. 
 
 When Vicksburg fell into the hands of 
 the Unionists, the negroes, influenced by 
 the reports of the wonderful nature of the 
 freedom gained by going into the Federal 
 camp, nearly all flocked there from every 
 plantation; and those on this place were no 
 exception. Very few of their house ser- 
 vants even remained at home. 
 
 At camp there was not sufficient food to 
 be procured for the great numbers, which 
 entailed great suffering amongst them. To 
 heighten their distress, army fever, measles 
 and whooping cough broke out amongst 
 them. They died off like sheep, for their 
 great numbers precluded any idea of prop-/ 
 erly caring for them. I 
 
 Only about sixty all told, of my aunt's sev, 
 vants returned to her. In the goodness of 
 her heart she received them; for, weie they 
 not like erring children to her? She open- 
 ed the hospital and helped nurse them 
 
37 
 
 back to health and strength. But in thus 
 undertaking their good, she brought disas- 
 ter upoo her own flesh and blood. Not 
 only the remaining servants at home caught 
 these diseases, but her own children and 
 grandchildren did not escape contagion, 
 and were the greatest sufferers 
 
 Upon going to the breakfabt table I found 
 as great a change. Her hundsome china 
 and silver had been carried off, so that only 
 the commonest neecessanes of the table 
 were to be seen Whilst breakfasting she 
 told me a portion of the harrassiog anxiet 
 les that she had to endure. 
 
 Living so near to the river front, she had 
 been raided three different times Each 
 lime the serviceable mules and wagons that 
 she had with difficulty collected for the 
 working of her corn field and garden, were 
 taken from her. Her carriages were broken 
 up; and all she had to use, at that time, 
 were toe old ones that had been standing in 
 the carriage house for years, as unfit for 
 use; but the blacksmith had put them in as 
 good repair as his rough wit and imperfect 
 tools would allow him. 
 
 As we finished our breakfast a tumult in 
 the yard announced an arrival. Going out 
 we found a train of ten empty wag ins un- 
 der the command of a civil-inn who seemed 
 to be well acquainted with the place and 
 Us inmates, b* th black and white. 
 
 I then, for the first time, understood the 
 "Modus operandi" of the secret delivery of 
 I .It through the country. To the people of 
 the present day, it will seem strange to hear 
 of whole States, in the Confederacy, with- 
 out salt; for salt, as well as many other 
 things, was not yet manufactured in the 
 south. Now, with every avenue of com- 
 munication closed between the outer world 
 and ourselves, how could we procure those 
 things? 
 
 The south had never developed any re- 
 sources within herself; but had confined 
 ^rself to raising cotton and a little corn — 
 Wk enough of that, however, for her own 
 jjl, but depending upon the west for the 
 IPmt of it.. 
 
 It was a surprise to most of the citizens 
 <?f Louisiana to hear that in the interior of 
 tiheir own State there was a salt lake, known 
 
 to a few. but made of no utility; for it was 
 easier and cheaper to buy their salt of the 
 north or import it from abroad. 
 
 "Necessity," however, "is the mother of 
 invention;" and now in the hour of our 
 need, enterprising men had carried large 
 iron kettles to the lake and taken men and 
 negroes there. They boiled the water 
 down — spreading and drying the flakes 
 thus procured This was then put into 
 wagon boxes and hauled as near to the Mis- 
 si-sippi river as they dared to go. They 
 then stopped to reconnoiter. If any 
 danger seemed to be near they hid and 
 remained quiet. But if all was apparent- 
 ly safe, this salt was taken across the 
 river on a dark night, in row boats: re- 
 loaded, and distributed through the neigh- 
 boring towns. 
 
 The men who attended to the manufac- 
 ture and transportation of this commodity, 
 were exempted from military duty ; as the 
 supplying of salt was considered a public 
 necessity. 
 
 The escorts to these trains were armed, 
 and would have fought desperately for 
 their charge and themselves. The gentle- 
 man who now stood before me was the head 
 man of the organization, and took charge 
 in person of every tr-iin, in and out; going 
 half way back with the empty wagons, to 
 meet the loaded ones on their way in; and 
 taking them in turn to the river. During 
 all the time he was engaged in this business, 
 (and of course he had to follow it until the 
 close of the war) he never lost a wagon or a 
 man. 
 
 He never came to my aunt's place with 
 his full train, for fear of bringing trouble 
 upon her; but, on his return trip, he always 
 stopped over night, paying her liberally for 
 the accommodation of his teams and men. 
 She told me I hat the oniy money she ever 
 had now, was the money he paid her. 
 
 How could I help thinking that God 
 smiled upon my undertaking; for here, 
 most unexpectedly, was solved the riddle of 
 further proceeding. 
 
 My aunt had received through some 
 source, to her unknown, a note from my 
 husband which had puzzled her not a little; 
 for in it he had implored her, if by any 
 
 — 
 
 
 
38 
 
 means in her power she could assist me in 
 getting to a certain village in North Louis- 
 iana that he named, to do so. As she knew 
 nothing of my whereabouts, and as he him- 
 self did not impart any information in 
 regard thereto (knowing nothing definite 
 himself), she said sadly, as she told me, "I 
 thought poor Geoff's wits were wandering " 
 
 Mr. Gray said, if she had two negroes she 
 could trust with her carriage as far as Mon- 
 roe, he would put the baggage and older 
 children into one of his empty wagons and 
 take charge of me. Her carriage would 
 have to be sent back on reaching Monroe, 
 and I would have to trust to Providence for 
 a carriage to take me on from there to my 
 destination. Or, if worst come to worst, j 
 could ride on the wagon containing the 
 trunks; and that wagon he would send all 
 the way with me, as he knew well where it 
 was. Of course it was an unknown country 
 to me. After the experience I had had, all 
 my way through, of difficulties clearing 
 themselves miraculously out of my path, I 
 could not hesitate. It seemed to me as if 
 this opportunity was heaven sent! The poor 
 woman implored me to remain with her. If 
 I went off with these rough men, could I 
 trust them? Then again, if any Federal 
 troops should happen to be on land, a fight 
 must be had between them and the salt es- 
 cort, and what would then become of me! 
 Surely, here was disinterested affection! 
 My presence upon her place would certainly 
 bring her into trouble, if ascertained by the 
 Federal authorities. 
 
 That, afternoon saw me started very com- 
 fortably on my journey; for in spite of my 
 protestations that I could ride in the ss.lt 
 wagon, she would send her carriage and 
 men the full distance mentioned by Mr. 
 Gray, practicable for her. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WAS IT HAUNTED? 
 
 Mr. Gray had guaged his drive for that 
 afternoon so as to have the family remain 
 on that side of a formidable bayou, at a hos- 
 pitable house where he was well known. 
 They were old friends of my aunt,who told 
 me to use her name freely, to insure at least 
 a shelter, if not welcome. 
 
 In most of the houses, as you approached 
 the interior of the State, there was hardly 
 provisions enough for themselves, and what 
 live stock they might possess; and often, 
 when traveling, had I been told by the peo- 
 ple, with tears in their eyes, of their inability 
 to give me anything to eat, as they dared not; 
 for they did not know where a single mor- 
 sel more was to come from, when their 
 present supply should be exhausted. They 
 would always find me a bed. 
 
 As we neared the house, Mr. Gray gal- 
 loped forward to ask for admittance. When 
 I reached the gate, I was told that my aunt's 
 name bad proved an "open sesame," and I 
 was welcome. 
 
 His teams were ordered to cross the bayou, 
 and camp on the other side, to start 
 early in the morning, as we could 
 easily overtake them the next day. 
 To tell the truth, I hardly expected to see 
 my baggage again ; but let me here say that 
 in all that trip I found my escort true and 
 honorable men. 
 
 After sitting awhile, I became conscious 
 that I was being closely observed by the 
 three ladies of the house. Anxiously I put 
 my hand to my collar and hair, to try and 
 discover what was amiss, but I found noth- 
 ing that seemed to need remedying. 
 
 Finally one of the ladies proposed telling 
 me of a fearful fright they had experienced 
 some weeks before. 
 
 Shesaid: "It was about nine o'clock, a 
 dark, windy night, with sleet blowing against 
 the windows, and so cold that it whs with 
 difficulty they kept warm with their fire 
 places. The water in the bayou was the 
 highest known before in years, and the 
 bridges in all directions were washed away. 
 As they sat by the fire, with no light but 
 that of the pine knot, ihey heard a noise at 
 the front door, as of someone stumbling on 
 to the gallery Overcoming her fear, one of 
 them opened the door, and in stalked a 
 drowned man, Beemingly. His face was aj 
 white as one of the dead! His black e*\ 
 wide open, but apparently seeing nothilL', 
 Water dripping from his coal black hair! 
 No cloihes on, but undershirt and drawers, 
 from which the water ran in streams ove 
 the floor! Without speaking he walked t 
 
 
39 
 
 t.tfae fire, saak to the floor and closed bis 
 yea, apparently dead! She sci earned to her 
 ervants, who ran in, but dared not approach 
 the stranger. She threw the keys of her 
 ide board to one of them, ordering brandy 
 ([brought to her, which she endeavored 
 1 to pour down his throat. For some mo- 
 ments, from his inability to swallow, she 
 deemed him indeed dead; but after a few 
 efforts, she had the satisfaction of hearing 
 him swallow; then he opened his eyes, while 
 a wan smile played around tiis mouth, as he 
 faintly murmured 'Excuse,' and looked at 
 jhis scanty garments. She said, 'I almost 
 'kissed him, I was so glad to see some signs 
 of life about him, and he was so handsome!' 
 As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, 
 two of her men took him into a bed-room, 
 gave him a bath, put dry clothes uoon him, 
 
 J and pouring a hot tody down him, left him 
 safely asleep. They also put a civilian suit 
 of clothes, belonging to a son, who was in 
 the army, into the room for him to put on 
 in the morning. 
 
 " 'The handsomest man that I ever saw,' 
 she continued, * walked in to breakfast the 
 next morning, smiling and bowing, ex- 
 
 I cusing himself for his unpremeditated en- 
 trance into the house the previous evening 
 He said he was an officer from Monroe, 
 coming down to the river front to inquire 
 a little into the state of affairs there, and to 
 visit friends in that vicinity. As there was 
 
 » no farm house for five miles back, he had 
 
 'intended crossing the bayou at that point, 
 
 • to ask shelter for the night at our home. 
 Finding the bridge washed away, he 
 attempted to swim his horse across ; but the 
 
 I current proved too strong, and carried the 
 horse oft' his feet; and he and his rider 
 would both have drowned; but, as they 
 passed a submerged tree, the officer caught 
 
 jhold of the branches and drew himself out 
 
 | of tbe saddle. The horse finding himself 
 leleased, had probably saved himself.' 
 ItarThis I knew to be a fact; and told him 
 [W his horse had come into the yard that 
 
 ■Rning, and was safe in my stable. 
 
 ^" After the horse had left him, the officer 
 Let himself down into the water to swim 
 ashore; but he had hardly taken a stroke, 
 before he found that would be an im- 
 
 possibility, for his clothes weighed him 
 down so, and his he;.vy cavalry boots were 
 already filled with water. He then divested 
 himself of his outer garments, to try again. 
 As the night was so stormy and bitter cold, 
 he did not dare think of remaining in the 
 tree all night, exposed to the wind. Twice 
 he was hurled back into the branches of the 
 tree, but the third time he succeeded in 
 reaching the shore. 
 
 "Instinct alone moet have guided him to 
 the house, as he bad only a dim recollection 
 of laying a while on the bank, and of tbe 
 grateful warmth of the fire, until he opened 
 his eyes into my face, when I was giving 
 him the brandy. After breakfast the serv- 
 ants took a boat, and rowing to the tree, 
 found his clothes all safe, and brought them 
 to the house. The officer remained with us 
 until his clothes were dry. His papers were 
 saturated and matted together with mud. 
 Amongst those that he gave me to try and 
 restore for him, I found a daguerreotype, 
 which I took from the case and dried, leav- 
 ing it but little the worse for its soaking." 
 
 She stopped, and continuing slowly, she 
 said, "That picture was your likeness, and 
 you are Major Hall's wife." 
 
 Thus their staring was accounted for. 
 They had recognized me by my daguerre- 
 otype. I was so pleased to hear of my hus- 
 band having been rignt in that same place, 
 though there had been so long an interval 
 between. I found upon comparing dates 
 that this was just before he had received my 
 letter, for he had told them of his anxiety 
 in regard to his wife and family. 
 
 The negro girl who showed me to my 
 room that night, took great delight in ex- 
 patiating upon the Major's "deventure," as 
 she termed it, and in telling me that in that 
 very room and bed was where he slept after 
 his drowning. 
 
 The next morning saw me on "my win- 
 ding way." It was noon before we overtook 
 the wagons. They were halted by the side 
 of the road where there was good water and 
 shade. 
 
 That night we arrived at Monroe, and 
 found that the only house where I could be 
 accommodated with food and shelter, was 
 the house of an acquaintance of my husband. 
 
 WVBMH 
 
This was the very house I would have 
 avoided, if possible, as it had the reputation 
 of being haunted. But I had no alternative, 
 as the carriage could not afford us a resting 
 place as the ambulance had. The house 
 was one of the oldest in that section ; and 
 being in excellent preservation, and a good 
 specimen of toe houses built by the French 
 colonists, I will try to describe it It was 
 two stories high. The lower floor consisted 
 of a broad passage through the centre; this 
 passage was broader than most rooms of the 
 present day. On one side was an immense 
 saloon parlor. On the other side, the cor- 
 responding space was divided into rooms - 
 one the family sitting room; the other 
 the nursery. Extending back from this 
 side, was a long building, forming the 
 dining-room and kitchen, with all the clos- 
 ets and pantries pertaining to those rooms. 
 A very wide gallery, with the balustrade 
 beautifully carved, ran all around the whole 
 building. The fire places were in the pas- 
 sage, and in all the rooms were beautiful 
 specimens of carving. 
 
 Unlike most houses, the s'aire, instead of 
 being in the hall, were built on each side of 
 the wing forming the dining room, and up- 
 on the gallery. The landing above was also 
 up n a gallery, which extended all around 
 the house up there, and corresponding in 
 every particular, even to the carving, with 
 the gallery below. 
 
 The chambers were extravagantly large, 
 roomy and high. Each room opened from 
 either side upon this gallery. Each room 
 was also separate to itself— there being no 
 doors opening from one to another. Each 
 was furnished with a fire place to corres- 
 pond with those below stairs. They were 
 elegant rooms. The exposure to light and 
 air on two sides made them cool and com- 
 fortable in the warmest of weather. 
 
 The yard was completely filled with 
 shade trees, which, in that portion of the 
 country, grow to an immense size. 
 
 The legend of the house, as told and ex- 
 perienced by my own husband, recuneJ to 
 my mind so forcibly as night cume on, that 
 I begged my hostess to muke us pallets in 
 one of the lower room?, which she willingly 
 did. 
 
 The family themselves were nevei 
 troubled with the aparition, as it never ap> 
 peared to anyone bearing the old name, 
 whether by marriage or birth; but their 
 guestB had been so frequently disturbed by 
 it, that they fully believed in it, without 
 demanding occular proof. This is the story } 
 as related to me. 
 
 "It being a cool night, I had closed all 
 the doors and windows; and having con 
 siderable money in gold with me, had fast- 
 ened them all. The transoms over the 
 doors afforded sufficient ventilation, al- 
 though extremely narrow. In the night I 
 was awakened by a heavy pressure upon my 
 chest. Opening my eyes I beheld, by the 
 moonlight streaming through the window, 
 a little, very old looking lady, seated 
 composedly upon the side of my bed. look- 
 ing intently into my face, and pressing 
 heavily upon my lungs. 
 
 Having no suspicion of anything super- 
 natural, I observed her closely before speak- 
 ing. She seemed to be dressed richly ; for 
 I noticed, even in spite of my astonishment, 
 her diamond earrings, and the elegant lace 
 around her throat, where another large dia- 
 mond gleamed. 
 
 By the time all this had entered my mind, 
 I gasped out, (for her strength was so great 
 that by this time I could only gasp,) "Who 
 are you? What do you want?" A mourn- | 
 ful smile was the only reply, while she ! 
 pressed upon me with redoubled force. J 
 With a tremendous effort I freed my hands 
 from under the covering, and by using bot 
 hands and feet, I threw her from the bed.' 
 Then seizing a pillow I hurled it after hei 
 but she eluded it. , 
 
 Then I tried to grasp her! The only ide 
 in my mind being, that she was a lunati^ 
 I chafed her around and around the room- 
 her diamonds glittering in the moonligh' y 
 but not the slightest sound escaped her. He 
 clothes made no rustling, and there was m, 
 movement in the air from her motions. , Ifj 
 I could only grasp her, I felt sure of h • 
 ing her; tor she seemed no larger thauji 
 child of twelve. She was dressed in souKS 
 soft stuff that fell in full folds around hen 
 person, to her feet. Her eyes wercij 
 piercingly black, and held very wide open ■: 
 
41 
 
 ft but her hair was startlingly white, and 
 tftcoiled m heavy braids around her head. 
 ic Bow many times we went across and 
 a around that room, I cannot tell; but finally 
 nehe stopped on the side of the room where 
 tljthere was no door, nor any manner of 
 f jcgress. As I approached her, I said "be 
 [not alarmed, madame! I will do you no 
 1 harm!" With the same mournful smile as 
 before, she looked steadily at me, but made 
 no reply. She allowed me to approach 
 nearly to her side," and— SHE WAS 
 ^GONE! 
 
 5 I staggered to the nearest seat and rubbed 
 3 my eyes, but saw nothing. I was certainly 
 sUlone in that room. As soon as I recovered 
 ^myself a little, I lighted my candle and 
 pslooked around. Every particle of the bed 
 cloihing, as well as every article of my own 
 •'clothing, was strewn around the room inev- 
 tlery direction, just as I had thrown them at 
 * her, one after another as I could grasp them, 
 oJ in our mad career. I gave the walls a close 
 ^inspection; but there was certainly no mode 
 bjof egress there. I then went out on the 
 ofgallery. Not a soul to be seen, nor a sound 
 tflheard. Determined to investigate as thor- 
 oughly as possible, I then went into the 
 hi room adjoining mine. But that was all 
 n right. The side of my room ib rough which 
 Bghe disappeared, was at the rear end of the 
 n j building, and there was no gallery across 
 S'lthat end; nothing, but the blank walls. 
 h For the first time I felt fear; and I determined 
 d to go back to my room, thoroughly dress 
 myself, and sit up the rest of the night, 
 id Dressing was rather a work of time; as 
 chairs were overturned, and my clothes had 
 to be sorted out from the bed clothing. I 
 did sit up the rest of the night, on the 
 lower gallery overlooking the street, 
 tt'. Curious looks greeted me, and innunieiable 
 jc questions in regard to my haggard looks, 
 {(from my brother officers, who took their 
 I: meals at that house always, when quartered 
 in Monroe. I answered at random; but I 
 i! could not help noticing that my hostess as- 
 ij sisted me in my evasive answers, instead of 
 I joining my queriests. After breakfast I 
 sought an opportunity to question her in 
 turn; and she told me that it was an 
 \ old story to her ; that for a long time they 
 
 had not used that room, on account of these 
 appearances. It was always the same — an 
 old woman with magnificent diamonds: a 
 dim tradition had descended from one gen- 
 eration to another, that an old lady had 
 been murdered there, by a grand-daughter, 
 in order to get her diamonds; but after her 
 crime, the diamonds were never seen ex- 
 cept on the old lady's ghost. The one who 
 committed the crime, was haunted by the 
 grandmother's ghost, until, aiter pining 
 away to a skeleton under the pressure, she 
 confessed hor crime and cliedl There was 
 a superstition, that it would be some one's 
 mission to overtake her some night, in that 
 chase after her; for she always seemed to 
 invite that same mad chase. 
 
 My blood ran cold, as she told me with 
 lowered voice, how the grand-daughter de- 
 scribed her terrible crime! She had pro- 
 posed smothering the old lady in her bed; 
 but she had awakened and sprang from her 
 bed; and the girl chased her around 
 the room, until she caught her and stran- 
 gled her in self defense; as she feared that 
 the old lady would tell of the attempt, if 
 she spared her, and have her punished. 
 The murderess told how the old lady 
 seemed to invite her to chase her, and how 
 she smiled )iko n fiend when caught! Al- 
 though when the chase commenced, the 
 diamonds were in her earB and at her throat, 
 tbey had disappeared when the crime was 
 conBumated ; and, as was said, were never 
 afterwards seen— only on the ghost. Who- 
 ever should succeed in overtaking her ap- 
 parition, would secure the diamonds, and 
 the spectre would disappear — never to re- 
 turn; but probably the life of the success- 
 ful one, would have to pay the penalty; 
 as the tradition demanded that the success- 
 ful person should pine awav and die like 
 the original murderess 
 
 Oh, I exclaimed! Not for all the dia- 
 monds the old witch ever possessed, would 
 I endure such a fright again! 
 
 My hostess calmly said, sleep there again 
 to-night. I will guarantee that you would 
 not be troubled, for she never appears twice 
 to the same person. 
 
 This was my husband's experience of the 
 haunted house ; and he finished the etory 
 
42 
 
 by Baying, with emphasis, "I cannot say 
 whether it did ever appear twice to the 
 same person, for I carefully avoided 
 ever staying there again." 
 
 I saw no ghost; for I was protected by 
 the presence of children of the same name 
 and race as the ghost herself. But, for all 
 that, I was sincerely rej iced when day- 
 light greeted my wakeful eyes. 
 
 The next morning brought a courier with 
 a dispatch for me. This proved to be an 
 order from the General commanding that 
 portion of the Trans-Mississippi Depart- 
 ment to which my husband belonged, to a 
 citizen of Monroe, directing him to furnish, 
 for a reasonable compensation, a carriage 
 and mules to take me to Mount Lebanon— a 
 three days j urney from there. When I 
 reached Mount Lebanon. I was to proceed 
 to the house of a Doctor Matthews, where I 
 would find shelter. Upon presenting this 
 order to the person named, 1 was imme- 
 diately furnished with the requisite car- 
 riage and mules. 
 
 The courier told me that most of the 
 command was on the opposite side of the 
 river from Monroe ; also, that my husband's 
 boy, Tom, ''Faithful Tom," was there; but 
 that the Major himself, with an escort and 
 a train of wagons, had been ordered to a 
 point some seventy miles farther on than I 
 was directed to go. 
 
 Very little preparation was needed that 
 morning, and I bade the haunted house 
 "Good-Bye" for ever. When I passed 
 through Monroe again, in more peaceful 
 times, the madame was dead; and I natur 
 ally avoided the "Haunted House!" 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 MOUNT LEBANON. 
 
 On reaching the opposite side of the river, 
 which I crossed in a ferry boat with a de- 
 tachment of soldiery, I proceeded directly 
 to camp to see Tom. Poor Tom! He 
 shed tears of joy at seeing us all safe; but 
 could give me no late tidings of his "Mars 
 Geoff." He thought, however, that, unless 
 I missed him on the road, I would certainly 
 meet him before I reached Mt. Lebanon. 
 
 "Where is Mt. Lebanon? Who is Dr. 
 
 Matthews? What am I to do when I g 
 there, Tom? 
 
 "Dunno, Miss Francie! Reckon dat dej 
 will know there when you dun got there.' 
 
 Tom packed a basket of provisions from 
 the camp stores and again I took up my 
 weary wandering. Three flays in dry s*nd 
 up 1o the wheel hub, through pine forests, 
 up hill and down hill. Northern Louisiana 
 has but tew hills; and t.hesa all seemed to be 
 upon the road leading from Monroe to 
 Shreveport. At last in the light of the set- 
 ting sun of the third day out we emerged 
 from a pine wood directly into the heart of 
 ihe unpretentious village of Mt. Lebanon. 
 
 Mt. Lebanon before the war was cele- 
 brated for its Baptist College. The build- 
 ings were now used to some extent for hos- 
 pital purposes, though only on a limited 
 scale, as the village was too far from any of 
 the military posts. 
 
 The college of course was closed as a col- 
 lege, for all our southern young men old 
 enough to attend school were in the army. 
 Poor boys! A very different school. 
 
 We inquired our way to the residence of 
 Dr. Matthews I watched with intense curi- 
 osity for my first view of the house to which 
 I was directed, aud with some dismay 
 thought over the situation. 
 
 I had received no directions except to go 
 to the hou«e of Dr. Matthews and announce 
 myself ; and this direction did not come 
 from my husband; but from the note the 
 courier had brought me from the commat , 
 ing general, who was at that time a Strang^ 
 to me. True, Tom had corroborated thn 
 But it was only Tom, who could not be re. 
 sponsible, if there was any mistake. 's 
 
 The college building first met my eye f 
 the carriage turned upon the street leading 
 to this dreaded house; for my uncertainty 
 had made me so nervous that I could have 
 almost turned and fled. 
 
 These were large white buildings a long 
 distance from the street with an immense 
 yard in front filled with black walnut trees. 
 
 There are no shade trees in the north that 
 grow to such a size as the walnut and oak 
 in that country. When they reach a cer- 
 tain height the tops are cut off for fear of 
 the damage that they might do if allowed tc 
 
k 
 
 43 
 
 tbecome too top heavy and one of those fear- 
 ■ xul winds should arise which are so common 
 in that country. The trunks of the trees 
 are so broad when they are sawed off that 
 my children often climbed up and sat on 
 them, almost hid from view by the dense 
 foliage. • 
 
 Just beyond those buildings was another 
 large yard with a handsome, one-storied 
 white house and plenty of out houses. 
 
 As we looked towards the house we saw 
 comirjg from the front door to the gate a 
 gentleman with a hammer in his hand. The 
 carriage approached so noiselessly on the 
 3andy street that the first intimation he had 
 of our presence was the shout of joy which 
 I arose from the older children of "Papa, 
 I papa!" 
 
 It was, indeed, he! I could not speak! 
 r .t was not until we reached the house steps 
 that a word passed between husband and 
 wife! It was such an unexpected meeting 
 on my part! 
 
 He explained that he had hurried up his 
 business at Shreveport and started the trains 
 of supply wagons under his command on 
 the direct road to, Monroe, whilst he 1 .ad 
 made the detour to reach Mt. Lebanon 'fa 
 h ?>pes to find me already there, or some 
 message in regard to me from the Colonel. 
 fie would have been obliged to leave the 
 next morning in order to overtake his teams, 
 so that a few hours delay on my part would 
 have prevented our meeting. I was intro 
 dticed to Dr. Matthews and his wife and 
 <;>iree lovely children. In that hour I be- 
 lame acquainted with those who proved to 
 ;fe trustworthy and firm friends to me and 
 line. 
 
 A dinner was instantly ordered. Whilst 
 lat was being prepared the situation of 
 tKffairs was opened to me. Upon receipt of 
 ay alarming letter my husband's faith was 
 o strong in my capacity to overcome diffic- 
 ulties, and he was so sure that I would get 
 icross the river and from there into the 
 leart of the country to find him, — although 
 low or when was more than he could 
 >ven imagine, — that he immediately began 
 earching for some portion of the State 
 vhere they were not entirely eaten out by 
 e soldiery, and also back from the road 
 
 far enough not to be liable to have soldiers 
 billeted upon them. 
 
 He found this little Baptist village with 
 one church, three large stores, a small pri 
 vate school, and belter than all the rest, no 
 soldiers had ever been quartered there; and 
 very seldom had any ever passed through 
 the village, as it was too far inland. 
 
 It was about one hundred miles from the 
 Mississippi River, nearly the same distance 
 from the Red River and about six miles 
 from the direct road leading from Shreve- 
 port to Monroe. 
 
 He had purchased this place from its pres- 
 ent occupants; but they were to remain 
 there for three months with my family as 
 boarders, until I could canvas the country 
 and pick up such articles for housekeeping 
 as I could find for sale. After dinner I was 
 taken to the carriage house and shown an 
 old-fashioned roomy carriage which one of 
 the neighboring planters had sold to him; 
 and, in the stable, a fine pair of mules to go 
 before it. 
 
 In that country in summer the roads are 
 so heavy with dry sand, and in the winter 
 still heavier with this same sand becoming 
 wet that mules are used almost exclusively 
 for carriage service; as horseB very soon 
 wear out over these roads. Great care is 
 taken by people of means to procure well 
 mated and handsome mules. To people 
 unacquainted with mules, a mule is a mule 
 — and nothing more. But I can assure you 
 there is quite a choice in mules. I have 
 seen them when tbey were quite as hand- 
 some and intelligent looking as fine horses. 
 
 Early the next morning we again bade 
 each other farewell ! But it was so different 
 now from any of the rest that I laughed as I 
 kissed my hand to him and he passed out of 
 eight around the corner of the street. 
 
 Can any woids express the peaceful reel 
 of those months! No care— no anxiety ! I 
 literally did nothing but rest. Indeed, now 
 that the need of anxious planning had 
 passed, my tired brain and nerves began to 
 assert themselves, and I for the first time 
 realized the magnitude of the journey I had 
 taken. 
 
 Back in the pine woods of Mississippi 
 some sixty miles, through woods and over 
 
44; 
 
 bayous to the river: not kiaowing at what 
 hour I might be pounced upon by Federal 
 cavalry I Then, passed those fearful mon- 
 sters of death and destruction, the gunboats! 
 Then, through cypress swamps, up the 
 sandy hills of North Louisiana, through 
 pine forests with houses — some ten or 
 twelve miles apart; others, one hundred! 
 No white person — nothing but strange 
 blacks with me— entirely at the mercy of 
 any foe that might present itself! This 
 journey I had undertaken without the slight- 
 est idea of how each successiuo stage was to 
 be accomplished ! 1 had started with faith 
 in accomplishing my purpose when I left 
 New Orleans! And I had started on this 
 trip with the same confidence in the motto — 
 Aide toi, Dieu t aider a! And here I was 
 anchored at least for a while! 
 
 What wonder that for months after the 
 bare reccollection of those days and nights, 
 which were passed in the fullest acceptation 
 of the words — "Not knowing what an hour 
 might bring forth," would bring on an at 
 tack of nervousness that would startle me 
 to my feet and I would walk and walk, until 
 physical fatigue would beget the needed 
 sleep. 
 
 Here we remained until the close of the 
 war. A peaceful life compared to the past 
 two yea r s Whenever the troops were 
 quartered at Monroe I would take a carri 
 age and drive there, remaining in camp 
 until they made a move. After a few 
 months Tom came from camp and remained 
 at home with me. 
 
 He was the blackest negro I ever saw, 
 with all the faults and virtues of his race, 
 but with none of their vices until he was 
 free. Then his downward course was » 
 rapid one. He remained with me about a 
 year after the act of freedom. 
 
 He came to me one day with tears in his 
 eyes saying, "Miss Francie! You won't go 
 back to the city until Mars Geoff is in busi- 
 ness again; and I am done homesick!" 
 
 A few days after that with weeping eyes 
 he left us. After I returned to the city I 
 searched for him and found him. He had 
 been earning one hundred dollars a month 
 but was discharged for drunkenness. I 
 found him in the lock up. 
 
 When he was released I had him come to 
 us and tried to reclaim bim. For a short 
 time he was steady. Then he fell. Twice 
 I made the effort; but he was irreclaimable! 
 
 He died two years after— ruined by that 
 which should have been an inestimable 
 boon to him — freedom! Poor »soul! To 
 many of them freedom meant only license! 
 
 When the negroes were set free it was 
 feared that an insurrection would follow, 
 and as there were at least fifty negroes to 
 every white person in the country places, 
 our chance of escaping utter destruction 
 was very limited if sucn an event should 
 occur. 
 
 On my place I was the only grown white 
 person. I had one colored woman and Cal- 
 lie, the young colored girl who bad been 
 with me through all my wanderings, be- 
 sides eight negro men. 
 
 A passage through the centre of the bouse 
 let out upon the galleries. On one side of 
 this passage was my parlor and my dining 
 room. On the other side was a large nurse- 
 ry and my own room. During the first few 
 weeks following the "Act of Freedom," 
 e> "ry night I locked myself in these Inst 
 Lamed rooms Across the door of my room 
 Tom laid his mattress every night. At the 
 head of my bed I kept, loaded and ready 
 for use, two army and two small revolver?, 
 one Colt's single barrelled pistol and a rifle. 
 These I should have used if necessaiy, and 
 used them with confident skill. I had be- 
 come so light a sleeper that a strange step 
 in the yard would arouse me. 
 
 One night, Tom being far from well, 1 < 
 dered bim 'to sleep in the cabin. I w 
 aroused about three o'clock in the morn in 
 by a slight touch on the handle of my doc 
 In an instant I was on my feet, pistol 
 hand. 
 
 "Who is there? Speak quick!" 
 
 "Sam, Miss Francie." 
 
 Sam was the servant whose duty it w; 
 to attend to the light fire that w-js require 
 at that season of the year; but, since we ha 
 anticipated trouble, I had given him orde 
 not to come to my rorm for that purpru 
 until summoned by Tom. 
 
 "Why are you hero at this hour of tl 
 morning? Your orders are not to con 
 
 
45 
 
 near the house till called!'' 
 "Yes, Miss Francie; but as Tom was sick, 
 
 . I tout p'raps I better come early." 
 
 "Sam, if you are not out of that passage 
 in one second I shall fire upon you!" 
 
 "Don't shoot, Miss Francie! I — " What 
 further he would have said, I never knew; 
 for at that moment I heard Tom say, "You 
 fool nigger, wat you doin here! Clar out, 
 fore Miss Francie shoot you!" 
 
 Sam apparently walked off ; and I heard 
 Tom lie down in his blanket outside the 
 door, muttering to himself the only words 
 that I could hear, "Fool nigger; guess dey'll 
 find dis nigger aint dead yet!" 
 
 After the troops were disbanded, trouble 
 
 I was anticipated from the lawless ones being 
 turned loose upon the country, with no law, 
 either civil or military, to protect the peo- 
 ple. 
 
 I The commissary wagons were ordered to 
 
 \"Shreveport. But before they reached our 
 'nlace the supplies belonging to that depart- 
 ment were nearly all appropriated by the 
 pen of the brigade to their own use. There 
 Was a feeling of despair prevading the 
 ranks. No money but Confederate; no 
 ponds but worthless cotton bonds; their 
 homes despoiled; their farms untilled; not 
 l)nly no servants to till them, but no hopes 
 lor prospects of having any means to hire 
 mything in the shape of a man to take the 
 place of the lost servants. 
 
 They considered that in taking these 
 jirmy supplies they were but taking their 
 >wn. 
 
 Think of a man going back to a home 
 vith every building partially in ruins, every 
 piece of furniture destroyed, every orna- 
 ment of the house carried off I 
 
 In some houses in North Louisiana and 
 Arkansas the Federal troops had used the 
 rooms of the planters' houses for stables 
 land their pianos for mangers. I knew one 
 
 jgentleman whose house was thus used. He 
 went to his desolate home, where he found 
 about forty out of his former force of six 
 hundred in the cabins. He made a bargain 
 with them to remain with him. He then 
 went to New Orleans to his former mer- 
 chants and bankers. He succeeded in ob- 
 taining, by mrirtaa^ing to its full value ODe 
 
 of his large plantations, money sufficient to 
 give him a feeble start. Upon going back 
 he took his servants and with their assist- 
 ance made a couple of rooms inhabitable. 
 Into these he put his mother, wife and two 
 babies. 
 
 Then commenced the struggle for a bare 
 existence. Taking a few acres of land he 
 put himself at the head of his feeble force 
 and worked with them to put in a little corn 
 and cotton. How glad was his heart after 
 Weeks of unaccustomed and incessant toil 
 to see his crops looking so fine and promis- 
 ing! 
 
 Taking his wife's little hands in his own 
 that evening he kissed the blisters that were 
 fast forming into hard bunches, on hands 
 which never before had known a day of 
 toil, saying, "My own love— everything 
 looks as if next year my sweet wife could 
 be a little more comfortable." 
 
 This was the last night of hope! For the 
 next day the rumors of the oyerflow from 
 above came to him, and in a few days he 
 and his family were in an upper room of 
 his house looking from a window upon a 
 grand scene of desolation. Where before 
 were fields of promise now was to be seen 
 only the angry waters of the Mississippi. 
 The lower rooms of his house were already 
 filled, and most of the articles of poor fur 
 niture that they had succeeded in collecting 
 together were floating around. On a little 
 rise of land near the stables stood a few 
 drowned-looking specimens of live stock. 
 What a sense of helpless desolation must 
 have crushed upon that man's heart when 
 be reflected on his future! Blacker than 
 ever was the thought of it! And especially 
 so, when he thought that all his means were 
 exhausted and, added to his former trou- 
 bles, was the heavy debt of the borrowed 
 thousands for that venture! 
 
 "Hope reigns eternal in the human breast!" 
 Before the waters had dried away from bis 
 doors, he was in New Orleans again. 
 
 Pleased at his indomitable courage his 
 bankers urged him to come to the city and 
 practice his profession. He had been liber- 
 ally educated and had passed his examina- 
 tion as a lawyer, but he had never practiced. 
 What need had he of practicing law? He 
 
•46' 
 
 was the owner of a large plantation and five 
 or six hundred negroes, besides being the 
 sole heir to another place equally as large, 
 as his own and fully as many negroes. 
 
 Practice law ! How his heart leaped at 
 the thought of leaving the hard manual 
 labor from which his nature and his flesh 
 recoiled! But he was not alone. Four help- 
 less beings depended upon him for their 
 daily bread. Where was this to come from 
 whilst he was waiting for clients who might 
 never come? All the expenses of even the 
 humblest home in the city would be an im- 
 possibility to him! So he stilled his heart 
 and asked for a small loan to start a wood 
 yard on the river bank. 
 
 He, the fashionable, prGud and fastidious 
 gentleman, had worked like the commonest 
 negro, and even with them, to plant a few 
 of his paternal acres. But now he must 
 stoop even lower, for that was far above his 
 reach this year. He must keep only force 
 enough to care for a wood yard for fear that 
 he would not be able to pay them. He be- 
 gan to sell and help load wood on steamers 
 whose decks he had once trod as one of the 
 proudest of all Louisiana's proud planters as 
 one of the gayest of all her gay young men ! 
 
 Again the shapely hand of the gentleman 
 was put to hard work, and again the little 
 white hands of which he was so proud, and 
 which no rough labor could disfigure, took 
 hold of the unaccustomed routine of house- 
 hold work. 
 
 A rumor of another freshet ! It cannot be 
 possible, for never were there known two 
 successive years of freshets! Alas, they did 
 not remember the abandoned attempt of the 
 cutting of a canal opposite Vicksburg, 
 which was still an enemy to them ! A foe 
 more unrelenting even than the Federal 
 force who cut it. 
 
 It proved true. In one night the work of 
 months was again swept away! Now what 
 was there left for the true-hearted gentle- 
 man to do? 
 
 Again he returned to New Orleans. Not 
 this time to ask another loan, but to turn 
 over everything he possessed in the world 
 to those who had helped him in his sore 
 strait. It was all that he had, but it was 
 only a drop in the bucket. 
 
 At that time an emigration scheme to 
 Brazil was started for the needy Southern 
 people, and leaving his little family to fol- . 
 low him, he joined the emigrants. "For," 
 said he as we bade him 'Good-bye' on the 
 wharf, "it is at least so warm there that 
 Lilhe and the babies will not need any sur- 
 plus clothing, and they need not go hungry 
 for we can live on fruit." 
 
 Where is heroism best displayed? la it in 
 battle amid the excitment and dash of cav- 
 alry, or in the cool and deliberate fight 
 against poverty, hunger and utter despair? 
 
 He was but one out of many who had to 
 take up the battle against these bitter foes. 
 
 But to resume: — 
 
 Owing to this despoiling of the supplies 
 the train had dwindled down to one im- 
 mense wagon drawn by four mules. By the 
 time they reached our house this wagon 
 was empty, but the driver had in his posses- 
 sion one piece of the "cadet gray" stuff, of 
 which the soldiers' suits had been made. 
 
 Just before dark Tom brought us the in- 
 formation that a body of ex-soldiers were 
 moving rapidly towards the village. They 
 were on their way to Shreveport to report 1 ., 
 but had resolved to find the remnant of thrtt 
 supply train and make the "Major" din- i 
 gorge his spoil They did not belong to j 
 the same brigade as himself but had been j 
 members of a command in Arkansas t 
 
 They had been told, as we afters Acs 3 
 learned, that the Major had taken all tie 
 wagons and their contents, as well as ill 
 the mules belonging to them for his sham: | 
 so they had determined not only to take t » 
 themselves all of these articles but also t< 
 strip him of his personal affects in reveng 
 for his taking the lion's share from hi 
 comrades. 
 
 As soon as Tom had told the news w< 
 prepared for secreting our own privaU 
 stock. My horses and mules were taker 
 off a few miles in an opposite directi n an^ 
 locked up in a friend's stable. Of the fouj 
 mules belonging to the wagon the driveij 
 selected the best two of them and sent ther 
 off with my horses; and he said with truilif 
 that "he had as good a right to them mult^ 
 as the Arkansas men — seeing fis how he ha< 
 driven them nigh onto two years." 
 
47 
 
 We congratulated ourselves that our lit- 
 le son witb his pony, his "Nonpariel," was 
 >ut in the country. We decided to sit up 
 ill night if necessary to wait for them. 
 Sight o'clock — nine o'clock — and the dash 
 >f "Non panel's" little hoofs were heard, 
 md with a "View halloo" our son came 
 nto the yard. He was received with om- 
 nous silence; for we had supposed him 
 isfe and his pony with him. He explained 
 lis unexpected appearance by saying that 
 le had calculated tne chances of his father 
 )eing at home by that time; and had de- 
 sided after supper upon riding home to try 
 hat chance. It was too late to hide the 
 )ony. What was to be done? 
 
 Contrary to all masculine precedents they 
 istened to a woman's counsels. 
 
 Sending all the servants to bed but Tom, 
 vho alone knew of the hiding place of the 
 itock, I had the pony tied to one of the 
 )06ts of the gallery near where there was a 
 lELmmock swinging. In this hammock I 
 >ut the boy, seating myself in a large arm 
 '.hair near by, with Tom crouched close at 
 ii,nd. My husband and the driver, having 
 )£©n up all of the night before, I prevailed 
 ipjon to lie down for a nap. This they did 
 thout removing their clothes and with 
 solvers at hand. 
 
 It was a starlight night. I alone kept 
 itch. Not a light was to be seen — not a 
 und heard, except the distant barking of 
 log. It was so peaceful — so lovely ! Can 
 be possible that I am watching for the 
 ;ad of a foe ! Can it be possible that all 
 e sleepers around me are armed, sleeping 
 ;htly, with finger on the pistol trigger? 
 I looked out into the beautiful night, 
 ider those trees stands the one wagon, 
 jking so ridiculously small under the 
 adowing trees that I smile with scorn ! 
 it possible that for the sake of that insig- 
 ficant thing we are anticipating blocd- 
 fed? Bloodshed! of men who had been 
 aged in the same cause ! 
 eated there alone in that infinity of soli- 
 J&e I gradually forgot the occasion of my 
 atching and lost myself in thoughts sug- 
 ;8ted by the silence, by the magnitude of 
 od's creation, the vast expanse above, 
 rough which the eye could pierce to the 
 
 starry heavens, when hark! A noise is 
 heard that rouses me! The distant tread of 
 feet — not the measured mark of military 
 force, but the reckless tread of a mob ! A 
 mob more to be dreaded than all the mili- 
 tary forces of the Union and Confederate 
 Armies combined; for it meant unbridled 
 license, and I was but a woman with all a 
 woman's fears! Tney came! Dark and 
 vague their forces looked in the dim light 
 of the stars as they halted at the chained 
 and locked gate! Finding no way to open 
 the gate they vaulted the fence. With 
 much noise on their part, but with ominous 
 silence at the house, they ran to the gallery. 
 
 What is this that meets their astonished 
 gaze? A blinding light thrown on the 
 scene; and a "Tableaux vivant!" 
 
 In front, under the darkness of the trees, 
 now stands the silenced mob! On the gal- 
 lery under the strong light swings a ham- 
 mock with a boy in it looking out with 
 sleepy eyes upon the scene! Near him his 
 pony, which, startled by the light, is tug-, 
 ging at his halter! In a chair a lady, who, 
 with calm voice says:— 
 
 "What is your wish, gentlemen? 
 
 A dead silence! For what words can 
 they address to that woman? 
 
 "We have come to rob you and yours!" 
 
 A silence ensues — broken at last by my 
 saying — "Perhaps you would like to see 
 my husband. Tom, call your master!" 
 
 Tom sprang from under the hammock to 
 do my bidding. He reappeared, accom- 
 panied by my husband and his tall driver, 
 who looked gigantic in that light. My 
 husband removed his hat, while terse- 
 ly requesting to speak to their leaded. 
 Then they seemed to gain spirit when con- 
 fronted by one of their own sex; and loud 
 calls for "Jake" brought out from their 
 midst a large uncouth man. Ho courteous- 
 ly explained the way in which they had 
 been told that the Major had gobbled up 
 things, and of their determination to make 
 him share up his plunder. 
 
 Straightening himself to his full height, 
 with flashing eyes he replied, — 
 
 "Men, to my men I owed allegiance, and 
 to any of them I would feel that I owed an 
 explanation. To you I owe no duty. " 
 
Throwing down a bunch of keys, he con- 
 tinued : 
 
 "Here are the keys to my outhouses; ex- 
 amine for yourselves. My stables are not 
 locked; for, knowing that you were com- 
 ing, and for what purpose, I have put my 
 wife's horses and mules out of the way. I 
 have not an animal on the place but my 
 boy's pony. Here he is now and his pony 
 with him. The wagon that you see under 
 the trees is an army wagon ; but it came 
 here empty. The one who drove the wagon 
 is here! Captain Dobson, men!" 
 
 Here the Captain moved more into the 
 light, and said : 
 
 "Men, I am not a finished gentleman like 
 the Major; but I can tell you the truth just 
 the same as he does. When we left the 
 camp the boys of our own command emp- 
 tied this wagon, leaving for me one piece of 
 cloth. I took that for my own use, or 
 rather for the use of my family; and I have 
 hid that away from you. The wagon that 
 I drove is the one that you see there in the 
 yard. It was drawn by four mules; two of 
 these I have hid for myself; the other two 
 you may do as you please with. They are 
 tied to the wheels of the wagon." 
 
 A few moments of silence; then, three 
 men apparently leaders, stepping a little 
 forward, one of them said: 
 
 "Msvjor, among so many men there are 
 many minds. To satisfy all, we will be 
 obliged to search your buildings. We will 
 not search the house to please anybody." 
 
 Taking up the keys they turned to go to 
 the rear. Tom, at a few words from me, 
 went through the house meeting them at 
 the back door with a lighted torch with 
 which he accompanied them on their 
 rounds. 
 
 Their search was soon over for they found 
 nothing. Whilst they were gone one of the 
 roughest of the men advanced and com- 
 menced untying the pony's halter. My 
 son sprang from the hammock and onto his 
 pony's back, where he was when the men 
 returned from their fruitless search. They 
 went up to the pony, and, as they were 
 evidently very much exasperated, we all 
 expected they would make short work of 
 taking the pony. 
 
 They ordered the boy to dismount; but 
 with flashing and indignant eyes he stoutly 
 refused, and suddenly wheeling the pony 
 around he rode him up the steps and onto 
 the gallery amongst us. How handsome 
 they looked ! We knew that interference 
 would be useless, for what would resistance 
 avail with such a force against us? And 
 many of them daring, reckless men — made 
 more daring and reckless by the cruei ex 
 periences of war. 
 
 They had a stormy debate amongst them- 
 selves; but not a word was uttered on oui 
 part. The dauntless courage of the boy, 
 however, had carried the day. They mo- 
 lested him no further but proceeded to take 
 the mules. 
 
 We were much interested in watching 
 them in their division of two mules among 
 some twenty-five or thirty men. Lawless 
 as they were they had some spark of honor 
 in their feelings toward one another; foi 
 they put the two most miserable looking oi 
 their number on those mules, and aftei 
 taking a drink all around from the well 
 tney took their departure. 
 
 It was a relief to see them go; but we die 
 not feel entirely safe, for five or six of they 
 might return yet and do us much damagL 
 
 Leaving the pony tied to a tree in Ton|j, 
 charge, the child and myself retired. T rp 
 gentlemen however remained upon the g\ e 
 lery all night until the welcome appearand 
 of daylight relieved them of any furtfc, 8 . 
 apprehensions of present danger. ep 
 
 Soon after tnis my husband went , 
 Shreveoort to take the oath of allegian 
 and give bis parole. 
 
 Whilst he was in New York and Ne 
 Orleans making arrangements for coi 
 mencmg business again we remained at M 
 Lebanon, where at last I found a purchas 
 for our home and other real estate that -v 
 had accumulated. 
 
 I fully intended visiting again this pretl 
 village where I had found such true an 
 honost friendship; but for many years y 
 were glad to have the wherewith to bu 
 enough to eat and to cover our nakednes 
 
 Alas! When prosperity just began f 
 dawn upon us again sickness and deat 
 came to my husband, and brought with , 
 
 
49 
 
 ch terror that all thoughts of the past, pleasant or tearful, were swallowed up in this 
 e great wave of despair! 
 
 THE END. 
 
 1TOTB 
 
 The foregoing little history of a single family life, and principally of the wife and 
 lother who still lives, is very far from being complete. It has been published, as a 
 erial. in the columns of the Syracuse Sunday Times, and has received unusual praise, 
 his little pamphlet is but the embryo volume, which will, by and-by, be published, 
 'he book will be enlarged chiefly by incidents, — the like of which has scarcely ever been 
 lid, much less experienced. It is hardly possible for a Northern wife and mother to 
 aderstand it. The scene of the war was not at their doors. They did not have to pack 
 p and rice from the approaching foe. They were not required to abandon their homes 
 id household goods, and seek even imaginary safety as refugees in flight. They 
 :mained at home, although their fathers, husbands and brothers went — some of them 
 sver to return. The war was fought around other homes and upon another soil. The 
 orth knew nothing of its local ravages. But when they read the experiences of the 
 riter when fully told in the next edition of this little book, their hatred, if they ever had 
 ny, will be melted into sympathy ; their love of country will be strengthened, when thev 
 le the suffering to their sex the Lost Cause has cost ; and, with the mantle of charity 
 irowD over the past, they will come to the reflection that a bond of unity should cement 
 le kindred relations of the wives and mothers of the entire land. Let it teach the 
 usbands and fathers of the land a lesson Let them learn and cultivate the arts of peace, 
 id peaceful solutions of all dividing questions. Let intestine war be made impossible, 
 scausc the wives and mothers of the land will not have it. So will the Union become 
 rong in the hearts of all the people, and peace and plenty forever prevail. 
 
■ueuafm^mmmf^ mi 
 
i 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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