GDG- Alice Powers

[Ginny Gage]

>From The Compiler -  July 1, 1903:

As the Rebels were in sight, Wednesday morning saw the boys close in camp.
About the middle of the forenoon the first shot heralded the tidings that
the fight was on.  Churches and other public buildings were hurriedly
prepared for the reception of the wounded.  Later on the infantry began to
come in Washington St. double quick.  Poor fellows they were tired, hungry,
and thirsty.  This time they were met, not with songs, but food and water.
All the bread in the neighborhood was gathered up.  The older women cut and
spread it with the remains of the winter¹s store of apple butter and
preserved fruit; then younger hands passed it out, while others still, men
women and children, passed water which the soldiers drank without halting
and threw the cups back to be refilled for those coming after them.

            After this came the flight of the dwellers in the west of town
seeking safely in the east and south.  Most of them bore away what in their
haste they could gather.  One large basket comes to my mind; it contained a
lot of dishes, and on top were two old fashioned bonnets.  As my sister and
I stood on the doorstep picking lint the first wounded man passed up toward
the Catholic Church.  Soon more men, wounded in every manner, followed borne
on stretchers, and carried in ambulances.

            All stores that could be of any use were brought out by the
housekeepers, and sent to the hospitals.  Men and women did what they could
to help.  Then came the retreat with its hand to hand battle on our streets.
In a fight between our home and the ³Female Institute² (now Linwood,) the
rebels took the colors of the 150 Pa. V., (Bucktails.)  This was witnessed
by Mrs. R. R. Eyster, Principal of the school, and Mrs. Virginia Powers
Smith, who stood at their doors.  These colors were sent to Jefferson Davis
as a relic, and when he was captured were found in that famous trunk of his,
sent to Washington and are now in the State-House at Harrisburg having been
given to the state of Pennsylvania by the Government, after the war.

            A few minutes after the flag was taken while my sister still
stood at the door, she heard the shriek of a shell. In the street two horses
in a caisson were being driven furiously by an artilleryman past her, while
close to the pavement on the other side, a messenger was riding swiftly.
The shell exploded; a piece struck the messenger killing him instantly by
taking off the top of his head, another piece killed one of the horses in
the caisson.  Quick as thought the artilleryman threw the harness from dead
horse, removed the dead man¹s feet from the stirrups and laid him back on
the sidewalk.  Hitching the horse in the caisson he drove off.  Before he
had gone many yards, fearing he would be taken prisoner, the caisson was
disabled, and he rode away leading the other horse.  Let us hope escaped.

            Another man lay dead on the pavement about a hundred yards above
the messenger.

            A little further on in front of the west end of the old United
Presbyterian Church, two men ran trying to reach the Union lines.  A ball
struck one of them, who was very tall, in the head killing him instantly.
It glanced off struck a brace which held the fence on a terrace, and went
into the knee of the other who was not much more than a boy.  It could not
be removed and last year went with him to his grave.

            Beside the steps at the east end of the church a soldier who was
assisting in the hospital was shot.  In the night some one cut off his head.
These dead soldiers lay on the sidewalk until Saturday morning as the squad
of Louisiana Tigers who guarded the street would not permit the citizens,
who begged that privilege to bury them at night.

            It was more than a week before the dead horse was removed.

            At nightfall all was quiet but the tramp of the guards reminded
the town that its citizens were prisoners.  All the wounded who could be
found were brought into the hospitals and homes to be cared for.  Many
councils of ways and means were held, for we were threatened with want; most
of our scant supplies had been given out to the troops and it seemed as if
many would suffer before help could reach us from without. Fortunately we
were supplied with flour‹a whole barrel.  Our grocer, Mr. Jacob Norbeck
whose store was in a little house which stood where Capt. Wm. Martin¹s house
now stands‹hand sent us word on Saturday night before that he had a small
supply of flour on hand, if we wanted a barrel we should come and get it;
which offer was thankfully accepted.  We were also possessed of several good
sized pieces of dried beef.  In the twilight mother who had come from the
hospital, saw Dr. Fulton with whom she had been working, roll a barrel of
crackers up the street, of which he gave her an apron full-about half a
bushel.  This was all the cooked food we had in the house.  My little nephew
aged three years, had been crying for food for a long time and could now be
satisfied.  Others were not so fortunately situated, and many went hungry to
bed that night.

            Our family had been increased from four to about twenty by those
who sought the safety in our deep dry cellar and the wounded whom father and
mother had brought in, they must be fed.  Soon a good sized batch of bread
was set to rise in the big doughtray.

            Restless and uneasy we slept in our clothes that night getting
up often to watch that no harm came to the dead who lay in sight of our
doors.

            What a scene of desolation and confusion were the streets and
yards of our town that night; fences down and the well made gardens trampled
in the stampede of retreat; dead men and horses lying in the streets; all
sorts of household goods and      ----         scattered with shot and shell
everywhere.  No wonder hands were wrung and tears flowed at the dismal sight
for many depended in a great measure on these large gardens for a living.

            Quite a number of the ³boys in blue² driven into the houses were
hidden until all was over and thus saved from capture.

            A wounded Scotchman had been brought in who seemed so old beside
the other boys that we immediately called him grandpa. He had such faith in
the courage of our boys, and such trust in the ultimate triumph of the Union
that he was a tower of strength to all in the house.  His ³na fear man² to
father heartened us all.

            Mother had some chickens which, disdaining the hot chicken
house, preferred resting among the cool leaves on the branches of the peach
trees.  In the twilight their restless movements attracted the attention of
a couple of the enemy at the well near-by.  As foraging is part of the
soldier¹s trade they started for the tree.  Mother said, ³girls they are
after my chickens.²  Followed by my sister she went through an opposite
door, and met them pleasantly.  Will you be kind enough to take down those
chickens for me?  I need them for the wounded.  They very kindly did as
requested.

            In the yard near the kitchen door was a never failing well of
cool water, and many a refreshing drink the boys of both armies took from
it.  But one party of rebels seemed to want to pump it dry.  Mother took a
vessel in which they might fill canteens and put it under the pump
remarking, ³Boys I would not waste the water, we do not know how long this
may last and all of us may need it.²  One looked up, saying pertly, ³If you
say much old lady we will take your well up.²  She walked away, with the dry
remark, ³Well, it be the last you will ever take up.²  This was the only
unkind remark heard around our home from all the southerners who were about
us.

Ginny Gage