Strange True Stories of Louisiana
Page 60
XV.
GIBRALTAR FALLS.
_July 4th, 1863_.--It is evening. All is still. Silence and night are oncemore united. I can sit at the table in the parlor and write. Two candlesare lighted. I would like a dozen. We have had wheat supper and wheatbread once more. H. is leaning back in the rocking-chair; he says:
"G., it seems to me I can hear the silence, and feel it too. It wraps melike a soft garment; how else can I express this peace?"
But I must write the history of the last twenty-four hours. About fiveyesterday afternoon, Mr. J., H.'s assistant, who, having no wife to keephim in, dodges about at every change and brings us the news, came to H.and said:
"Mr. L., you must both come to our cave to-night. I hear that to-night theshelling is to surpass anything yet. An assault will be made in front andrear. You know we have a double cave; there is room for you in mine, andmother and sister will make a place for Mrs. L. Come right up; the ballwill open about seven."
We got ready, shut up the house, told Martha to go to the church again ifshe preferred it to the cellar, and walked up to Mr. J.'s. When supper waseaten, all secure, and the ladies in their cave night toilet, it was justsix, and we crossed the street to the cave opposite. As I crossed a mightyshell flew screaming over my head. It was the last thrown into Vicksburg.We lay on our pallets waiting for the expected roar, but no sound cameexcept the chatter from the neighboring caves, and at last we droppedasleep. I woke at dawn stiff. A draught from the funnel-shaped opening hadbeen blowing on me all night. Every one was expressing surprise at thequiet. We started for home and met the editor of the "Daily Citizen." H.said:
"This is strangely quiet, Mr. L."
"Ah, sir," shaking his head gloomily, "I'm afraid the last shell has beenthrown into Vicksburg."
"Why do you fear so?"
"It is surrender. At six last evening a man went down to the river andblew a truce signal; the shelling stopped at once."
When I entered the kitchen a soldier was there waiting for the bowl ofscrapings. (They took turns for it.)
"Good-morning, madam," he said; "we won't bother you much longer. We can'tthank you enough for letting us come, for getting this soup boiled hashelped some of us to keep alive, but now all this is over."
"Is it true about the surrender?"
"Yes; we have had no official notice, but they are paroling out at thelines now, and the men in Vicksburg will never forgive Pemberton. An oldgranny! A child would have known better than to shut men up in this cursedtrap to starve to death like useless vermin." His eyes flashed with aninsane fire as he spoke. "Haven't I seen my friends carted out three orfour in a box, that had died of starvation! Nothing else, madam! Starvedto death because we had a fool for a general."
"Don't you think you're rather hard on Pemberton? He thought it his dutyto wait for Johnston."
"Some people may excuse him, ma'am, but we'll curse him to our dying day.Anyhow, you'll see the blue-coats directly."
Breakfast dispatched, we went on the upper gallery. The street wasdeserted, save by a few people carrying home bedding from their caves.Among these was a group taking home a little creature, born in a cave afew days previous, and its wan-looking mother. About 11 o'clock a man inblue came sauntering along, looking about curiously. Then two followedhim, then another.
"H., do you think these can be the Federal soldiers?"
"Why, yes; here come more up the street."
Soon a group appeared on the court-house hill, and the flag began slowlyto rise to the top of the staff. As the breeze caught it, and it sprangout like a live thing exultant, H. drew a long breath of contentment.
"Now I feel once more at home in my own country."
In an hour more a grand rush of people set in toward the river,--foremostamong them the gentleman who took our cave; all were flying as if forlife.
"What can this mean, H.? Are the populace turning out to greet thedespised conquerors?"
"Oh," said H., springing up, "look! It is the boats coming around thebend."
Truly, it was a fine spectacle to see that fleet of transports sweeparound the curve and anchor in the teeth of the batteries so latelyvomiting fire. Presently Mr. J. passed and called:
"Aren't you coming, Mr. L.? There's provisions on those boats: coffee andflour. 'First come, first served,' you know."
"Yes, I'll be there pretty soon," replied H.
But now the new-comers began to swarm into our yard, asking H. if he hadcoin to sell for greenbacks. He had some, and a little bartering went onwith the new greenbacks. H. went out to get provisions. When he returned aConfederate officer came with him. H. went to the box of Confederate moneyand took out four hundred dollars, and the officer took off his watch, aplain gold one, and laid it on the table, saying, "We have not been paid,and I must get home to my family." H. added a five-dollar greenback to thepile, and wished him a happy meeting. The townsfolk continued to dashthrough the streets with their arms full, canned goods predominating.Towards five Mr. J. passed again. "Keep on the lookout," he said; "thearmy of occupation is coming along," and in a few minutes the head of thecolumn appeared. What a contrast to the suffering creatures we had seen solong were these stalwart, well-fed men, so splendidly set up andaccoutered! Sleek horses, polished arms, bright plumes,--this was thepride and panoply of war. Civilization, discipline, and order seemed toenter with the measured tramp of those marching columns; and the heartturned with throbs of added pity to the worn men in gray, who were beingblindly dashed against this embodiment of modern power. And now this"silence that is golden" indeed is over all, and my limbs are unhurt, andI suppose if I were Catholic, in my fervent gratitude, I would hie me witha rich offering to the shrine of "our Lady of Mercy."
_July 7th, 1863_.--I did not enjoy quiet long. First came Martha, whoannounced her intention of going to search for her sons, as she was freenow. I was hardly able to stand since the severe cold taken in the cavethat night, but she would not wait a day. A colored woman came in wantinga place, and said she had asked her mistress for wages and her mistresshad turned her out. I was in no condition to stand upon ceremony then, andengaged her at once, but hear to-day that I am thoroughly pulled to piecesin Vicksburg circles; there is no more salvation for me. Next came twoFederal officers and wanted rooms and board. To have some protection was anecessity; both armies were still in town, and for the past three daysevery Confederate soldier I see has a cracker in his hand. There is hardlyany water in town, no prospect of rain, and the soldiers have emptied onecistern in the yard already and begun on the other. The colonel put aguard at the gate to limit the water given. Next came the owner of thehouse and said we must move; he wanted the house, but it was so big he'djust bring his family in; we could stay till we got one. They broughtboarders with them too, and children. Men are at work all over the houseshoveling up the plaster before repairing. Upstairs they are pouring it bybucketfuls through the windows. Colonel D. brought work for H. to helpwith from headquarters. Making out the paroles and copying them has takenso long they wanted help. I am surprised and mortified to find thattwo-thirds of all the men who have signed made their mark; they cannotwrite. I never thought there was so much ignorance in the South. One ofthe men at headquarters took a fancy to H. and presented him with aportfolio, that he said he had captured when the Confederates evacuatedtheir headquarters at Jackson. It contained mostly family letters writtenin French, and a few official papers. Among them was the following note,which I will copy here, and file away the original as a curiosity when thewar is over.
Handwriting]
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF TENN.
TUPELO, AUG 6, 1862.
Capt.: The Major-General Commanding directs me to say that he submits italtogether to your own discretion whether you make the attempt to captureGeneral Grant or not. While the exploit would be very brilliant ifsuccessful, you must remember that failure might be disastrous to you andyour men. The General commends your activity and energy and expects you tocontinue to show these qualities.
> I am, very respectfully, yr. obt. svt.
_Thomas L. Snead, A.A.G._
CAPT. GEO. L. BAXTER,
Commanding Beaureguard Scouts.
I would like to know if he tried it and came to grief or abandoned theproject. As letters can now get through to New Orleans, I wrote there.
_July 14th, 1863_.--Moved yesterday into a house I call "Fair Rosamond'sbower" because it would take a clue of thread to go through it withoutgetting lost. One room has five doors opening into the house, and nowindows. The stairs are like ladders, and the colonel's contraband valetwon't risk his neck taking down water, but pours it through the windows onpeople's heads. We shan't stay in it. Men are at work closing up thecaves; they had become hiding-places for trash. Vicksburg is now like onevast hospital--every one is getting sick or is sick. My cook was takento-day with bilious fever, and nothing but will keeps me up.
_July 23d, 1863_.--We moved again two days ago.
_Aug. 20_.--Sitting in my easy chair to-day, looking out upon a grassyslope of the hill in the rear of this house, I have looked over thisjournal as if in a dream; for since the last date sickness and sorrow havebeen with me. I feel as if an angry wave had passed over me bearing awaystrength and treasure. For on one day there came to me from New Orleansthe news of Mrs. B.'s death, a friend whom no tie of blood could have madenearer. The next day my beautiful boy ended his brief life of ten days anddied in my arms. My own illness caused him to perish; the fatal cold inthe cave was the last straw that broke down strength. The colonel's sweetwife has come, and I do not lack now for womanly companionship. She saysthat with such a pre-natal experience perhaps death was the best for him.I try to think so, and to be glad that H. has not been ill, though I seethe effects. This book is exhausted, and I wonder whether there will bemore adventures by flood and field to cause me to begin another.