82. The Federals are Coming!
BY A SOUTHERN LADY (1863)
AT breakfast, on the morning of the 17th, we heard discussed
the question, whether there was a masked battery on the
opposite shore or not ? After some words on the subject, pro
and con, we ranged the shore with the glass, seeing what the
gentlemen believed to be a battery. They had been talking
some moments, when I took the glass and saw a number of
Federal soldiers walking on the levee toward the
spot where the battery was supposed to be. Several others
seemed to be engaged on this very place removing the
branches. I called one of the gentlemen to look. I had given
up the glass but a few moments, when a volume of smoke
burst from the embankment, and two shells were sent, one
after the other, exploding at the depot just below us. It was
indeed
a battery, with two guns, which commenced playing on the
city vigorously.
We were to leave that morning, and hearing that the cars
would not venture up to the depot, went to a point below,
where we found many anxious persons awaiting their arrival.
We entered the cars, and were sitting quite securely and
comfortably, when it was whispered around, much to the
consternation of passengers, that they were ordered to
approach the depot as near as possible, and take on freight;
and thus we were carried up, under shelter of a high
bluff, with many misgivings on my part, as shell after shell
exploded on the hill above us. A nervous gentleman leaned
forward and told me that we were in great danger, and,
speaking in the 'same manner to many of the ladies, suggested
that, if we made the request, the conductor would doubtless
back into a safe place.
Although so frightened, his mode of relief was so evidently
selfish that the gentlemen began joking him most unmercifully.
In looking out of the window, although I felt a sympathy for
the poor fellow, I could not but be amused at the ludicrous
scene that presented itself : the porters bringing the baggage
and small freight from the depot acted as if wild now halting to
await the course of a shell-then dashing forward, determined
to reach the cars before another came. Two negroes were
coming with a small trunk between them, and a carpet bag or
two, evidently trying to show others of the profession how
careless of danger they were, and how foolish "niggars"were
to run "dat sort o' way."A shell came ricochetting through the
air and fell a few yards beyond the braves, when, lo! the trunk
was sent tumbling, and landed bottom upward; the carpet bag
followed— one grand somerset ; and amid the cloud of dust
that arose, I discovered one porter doubled up by the side of
the trunk, and the other crouching close by a pile of plank. A
shout from the negroes on the cars, and much laughter,
brought them on their feet, brushing their knees and giggling,
yet looking quite foolish, feeling their former prestige gone.
Yet gentlemen and servants avoided the depot as much as
possible; and whenever a portion of earth was seen to arise in
a small volume, accompanied
by smoke, men of both colors immediately ran (without
casting a look behind) swiftly in the opposite , direction, "
gentlemen of color "generally, in their haste, stumbling and
turning one or two somersets before reaching a place of
safety. And so the shell continued coming, exploding on all
sides, yet not happening to reach us. Soon the glad sound of
the whistle was heard, and, after our long suspense, we felt
the motion of the cars again, and were glad to leave
Vicksburg, with the sound of the cannon and noise of the
shell still ringing in our cars.
Some young lady friends of mine were laughing and telling me
of their experience during the danger of the previous night; of
the fright and trouble they were in at the time 'the gunboats
passed. Major Watts, of the Confederate army, had given a
very large party, which they attended; one dressed in a corn-colored silk trimmed with black lace; another in blue silk
trimmed with white point, and still another in white lace. In the
confusion and alarm, as the first shell fell, one of the young
girls, who was dancing with a brigadier-general, clasped her
hands and exclaimed, 11 Where shall we go ? "In jest he said, "
To the country for safety."Believing him serious, in the
confusion that ensued, she told her young friends. They set
out alone with all speed, frightened and trembling. Fortunately
a gentleman friend, discovering their absence, overtook, and
proceeded with them. As a shell would be heard coming, he
would cry, "Fall!"and down they would drop in the dust,
party dresses and all, lying until the explosion took place;
then up, with wild eyes and fiercely beating hearts, flying with
all speed onward. After running about a mile in the fewest
moments
possible, and falling several times, they stopped at the first
house, and remained until their friends sent out for them in
carriages.
"If you could have seen our party dresses when we reached
home, and our hair, and the flowers, full of dust, you would
never have forgotten us,"cried one. "Ah!"said another, "We
laugh gayly this morning, for we are leaving the guns behind
us; but last night it was a serious business, and we absolutely
ran for our lives."
Soon the rumor came that from Canton a large Federal force
was advancing on Jackson. Jackson was to be defended,
which I doubted. Soon General Pemberton left and went to
Vicksburg-Mrs. Pemberton to Mobile. Batteries were being
erected in different parts of the town-one directly opposite the
house I was in. I stood considering one morning where it was
best to go, and what it was best to do, when a quick gallop
sounded on the drive, and a friend rode hastily up and said,
"Are you going to leave? ""Yes,"I answered, "but I have
not yet decided where to go.""Well, I assure you there is no
time for deliberation; I shall take my family to Vicksburg, as
the safest place, and, if you will place yourself under my
charge, I will see you safely to your husband."So the matter
was agreed upon, and we were to leave that evening. Still, I
was in doubt; the Federal army was spreading all over the
country, and I feared to remain where I was. Yet I thought,
may I not be in danger in Vicksburg? Suppose the gunboats
should make an attack? Still, it was true, as my friend had said,
we were in far more danger here from the rabble that usually
followed a 1arge army, who might plunder, insult, and rob us.
Very hurriedly we made our arrangements, packing with
scarcely a moment to lose, not stopping to discuss our
sudden move and the alarming news. Our friends, also, were
in as great a panic and dismay as ourselves. Mrs. Arden had
some chests of heavy silver. Many of the pieces were such
that it would have taken some time to bury them. Her husband
was absent, and she feared to trust the negro men with the
secret. Another friend feared to bury her diamonds, thinking
in that case she might never see them more; feared, also, to
retain them, lest, through negroes' tales, the cupidity of the
soldiers might become excited, and she be a sufferer in
consequence. Every tumult in the town caused us to fly to the
doors and windows, fearing a surprise at any time; and not
only ladies, with pate faces and anxious eyes, met us at every
turn, but gentlemen of anti-military dispositions were running
hither and thither, with carpet bags and little valises, seeking
conveyances, determined to find a safe place, if one could be
found, where the sound of a gun or the smell of powder might
never disturb them any more; and, as they ran, each had an
alarming report to circulate; so that with the rush and roar of
dray, wagon, and carriage, the distracting reports of the rapid
advance of the Federal army, and the stifling clouds of dust
that arose—with all, we were in a fair way to believe ourselves
any being or object but ourselves.
The depot was crowded with crushing and elbowing human
beings, swaying to and fro-baggage being thrown hither and
thither—horses wild with fright, and negroes with confusion;
and so we found ourselves in a car, amid the living stream that
flowed
and surged along— seeking the Mobile cars— seeking the
Vicksburg cars— seeking anything to bear them away from the
threatened and fast depopulating town.
