Sherman's March
My sister Agatha Lafayette was waitin patiently outside my front door. When I invited her in I told the older maid Clarice to put some tea on for us.
"Ruthey somethin bad is happenin."She stated matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean Aggey, bad things have been happenin for years?" I said a little unsure. Aggey was my older and only sibling. She has hair as golden as the sun and as soft as silk unlike mine. My hair is as white as snow and wispy. We have the same graceful build that allows any clothes we wear to flatter us. My eyes at the moment are a vibrant green awaitin to hear what my sister is about to say, while hers are a sparkilin aqua with a and anyone who'd glanced at her eyes at the moment could tell she was worried. That frightened me. Aggey was always the one to be rational and wouldn't be makin a fuss over somethin minial.
"Ruthey lets talk in your bedroom so the children won't hear." She said. My babies are in the livin room readin, and playin childish games only kids could think of. I have five children; Dixon and Dixie (twins), Charlsie, Hailey, and Jason. The only thing missin from the Paxton family was Sam my faithful husband.
Agatha took my hand ,and slowly walked me up the stairs to my grand bedroom as to not alert the children. When we walked in she closed the door.
"Ruth, listen to me. Have you heard of the northern general William Sherman?" She sternly asked in a no-nonsense tone.
I prodded my head lookin for the place where I'd heard that name.
"He's the one who's destroyin the south right, Sam sent me a letter sayin if that man should be headin are way to Atlanta, then take the kids and flee." Suddenly I was at a loss for words.
"Honey, I heard he truly is headin this way and fast. As soon as I heard all I needed to know bout this man I came here. We can't stay."
I started shakin my head tryin to deny the truth that I was bein told.
"No...no I can't leave this place it's my home. What bout this magnificent house it's been in our family for years we can't just abandon all of our possessions to the looaters that are sure to come! We can't just assume Sam will know where we are when he comes home from the war. Anyway where would we go?"
"A friend of mine has come in from Mississippi for a few days. He said he'd be obliged to rent us rooms. As a matter of fact he said we would talk tomorrow, and for the matter of your husband we'll get in touch with him somehow." Aggey said excitedly as ready as ever to go adventurin to a new place.
The sun was sinkin as I led my only sibling to the door and said goodbye. We had talked for about two hours while drinkin our tea. Aggey had told me about how the Union general and how he was told to "clear" the south. They're supposed to be chasin after the Confederate army and wipin out everythin in their path. She had also told me other things like how he was stationed in Ohio which is a long journey from here. She did talk about the Mississippi man too, and how he is a doctor but I didn't quite catch his name.
After I had eaten dinner with the children ,and tucked them into bed I went to my room to mull over the conversation I had had with my dear sister. I thought that if Sherman was truly a danger to my beloved city then I would leave with the children for my familiy's sake. When we did decide to leave ,Agatha isn't married or anythin so it would be my kids, Clarice, Agatha and me.
As I was close to sleep and lettin my tired mind wander there came large knocks from the front door. I awoke with a surprised jerk. Who would be a callin at this hour. I ran down the stairs in my silver nightgown and silk robe and bolted to the door. Clarice had beat me to it and yanked the door open. To both of our surprise my scruffy husband was standin in his uniform behinf that door. I yanked him into an embrace and told him how much I'm glad he's home, I love him , and that the children will be so happy. He didn't respond. I looked up into his eyes and didn't like what I saw. He was as frightened as an elephant that had caught a glimpse of a mouse.
"What's the matter!?" I asked in a not to calm voice.
" Shut the door Clarice hurry!" He yelled. "Babe we have to take the children and leave NOW. Sherman is here and he is ruthless. There are bout 100,000 soldiers out there and they are ready to burn and shoot." He was very unsettled.
" We have to pack and get some supplies-"
" No no no we have to evacuate now we have to get the kids in the back alley before they make it here." He said in no room for discussion mode.
So we all ran about the house, and grabbed all the kids out of there beds and herded them out the back door.Since we live in the city if you are gonna run for it across the street there ain't much cover so we decided the faster we were the more of a chance we had to make it.
We dashed down the street and I was stunned into silence by what I saw. It looke as if half the city were bein burnt to the ground and there were bodies everywhere. I was so glad in that moment that my husband had deserted the army to come and protect us .
All of a sudden we came closer to sounds of people shriekin in fear and pain. We ran the wrong way the army was down this road. We looked for any other options and we dashed across the street to another road called Maple when a gun shot ranf loud and clear. They had saw us and now Clarice was lyin in her own blood callin for our help, but we couldn't stop for her cause that would surely be the death of us. She was the one who raised me most of my life while my parents had been off bein aristocrats so how could I just leave her to die in agony. It's simple she's a slave one a cared dearly for, but still a slave. We were farther down another alley when we heard another gun shot and the air was silent.
We needed shelter soon cause sooner or later the troops would catch up to us. We went into a home that had already seemed to have been raided. Boy, we didn't realize that this was the stupidest thing we've ever done in our lifetime.
When we entered the house through the front door it had appeared empty, but it wasn't even close. The room was covered by six soldier all lookin as ruthless as the next. We didn't even have a chance to speak when they opened fire. I could never be certain what really happened after that.
I felt a ringin sensation in my ear as I fell to the floor. I could hear my children cryin out for me, but I only acknowledged it in a sort of detached way. People were yellin and bein dragged out of the house , but I didn't care. I was slowly ridin the soothin wave of darkness until I was numb and then I drifted away.
The next thing I knew a voice was bringin me back to conciousness from my peaceful sleep. I tried to close my eyes again so I could rest and the person might go away too. That wasn't gonna happen. The hand slapped me, and I realized it was a man's hand and he was tryin to drag me out of a smoke infested house. As he continued to drag me I was carried off into oblivion once more.
The next time I awoke was on a comfortable matress with the softest sheets I had ever felt or maybe I was just prejudicied cause I couldn't remember the last time I woke up in a bed.
The man came in and sat on the bed next to me along with another guest I didn't recognize st first. It was my dear sister Agatha.
"You've been asleep for days we were beginin to wonder if you'd ever wake." She said gently. I stared at her shocked. Had I really been gone that long? "This is Eric Campbell, we're at his house in Mississippi. He's the friend I told you about. You are luckier than a dog named Lucky since he's a doctor." She said.
" Ma'am you are gonna have to rest for a while, but you'll eventually heal with only a scar. You were shot point blank in the shoulder you were lucky the shrapenal didn't reach your heart." He said in a warm southern accent.
Right then I had a flash of bein in the house and my family bein taken away. A single tear started streamin down my face cause I knew my family wasn't here with us ,but I still had to ask.
"Is my family here Aggey... did they get away?" I chokin up I barely could finish the sentence.
"I'm so sorry Ruth, but in the newspaper they are reported as missin people." Now she was tryin not to cry.
The man Eric quietly hugged us both as a sign of his compassion. At least it was better than his sorries because no matter how many condolences I get that won't change a darn thing. He's truly a southern gentleman in my mind ... my husband would have love to meet him.
This tragedy was later to be called Sherman's March. That year in 1864 Sherman had headed toward Savannah ,but went up into South Carolina and gave his final blow to the south. The war ended a year after that, and Sherman had never made it to his destination the south had surrendered. He was killed, and I sleep better at night knowin that fact.
Mr. Campbell would later come to help me grieve over the loss of my family. Shortly after that we would get married and start a new family of our own with my sister to tag along too. I would finish out the rest of my days in happiness and remember the good times of my family before. My new little ones would hear stories of those who came before them, and we would all have at least a connection to them in that way. I still dream about Sam and the kids, but I dream that they are happy wherever they are wether in this world or the next. My past is my past and I moved on to have great grandbabies. As my old woman life comes to a close I have those dearest around me even if they only exist in memory now.
"Ruthey somethin bad is happenin."She stated matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean Aggey, bad things have been happenin for years?" I said a little unsure. Aggey was my older and only sibling. She has hair as golden as the sun and as soft as silk unlike mine. My hair is as white as snow and wispy. We have the same graceful build that allows any clothes we wear to flatter us. My eyes at the moment are a vibrant green awaitin to hear what my sister is about to say, while hers are a sparkilin aqua with a and anyone who'd glanced at her eyes at the moment could tell she was worried. That frightened me. Aggey was always the one to be rational and wouldn't be makin a fuss over somethin minial.
"Ruthey lets talk in your bedroom so the children won't hear." She said. My babies are in the livin room readin, and playin childish games only kids could think of. I have five children; Dixon and Dixie (twins), Charlsie, Hailey, and Jason. The only thing missin from the Paxton family was Sam my faithful husband.
Agatha took my hand ,and slowly walked me up the stairs to my grand bedroom as to not alert the children. When we walked in she closed the door.
"Ruth, listen to me. Have you heard of the northern general William Sherman?" She sternly asked in a no-nonsense tone.
I prodded my head lookin for the place where I'd heard that name.
"He's the one who's destroyin the south right, Sam sent me a letter sayin if that man should be headin are way to Atlanta, then take the kids and flee." Suddenly I was at a loss for words.
"Honey, I heard he truly is headin this way and fast. As soon as I heard all I needed to know bout this man I came here. We can't stay."
I started shakin my head tryin to deny the truth that I was bein told.
"No...no I can't leave this place it's my home. What bout this magnificent house it's been in our family for years we can't just abandon all of our possessions to the looaters that are sure to come! We can't just assume Sam will know where we are when he comes home from the war. Anyway where would we go?"
"A friend of mine has come in from Mississippi for a few days. He said he'd be obliged to rent us rooms. As a matter of fact he said we would talk tomorrow, and for the matter of your husband we'll get in touch with him somehow." Aggey said excitedly as ready as ever to go adventurin to a new place.
The sun was sinkin as I led my only sibling to the door and said goodbye. We had talked for about two hours while drinkin our tea. Aggey had told me about how the Union general and how he was told to "clear" the south. They're supposed to be chasin after the Confederate army and wipin out everythin in their path. She had also told me other things like how he was stationed in Ohio which is a long journey from here. She did talk about the Mississippi man too, and how he is a doctor but I didn't quite catch his name.
After I had eaten dinner with the children ,and tucked them into bed I went to my room to mull over the conversation I had had with my dear sister. I thought that if Sherman was truly a danger to my beloved city then I would leave with the children for my familiy's sake. When we did decide to leave ,Agatha isn't married or anythin so it would be my kids, Clarice, Agatha and me.
As I was close to sleep and lettin my tired mind wander there came large knocks from the front door. I awoke with a surprised jerk. Who would be a callin at this hour. I ran down the stairs in my silver nightgown and silk robe and bolted to the door. Clarice had beat me to it and yanked the door open. To both of our surprise my scruffy husband was standin in his uniform behinf that door. I yanked him into an embrace and told him how much I'm glad he's home, I love him , and that the children will be so happy. He didn't respond. I looked up into his eyes and didn't like what I saw. He was as frightened as an elephant that had caught a glimpse of a mouse.
"What's the matter!?" I asked in a not to calm voice.
" Shut the door Clarice hurry!" He yelled. "Babe we have to take the children and leave NOW. Sherman is here and he is ruthless. There are bout 100,000 soldiers out there and they are ready to burn and shoot." He was very unsettled.
" We have to pack and get some supplies-"
" No no no we have to evacuate now we have to get the kids in the back alley before they make it here." He said in no room for discussion mode.
So we all ran about the house, and grabbed all the kids out of there beds and herded them out the back door.Since we live in the city if you are gonna run for it across the street there ain't much cover so we decided the faster we were the more of a chance we had to make it.
We dashed down the street and I was stunned into silence by what I saw. It looke as if half the city were bein burnt to the ground and there were bodies everywhere. I was so glad in that moment that my husband had deserted the army to come and protect us .
All of a sudden we came closer to sounds of people shriekin in fear and pain. We ran the wrong way the army was down this road. We looked for any other options and we dashed across the street to another road called Maple when a gun shot ranf loud and clear. They had saw us and now Clarice was lyin in her own blood callin for our help, but we couldn't stop for her cause that would surely be the death of us. She was the one who raised me most of my life while my parents had been off bein aristocrats so how could I just leave her to die in agony. It's simple she's a slave one a cared dearly for, but still a slave. We were farther down another alley when we heard another gun shot and the air was silent.
We needed shelter soon cause sooner or later the troops would catch up to us. We went into a home that had already seemed to have been raided. Boy, we didn't realize that this was the stupidest thing we've ever done in our lifetime.
When we entered the house through the front door it had appeared empty, but it wasn't even close. The room was covered by six soldier all lookin as ruthless as the next. We didn't even have a chance to speak when they opened fire. I could never be certain what really happened after that.
I felt a ringin sensation in my ear as I fell to the floor. I could hear my children cryin out for me, but I only acknowledged it in a sort of detached way. People were yellin and bein dragged out of the house , but I didn't care. I was slowly ridin the soothin wave of darkness until I was numb and then I drifted away.
The next thing I knew a voice was bringin me back to conciousness from my peaceful sleep. I tried to close my eyes again so I could rest and the person might go away too. That wasn't gonna happen. The hand slapped me, and I realized it was a man's hand and he was tryin to drag me out of a smoke infested house. As he continued to drag me I was carried off into oblivion once more.
The next time I awoke was on a comfortable matress with the softest sheets I had ever felt or maybe I was just prejudicied cause I couldn't remember the last time I woke up in a bed.
The man came in and sat on the bed next to me along with another guest I didn't recognize st first. It was my dear sister Agatha.
"You've been asleep for days we were beginin to wonder if you'd ever wake." She said gently. I stared at her shocked. Had I really been gone that long? "This is Eric Campbell, we're at his house in Mississippi. He's the friend I told you about. You are luckier than a dog named Lucky since he's a doctor." She said.
" Ma'am you are gonna have to rest for a while, but you'll eventually heal with only a scar. You were shot point blank in the shoulder you were lucky the shrapenal didn't reach your heart." He said in a warm southern accent.
Right then I had a flash of bein in the house and my family bein taken away. A single tear started streamin down my face cause I knew my family wasn't here with us ,but I still had to ask.
"Is my family here Aggey... did they get away?" I chokin up I barely could finish the sentence.
"I'm so sorry Ruth, but in the newspaper they are reported as missin people." Now she was tryin not to cry.
The man Eric quietly hugged us both as a sign of his compassion. At least it was better than his sorries because no matter how many condolences I get that won't change a darn thing. He's truly a southern gentleman in my mind ... my husband would have love to meet him.
This tragedy was later to be called Sherman's March. That year in 1864 Sherman had headed toward Savannah ,but went up into South Carolina and gave his final blow to the south. The war ended a year after that, and Sherman had never made it to his destination the south had surrendered. He was killed, and I sleep better at night knowin that fact.
Mr. Campbell would later come to help me grieve over the loss of my family. Shortly after that we would get married and start a new family of our own with my sister to tag along too. I would finish out the rest of my days in happiness and remember the good times of my family before. My new little ones would hear stories of those who came before them, and we would all have at least a connection to them in that way. I still dream about Sam and the kids, but I dream that they are happy wherever they are wether in this world or the next. My past is my past and I moved on to have great grandbabies. As my old woman life comes to a close I have those dearest around me even if they only exist in memory now.