Under the guns : $b A woman's reminiscences of the Civil WarWittenmyer, Annie
History
Under the guns : $b A woman's reminiscences of the Civil War
Wittenmyer, Annie
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
Our driver reined in his horses. “Turn your ambulance back as quickly
as you can, you fool! You are driving right into the enemy’s camp.”
The driver whipped up his horses and retreated at a gallop, but not
until the Confederate sharpshooters had begun to send their bullets
flying after the men who had come to our rescue. Some of the missiles
came dangerously near to the little ambulance company. The cans and
bundles which had been placed upon the seats with so much care, and
held with our outstretched hands, now went tumbling into a common heap
on the floor, and before the race was over two of us were down on top
of them. When we were at a safe distance from the enemy, the horsemen
riding near us, a halt was called, and we gathered ourselves up and
tried to look respectable after such a rough and tumble ride.
A captain rode round in front, and in a tone which made the cold
shivers creep along the spinal column, demanded, “Who is in charge of
this ambulance?”
“I am,” I answered with all the self-composure I could command at that
instant.
“And so you were trying to reach the lines of the enemy with supplies
and this good team and a Union soldier?”
“No, sir. I am as loyal as any man who wears shoulder-straps, and I can
prove it. I was trying to reach a hospital with these supplies [naming
the hospital]. The driver thought he knew the way, but it seems he did
not.”
“That is not a likely story. That hospital is not in that direction at
all; and I overtook you near the enemy’s camp, more than a mile beyond
where we allow any one to go. Why did you run past our pickets who
demanded you to halt?”
“I did not see any pickets, or hear any one call ‘Halt!’ until you came
up.”
“You are all under arrest! Driver, you will drive to the headquarters
of the commanding general.”
At these words my two lady friends turned very pale; but I laughed,
as I was acquainted with the commanding general. Remembering my pass
from the Secretary of War, and other important official papers in my
possession, I said to the captain who rode alongside of the ambulance,
“Would it make any change in your course if I should show you passes
from high officials? I have no objection to going to headquarters, but
it is a loss of time.”
“No, madam! You are all under arrest. The officers don’t give passes,
or send good teams and Union soldiers, to take people into the rebel
camps.”
It was of no use to say anything more, for the officer had told the
truth. In due time we reached headquarters and were ordered out. I led
the procession, clambering out over our scattered supplies as best I
could. The captain marched in beside me. The captain gave the military
salute, and was about to report that he had brought in these people,
captured while trying to run the Union lines; but there were several
officers there who knew me, who came forward to shake hands, and the
general among them, and he was silenced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account