On that morning of the occupation, our women sat behind closed windows, unable to consider the new path stretching before them. The way seemed to end at a wall. Could they have looked over and seen what lay ahead, they would have lost what little heart of hope they had; could vision have extended far enough, they might have won it back; they would have beheld some things unbelievable. For instance, they would have seen the little boy who played with the buttons and tassels, grown to manhood and wearing the uniform of an officer of the United States; they would have seen Southern men walking the streets of Richmond and other Southern cities with "U. S. A." on their haversacks; and Southern men and Northern men fighting side by side in Cuba and the Philippines, and answering alike to the name, "Yankees." On the day of the occupation, Miss Mason and Mrs. Rhett went out to meet General Weitzel and stated that Mrs. Lee was an invalid, unable to walk, and that her house, like that of General Chilton and others, was in danger of fire. "What!" he exclaimed, "Mrs. Lee in danger? General Fitz Lee's mother, who nursed me so tenderly when I was sick at West Point! What can I do for her? Command me!" "We mean Mrs. Robert E. Lee," they said. "We want ambulances to move Mrs. Lee and other invalids and children to places of safety." Using his knee as a writing-table, he wrote an order for five ambulances; and the ladies rode off. Miss Emily's driver became suddenly and mysteriously tipsy and she had to put an arm around him and back up the vehicle herself to General Chilton's door, where his children, her nieces, were waiting, their dollies close clasped. "Come along, Virginia aristocracy!" hiccoughed the befuddled Jehu. "I won't bite you! Come along, Virginia aristocracy!" A passing officer came to the rescue, and the party were soon safely housed in the beautiful Rutherford home. The Federals filled Libby Prison with Confederates, many of whom were paroled prisoners found in the city. Distressed women surrounded the prison, begging to know if loved ones were there; others plead to take food inside. Some called, while watching windows: "Let down your tin cup and I will put something in it." Others cried: "Is my husband in there? O, William, answer me if you are!" "Is my son, Johnny, here?" "O, please somebody tell me if my boy is in the prison!" Miss Emily passed quietly through the crowd, her hospital reputation securing admission to the prison; she was able to render much relief to those within, and to subdue the anxiety of those without. "Heigho, Johnny Reb! in there now where we used to be!" yelled one Yankee complacently. "Been in there myself. D----d sorry for you, Johnnies!" called up another.