ol would go off, though, of course, I knew it was not
loaded, that I was just quaking. But as soon as they stopped, I began
to attack. I remembered my old grandmother and her scissors, and, like
General Jackson, I followed up my advantage. I descended the steps,
brandishing my pistol with both hands, and abusing them with all my
might. I was so afraid they might ask if it was loaded. But they really
thought I would shoot them (you know men have not liked to be slain by
a woman since the time of Abimelech), and they actually ran down the
steps, with me after them, and I got them all out of the house. Then I
locked the door and barred it, and ran up-stairs and had such a cry over
Charlie. [That was like an old maid.] Afterwards they were going to burn
the house, but I got hold of their colonel, who was not there at first,
and made him really ashamed of himself; for I told him we were nothing
but a lot of poor defenceless women and a sick boy. He said he thought
I was right well defended, as I had held a company at bay. He finally
promised that if I would give him some music he would not go up-stairs.
So I paid that for my ransom, and a bitter ransom it was too, I can tell
you, singing for a Yankee! But I gave him a dose of Confederate songs, I
promise you. He asked me to sing the 'Star Spangled Banner'; but I told
him I would not do it if he burnt the house down with me in it--though
it was inspired by my cousin, Armistead. Then he asked me to sing 'Home,
Sweet Home', and I did that, and he actually had tears in his eyes--the
hypocrite! He had very fine eyes, too. I think I did sing it well,
though. I cried a little myself, thinking of the old house being so
nearly burnt. There was a young doctor there, a surgeon, a really
nice-looking fellow for a Yankee; I made him feel ashamed of himself, I
tell you. I told him I had no doubt he had a good mother and sister up
at home, and to think of his coming and warring on poor women. And they
really placed a guard over the house for me while they were there."

This she actually did. With her old empty horse-pistol she cleared the
house of the mob, and then vowed that if they burned the house she would
burn up in it, and finally saved it by singing "Home, Sweet Home", for
the colonel. She could not have done much better even if she had not
been an old maid.

I did not see much of her after I grew up. I moved away from the old
county. Most others did the same. It had been desolated