THE BIRTH OF THE SONG IN DIXIE.
“My brother cut a pole, we raised the banner aloft, and, perched upon our trunks, jolted up and down hill to Stratford in the early dawn of that fair 4th of July, making the Virginia woods ring with ‘Maryland, my Maryland!’
“The story of our adventures soon reached home; the ‘aid and comfort’ given to the enemy were greatly magnified, and my family received notification from Washington that we should not be permitted to return.
“We were living in Virginia in exile, when, soon after Manassas, Gen. Beauregard, hearing of our work and sufferings for the Marylanders, who had already done such gallant service in his command, invited us to visit them at his headquarters, near Fairfax Courthouse. The fortifications there were in charge of my cousin, Capt. Sterrett, (U. S. N.,) who received and entertained our party during the visit.