A Yankee Girl at Antietam

by Alice Turner Curtis

But the little girl did not speak. Even if he did not carry her off, she thought, she would not dare to go home for fear that he might follow her and find her father. And suddenly a new fear took possession of Roxy’s thoughts: the fear that her father might walk down the slope to meet her as he sometimes did and that this Confederate soldier would see him.

With a sudden resolve to go as far away from the Miller farm as possible Roxy sprang forward and ran up the slope toward the woods, and instantly the man was after her and she felt herself seized and lifted in his arms. But she made no outcry, as the man, muttering angrily, turned down the hillside and hurried on to a little travelled road that skirted the mountain slope, and here he set the little girl down, and with a warning word not to move a step, he disappeared behind a thicket of tall laurel bushes. She wondered what was to happen, but he was back in a moment leading a thin gray horse; he lifted Roxy to the saddle, swung himself up behind her and sent the horse forward at a gallop; and Roxy comforted her fears for her father’s safety as she realized they were going away from the familiar slopes of the Miller farm.

That very afternoon Roxy’s mother had determined that it would be better for Roxy not to go, as she supposed the little girl did, to see Polly every day, and she had decided that when “Beauty” should come trotting into the yard bringing the smiling, happy Roxy home from her long day of play she would tell her that after this she wanted her little daughter at home. Mrs. Delfield had not the least thought that at that very moment Roxy was miles away in a Confederate camp.

The sun was setting when “Beauty” was seen coming up the slope, and when it was discovered that Roxy was not with him Mrs. Delfield and Jacob started at once to look for her, feeling sure the pony had run away from Roxy, leaving her to walk home.

But when they reached the Lawrence farm and discovered that Roxy had not been there Mrs. Delfield was so alarmed that Polly told her the story of Roxy’s plan to keep watch on top of the pasture ledge so that she could warn her father if Confederate troops were seen on the highway.

“And she signalled me good-night; she must be there now,” said Polly, and went with Mrs. Delfield to the pasture and at the foot of the ledge called “Roxy! Roxy!” But no answer came.

They all climbed to the top and searched carefully, finding Roxy’s hat and lunch basket, and being puzzled and alarmed that the little girl had left these behind her.

Jacob was sent to tell Roxy’s father and Grandma Miller that Roxy could not be found; and until darkness settled over the hills and valleys they searched slope and pasture for the missing girl; and all night long Jacob and the other servants hunted along the brook and mountainside calling Roxy’s name, while Grandma Miller and Mrs. Delfield wandered down the highway and over the bridge, coming home tired and discouraged.

Captain Delfield was the only one who came near guessing what had befallen his little daughter.

“I believe the signalling is at the bottom of her disappearance. Very likely Confederate scouts have been sent ahead of the main army, and if one of them discovered signalling going on they may have taken Roxy to camp to question her; but no harm will befall her, be sure of that. No Southern soldier would harm a child. When she tells her story she will be brought home in safety,” he said.