"Well, you can see him at the end of the porch; let him go there. He won't run away. Come this way, soldier." She led the way and I followed.
"Now," said she, speaking low, "do tell me how the Yankees like the burning of Holly Springs."
"Well, as near as I can find out, they hate it like blazes, and it makes some of them real heartsick."
"Good! I am glad of it! I am getting back pay for my trouble now!"
"Did you help take the place?"
"No, I did not help to take it, but I was chief of the signal corps, and signaled the town all night. I had nearly all the ladies of the town out, and had them watching the movements of the Yankees. We sent up rockets, every hour, all night. I tell you, I felt so much relieved at the approach of General Van Dorn, and when he captured the Yankees I was perfectly delighted! Then I just went for things! I had four mules and a yoke of steers and a cart in there, and I just loaded them down with stuff! I got a hundred overcoats, and lots of pants and blankets, and nice canvased hams, and other things, until I had the garret of my house stowed full."
"Oh, no! my husband, Captain McKisic, was there—he is captain of company A, of Bragg's 1st Battalion—and my servants were there, and they all helped. Oh, I really do wish that you could come into the house!"
"There is no use talking about that, for the guard won't let me."
"Well, I'll tell you," said she (casting her eyes at the man who was guarding her house, and speaking still lower); "I was suspicious that some of the Yankee soldiers might ransack my house and find out what stuff I had got, and so I went over to the Colonel of the —th Illinois Regiment and sung him a few songs of love, and he sent me over a guard, to keep the soldiers from going into my house."