“They were not Yankees; they were our own soldiers. They said they were hungry, and when they begun to eat it seemed like they would never quit. They fairly ate us most out of house and home. It's mighty sorry times with us. I don't know what we'll do to get along till harvest.”
“Where's your husband?”
“Done killed in the wah.”
“Have you no sons?”
“Yes, sir; two fighting under General Lee.
“And you're short of provisions?”
“Very short indeed.”
“Boys, leave a couple of hams, a bag of meal and some bacon with this lady.”
The boys gladly complied with the instructions, and they also went down in their haversacks and contributed quite a number of rations of coffee and sugar.
“Oh! that's real coffee,” exclaimed the oldest of the children, a girl of about twelve years.