“He assisted you, of course?”
“No, indeed. He said he could not afford to distribute his provisions among other people who had no claims on him. He refused to let me have a pound of meat, or a quart of meal.”
“He knows your husband was killed fighting for the Confederacy—and that you have two sons in Lee's army?”
“To be sure he does; he urged them to go into the army, to hurl back the invaders; but he now says I must look to the Government at Richmond for help. I'm thankful for what you all have done for us. It's a right smart help. But I believe the colonel would come down here and take the provisions away from us, if he knew you all had left them here.”
“Let's go back and take what's left at his plantation and burn him out,” exclaimed one of the troopers.
“No; not this time,” said the sergeant. “But we shall probably come this way again, and then we can pay our compliments to the old skinflint.”
“Do you think the wah's coming to an end soon?” the woman asked as we were about to move forward.
“I hope so,” replied the sergeant. “I think this campaign will wind it up.”
“Who's going to whip?”
“We are.”