Page 174 - Arkansas Confederate Women

Sufferings of Ellis Family 149

well and happy, ready to enter the service again. The tones
and bushwhackers often committed the most horrible crimes.
Avoiding the war they sneaked about to persecute those who
were left at home, women, children and feeble and aged men,
robbing and destroying on every hand. The little grandson,
Willie A. Ellis, was sent every few days to a settlement three
miles distant to learn the news and the movements of the two
armies. Mr. Wilson a wealthy gentleman, lived there with two
small nephews. One morning Willie was sent as usual for news and
on his return related that Mr. Wilson had been murdered and

burned by the Yankees. He was sick in bed when the Yan-

kees asked where his money was and on his failure to produce it
piled papers saturated with turpentine on him and set it- on
fire, burning the old man to death; killing one nephew, wound-
ing the other who rolled under the bed and escaped to tell the
awful tale. His slaves all fled and the whole country was hor-
ror-stricken at the enormity of this crime. Many were afraid
to have burning light at night and some hid themselves away
until they felt the danger over. These heinous crimes were
often committed and caused continual fear and consternation
among the women and children. Oh, the agony of the poor
women and children and the infirm men, they never knew at
what moment they might be pounced upon and sacrificed. Their
helplessness was most pathetic, and oftentimes they were even

afraid to get out and bury their holy dead. How I wish a full

history of the war in the South, its depredations, desecrations
and destruction both of holy and unholy things could be had.
The history of the Turkish and Armenian war would pale into
nothingness beside it, since they are unchristian and little bet-
ter is expected of them. At one time a number of Yankees

came and appropriated my grandmother's breakfast as fast and

as often as the cook could prepare it.

Finally, the daughter, Mattie, a plucky girl, decided she
should have her breakfast and stood guard while it was being

cooked. When it was again ready a Yank was on hand, ready

also and reaching his hand to help himself when Mattie flourish-

ed a stick of stove-wood and said, "touch if you dare." The
man drew back and skipped out, pretending to be much fright-