Page 54 - Arkansas Confederate Women

PRAYER OF MRS. HOOD MOVING FEDERAL

RAIDERS.

By Mrs. 8. Hood, of Camden.

I was 17 years old when the war commenced and had been

married a year. We had a happy home in Camden, Ark. My

husband, four brothers and two brother-in-laws joined the Con-

federate regiment that was made up there. They were in many

battles, but none was killed or even wounded, except one, who

received a flesh wound in his arm. With one exception, an old

and broken down man, all are now dead.

husband's unexpected return.

My husband had been gone two years, and not hearnig from

him, I thought that he was dead. One evening I was weaving

cloth. The loom house was about three feet above the ground and

Mythere were no steps. ear, alert to every footstep, caught that

of my husband. I jumped fully five feet to get to him. We

were now happy for a time. His health was broken down and

just as soon as he was able to handle a musket off he went again.

FEDERAL RAIDERS MOVED BY PRATER.

I was living across the Ouachita river when the Federals
came to Camden. I had a good horse and hid him and every-

thing else that could be carried away. A neighbor of mine was

not so fortunate. She was a widow and her sons were in the

Southern, army.

I happened to be at her house one day when 200 Federals
rode up. It was noon and they wa.nted dinner. The poor woman
fed as many as she could. They went searching all over the
place for meat, lard and breadstuffs. Then they tried to find
the horses. The asked where her husband was and she told
them that she was a widow. Then they wanted to know whether
any of her boys were rebel soldiers, and when she replied "yes/'

they began cursing at a fearful rate.