Page 76 - Arkansas Confederate Women

HARDSHIPS OF THE WIFE OF A CAPTAIN IN

MONROE'S REGIMENT.

By Mrs. D. L. Vwnce, of Eureka Springs.

My husband, D. L. Vance, was captain of Company G-,
Monroe's regiment, Cabell's brigade. He went to the army the

first of the year 1862, and remained in it till he was killed by
Union home guards, July, 1864. I lived in the country, about
20 miles below Little Eock. After the Federals took Little
Eock it was not long until they began foraging through the

country. Several of them passed my house one day, and when

they came back they had a. drove of cattle. The road ran through
our field, and they had two large gates to pass through. Some

of my cattle had just come up and I went to drive them out

of the way and got all away but one, when the Yankees drove
it away from me. I was so angry that I threw the club I had

in my hand at one of them. I tried to hit him, but struck his

horse in the face; I got a cursing for it. The gentleman said
he would run his bayonet through me if I did that again.

A few negroes were still with me. I had hired them to

gather my corn, and they had just started in with a load, when

they met the Federals. The negroes had a yoke of oxen to the
wagon and the soldiers made them take the oxen out and they
drove them off with the other cattle, and the negro man returned

to the house.

I was sitting on the steps seeing it all. He came up to me

and said: "Missus, you ought not to have struck that man's
horse ; that's what made them take the oxen." I said I did not
care; they had taken nearly all I had, and 1 would as soon die

as live.

PLEADED IN VAIN.

There was a young paroled soldier, a neighbor, and he went
to their camp that evening and pleaded with them to give up
the oxen, but the lieutenant, a very gallant gentleman, said they