Page 83 - Arkansas Confederate Women

74 Confederate Women of Arkansas

miss barrington's bravery.

But for a single deed of unsurpassed heroism, I recall a

most thrilling incident in the life of a young lady, Miss Mat

Barrington of north Arkansas. She lived with her aged mother

a few miles from Fayetteville, which town was at this time occu-

Apied as a post by the Federal troops. scouting party from the

post had gone out into the country on the pitiless mission of

harassing and plundering. At the home of Mrs. Barrington they

swept everything in the smokehouse and emptied the larder. The

last article was a bag of coffee ("Lincoln coffee," as it was

Aknown in those days). broad-shouldered soldier seized upon

this when the daughter raised complaint. She said: " I have

stood by and watched you take all the rest without objecting, but

the coffee my old mother needs above everything else, and I ask

you to leave it." The soldier gave no heed to her request, but

snatched up the bag and was making for the door, when she

rushed for an iron poker and dealt him such a blow that he fell

limp to the floor. As soon as he could recover himself he fled

from the house leaving the coffee behind.

In a brief time the story of her deed reached the ears of

friends in the remoter Dixie. The boys in gray at once voted

that such a splendid triumph should not go unrewarded, and in

due time there came to her a most magnificent saddle horse,

with a tribute to her bravery.

The lady still lives, doubtless with her brown curls all sil-

vered and wearing another name, but without the power or

inclination to get away from the story of the bluecoat, the bag

of coffee, the poker and the saddle horse.