Page 92 - Arkansas Confederate Women

A Sketch of Mrs. Sophia Kannady 81

Confederate soldier. Perhaps a few of the most stirring scenes

through which she passed can best be given in her own words,

as related to the writer.

"The war was a trying time for all, women as well as men.
Of course while the men had hardships and dangers of the

battlefield and camp-life to confront, the women had no less

laborious and trying tasks to perform. They had to care for

the sick and aged, the destitute women and children whose

husbands and fathers were in the field, and had to do much in

taking care of the sick and wounded soldiers, and 0, how
much suffering they witnessed.

"The first sign we had of real war" says Mrs Kannady,

was when the State troops came up from Little Eock to capture

Fort Smith, then under command of Capt. Sturgis. They came

on boats. At Van Buren they divided, some of them proceeding

upon the boats and the others marching into town over the

road leading from Van Buren to Fort Smith. The regular

troops were in the garrison. Capt. Sturgis was notified by the

telegraph operator at Van Buren of the approach of the State

forces, and caused the "long roll" to be sounded. That was

the first time I had ever heard it. We had working for us a

couple of men who had formerly been in the regular army,

and they became very much excited. One of them rushed out

of the house and looked up and down Garrison Avenue to

see what was coming. "Ah, Mrs. Kannady," said he, "that

means, danger." But these men were not the only people

Wein the town who were excited. were all excited, for we did

not know but that a battle would take place right at our own

doors. But no danger resulted from the approach of the State

troops, for Sturgis left the town that night, going out the

Texas road and on to Fort Washita.
"Another time we had a bad scare, or a stampede, as we

called it, was one night when a number of "Pin" or Federal

WeIndians crossed the river. were greatly alarmed, for there

were but few Confederate troops here at the time. Officers

gallopped about the streets shouting that the "Pins" were

ravaging the country around the town and calling upon the
men to arm themselves and turn out. The women and children

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