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woman dressed in black, apparently their daughter, and, as I soon learned, a soldier's widow.
My coat was badly torn, and the young woman kindly offering to mend it, I thanked her and, taking it off, handed it to her. While we were chatting, and groups of men sitting on the steps and lying about the yard, the door of the house opened and another young woman appeared.
She was almost beautiful, was plainly but neatly dressed, and had her hat on. She had evidently been weeping and her face was deadly pale.
Turning to the old woman, as she came out, she said, cutting her words off short, “Mother, tell him if he passes here he is no husband of mine,” and turned again to leave the porch.
I rose, and placing myself directly in front of her, extended my arm to prevent her escape.
She drew back with surprise and indignation.
The men were alert on the instant, and battle was joined.
“What do you mean, sir?”
she cried.
“I mean, madam,” I replied, “that you are sending your husband word to desert, and that I cannot permit you to do this in the presence of my men.”
“Indeed! and who asked your permission, sir?
And pray, sir, is he your husband or mine?”
“He is your husband, madam, but these are my soldiers.
They and I belong to the same army with your husband, and I cannot suffer you, or anyone, unchallenged, to send such a demoralizing message in their hearing.”
“Army! do you call this mob of retreating cowards an army?
Soldiers! if you are soldiers, why don't you stand and fight the savage wolves that are coming upon us defenseless women and children?”
“We don't stand and fight, madam, because we are soldiers, and have to obey orders, but if the enemy should appear on that hill this moment I think you would find that these men are soldiers, and willing to die in defense of women and children.”
“Quite a fine speech, sir, but rather cheap to utter, since you very well know the Yankees are not here, and won't be, till you've had time to get your precious carcasses out of the way. Besides, sir, this thing is over, and has been for some ”
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