"I have no time to listen to women!"[1] said the Federal general,
rudely.
[Footnote 1: His words.]
"It is not _time_ that you want, sir!" returned the lady, with great
hauteur, "it is _politeness_!"[1]
[Footnote 1: Her words.]
This greatly enraged the person whom she addressed, and he became
furious, when the lady added that all the horses had been sent away. At
that moment an officer near him said:--
"General if you are going to burn the premises, you had better
commence, as the rebs are pursuing us."
"Order it to be done at once!" was the gruff reply.
And the mill was fired, in the midst of a great uproar, with which
mingled shouts of, "The Rebels are coming! The Rebels are coming!"
Soon they came, a hot fight followed, and during this fight a young
woman watched it, holding her little brother by the hand near the
burning mill. I had afterward the honor of making her acquaintance, and
she told me that throughout the firing she found herself repeating over
and over, unconsciously, the lines of the song,--
"Charge! Stuart! pay off Ashby's score,
In Stonewall Jackson's way."[1]
[Footnote 1: Fact.]
The enemy had thus effected their object, and retreated hotly pursued.
I followed toward the lower Rowanty, and had the pleasure of seeing
them hurried over.
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