FIRE AT NIGHT--A NARROW ESCAPE--MOONLIGHT--SHELLS FROM THE BATTLE
FIELD--EMPLOYMENT AND TRAFFIC.
My past resolution having forsaken me, again were the mortar shells heard
with extreme terror, and I was many days recovering the equanimity I had
been so long attaining. This night, as a few nights before, a large fire
raged in the town. I was told that a large storehouse, filled with
commissary stores, was burning, casting lurid lights over the devoted
city; and amid all, fell--with screams and violent explosions, flinging
the fatal fragments in all directions--our old and relentless enemies, the
mortar shells.
The night was so warm, and the cave so close, that I tried to sit out at
the entrance, George saying he would keep watch and tell when they were
falling toward us. Soon the report of the gun would be heard, and George,
standing on the hillock of loose earth, near the cave, looked intently
upward; while I, with suspended breath, would listen anxiously as he
cried, "Here she comes! going over!" then again, "Coming--falling--falling
right dis way!" Then I would spring to my feet, and for a moment hesitate
about the protection of the cave. Suddenly, as the rushing descent was
heard, I would beat a precipitate retreat into it, followed by the
servants.
That night I could scarcely sleep, the explosions were so loud and
frequent. Before we retired, George had been lying without the door. I had
arisen about twelve o'clock, and stood looking out at the different
courses of light marking the passage of the shells, when I noticed that
George was not in his usual place at the entrance. On looking out, I saw
that he was sleeping soundly, some little distance off, and many fragments
of shell falling near him. I aroused him, telling him to come to the
entrance for safety. He had scarcely started, when a huge piece of shell
came whizzing along, which fortunately George dodged in time, and it fell
in the very spot where he had so lately slept.
Fearing to retire, I sat in the moonlight at the entrance, the square of
light that lay in the doorway causing our little bed, with the sleeping
child, to be set out in relief against the dark wall of the cave--causing
the little mirror and a picture or two I had hung against the wall to show
mis-shapen lengths of shadows--tinting the crimson shawl that draped the
entrance of my little dressing room, with light on the outer folds, and
darkening in shadow the inner curves;--beautifying all, this silvery glow
of moonlight, within the darkened earth--beautifying my heart with lighter
and more hopeful thoughts. Whatever the sins of the world may have brought
us to--however dark and fearful the life to which man may subject us, our
Heavenly Father ever blesseth us alike with the sun's warmth and the
moon's beauty--ever blesseth us with the hope that, when our toil and
travail here are ended, the peace and the beautiful life of heaven will be
ours.
Days wore on, and the mortar shells had passed over continually without
falling near us; so that I became quite at my ease, in view of our danger,
when one of the Federal batteries opposite the intrenchments altered their
range; so that, at about six o'clock every evening, Parrott shells came
whirring into the city, frightening the inhabitants of caves wofully.
Our policy in building had been to face directly away from the river, and
all caves were prepared, as near as possible, in this manner. As the
fragments of shells continued with the same impetus after the explosion,
in but one direction, onward, they were not likely to reach us, fronting
in this manner with their course.
But this was unexpected--guns throwing shells from the battle field
directly at the entrance of our caves. Really, was there to be no mental
rest for the women of Vicksburg?
The cave we inhabited was about five squares from the levee. A great many
had been made in a hill immediately beyond us; and near this hill we could
see most of the shells fall. Caves were the fashion--the rage--over
besieged Vicksburg. Negroes, who understood their business, hired
themselves out to dig them, at from thirty to fifty dollars, according to
the size. Many persons, considering different localities unsafe, would
sell them to others, who had been less fortunate, or less provident; and
so great was the demand for cave workmen, that a new branch of industry
sprang up and became popular--particularly as the personal safety of the
workmen was secured, and money withal.