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asleep.
About midnight one of the ladies, hearing a slight noise, arose and looked out the window.
Old Whitey was walking about the yard, nibbling the grass.
Knowing he was never allowed in the yard, she simply supposed that one of the servants had left open the quarter-gate.
Not another sound save the mule's step broke the stillness of the night.
Strange to say, the dogs were nowhere to be seen, nor did they bark at the mule.
Wondering a little at this circumstance, the lady was about to lie down again, when simultaneously every door of the house was assailed with the butts of guns with a terrific noise.
At the same time many hoarse voices yelled, ‘Open these doors, d——y——Open up, here, or we'll burn the house over your heads!’
Everybody at once realized the situation.
In that fearful moment strength and courage seemed to come as from above.
The servants, sleeping upon the floor, began to scream, but were instantly silenced.
The ladies, slipping on dressing-gowns, but never stopping to put on shoes or stockings, quietly opened the doors.
Instantly the whole house swarmed with Federal soldiers.
Their first act was to capture Colonel——and drag him outside the house, giving him no time to put on any clothes save his pants and night-shirt.
The raiders then proceeded to ransack the house.
Every room, every closet, every trunk, box, drawer, was rifled.
Two men went to the sideboard, quietly gathering up the few silver spoons, forks, ladles, etc., not hidden, Wrapped them up and put them in their pockets.
Others stripped off the pillow-and bolster-cases, stuffing them with clothing, pictures, etc., tied them together, and placed them ready to be slung over the backs of their horses.
Bayonets were thrust through portraits; the sofas, beds, and lounges were pierced in search of concealed valuables; bureau-drawers were emptied, then
