As we sat at supper that night--a large party it was at that hospitable board--a servant brought a message to the three of us. A gentleman--a soldier--wished to see us. I went into the hall, and there was Walter Taylor. I don’t think I was ever so glad to see anybody in my life. Walter was not only “Walter,” but he was General Lee’s adjutant, and the very sight of him meant help to us. What did mother, Millie, and I do but throw our arms around his neck and kiss him like crazy women.
“I can’t stop a minute,” he said. “I heard you were here, and felt that I _must_ come out to see how you were getting along. But I must go straight back to my command. Let me know if I can do anything for you.”
“I don’t know, Nell, but I think he will be here to-night--if he is not here already.”
We felt like clinging to Walter and holding him back. I for one had lost my nerve. I was sick of war, sick of the butchery, the anguish, the running hither and thither, the fear. Soon after supper my husband came in. I was tremblingly glad to see him again, to touch his warm living body, to see that he was not maimed and mutilated--yet it hung over me all the time that he must go away in a few minutes--to come back, or be brought back--how? I kept my hand on him all the time he sat beside me. Every time he moved I trembled, feeling that it was a move to go.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked; “I thought you were at Miss Anne’s and went there for you.”
“The shells were flying all around us, and we were afraid, and ran out here, I tell you.”
“Afraid? Why, Nell, _you_ weren’t afraid?”
“A soldier’s wife--a regular campaigner!”
“After all you’ve been through, like the brave girl you are, to break down like a coward!”
“I can’t help what you call me, I’m scared--I’m scared to death.”
“What would General Stuart say if he could know?”
“I don’t care what he would think. I’m terrified. I’m going to run from those shells as long as there is a place to run to. I’m not going to stand still and let a shell strike me to please anybody. I’m for getting away from town. If I had my way we’d take to the woods this night, and let the Yankees have it.”
“They’d mighty soon find us in the woods.”
“Then I’d move on. They can have everywhere they come to now, as far as I am concerned.”