thrust through portraits; the sofas, beds, and lounges were pierced in search of concealed valuables; bureau-drawers were emptied, then pitched out of the doors or windows; the panels of locked armoires were broken or kicked to pieces to get at the contents; even the linen sheets were dragged off the beds and thrust into already full sacks and bags.  Meanwhile, bonfires had been kindled in the yard.  By the light the swarming demons carried on their destructive work outside.  Around the pans of delicious milk in the dairy men reached over each others’ heads to fill their tin cups.  Buttermilk, clabber, fresh butter, disappeared in an instant.  In the basement the officers were feasting on ham, etc.  The smoke-house was left bare.  Sugar, meal, flour, rice, were emptied into the yard, and stamped or shuffled into the dust.  Axes or the butts of guns were employed to literally smash everything.  Ham, shoulder-meat, etc., were tossed into wagons.  Cows were driven off, and, oh, the beautiful horses, the pride and pets of their owners, were led, snorting and frightened, into the road, where the saddles of the cavalry-horses were put upon their shivering backs preparatory to being mounted and ridden away by their new masters.

With perfect calmness the ladies watched the havoc and desolation which was being wrought in their beloved home, among their household treasures.  To one of them had been given, some time previous, a sacred trust, a watch which before the war had been presented to a minister by his congregation.  When dying in one of the Confederate hospitals he had given it to Mrs. ——­, begging that, if possible, it might be sent to his wife in Arkansas.  This watch had been concealed upon the tester of a bed, and so far had escaped discovery.  But one of the servants having given information regarding it, suddenly two soldiers dragged Mrs. ——­ into her own room, where they believed it was concealed.  She positively refused to give it up.  Throwing off the mattress, the men held a match to the feather-bed beneath, saying, “Here goes your d——­d old house, then.”  Had the house been her own she might still have resisted, but as she was only a guest, and had been sheltered and most kindly treated, the watch was given up.  The ruffians then insisted upon searching her, and in trying to force a ring from her finger, bruised and hurt the tender flesh.  Even the negro cabins were searched.  In several instances small sums of money which had been saved up were taken.  Many threats to burn up “the whole business” were made, but, for some unknown reason, not carried into effect.  Just at dawn the raiders mounted their horses and rode away, recrossing the river to Selma with their prisoners.  As they rode through the “quarters,” the negro men joined them on mules, horses, or on foot.  Among the prisoners rode Colonel ——­ upon an old, worn-out horse, without saddle or bridle.  By his side, guarding him and mounted upon the colonel’s