“I wish I could do something important like Father and
James.” 16 year old Missouri Owens thought. She was sitting on the plush green banks
of the creek near her house, listening to the water bubble it’s way downstream.
Her Father, John Owens, was away in the war fighting for the Confederacy as a
spy and her brother, James, was fighting in the Virginia Cavalry. She sat there
feeling the warm summer breeze, her blonde hair softly blowing, thinking of all
the things she wished she could do to be useful for the cause. She could be a
nurse, or a spy. Something exciting! But she was too young to be used as a
nurse and being a spy was too dangerous. Her mother and father would certainly
forbid either one. She looked up at the sun and realized it must be getting
close to supper time. The sun would be setting soon and it would get dark. She
hastily pulled her stockings and shoes on and ran towards home. She knew it was
dangerous to be out past dark alone, especially in these troubled times. Bushwhackers
or deserters could grab her. Missouri was slightly depressed because she knew
there really was nothing she could do to help her father or brother. As she
rambled down the road she could see her house in the distance, oil lamps, with
their wicks burning, lit the windows with a beautiful glow. Something seemed
different about the house tonight though, shadows were moving around in the
house almost menacingly. Not just one or two but several. The only people that
occupied the house these days were her, her mother Mary, and their Swedish maid
Helga. Why so many people? Maybe a neighbor or two had come for a visit. As she
neared the beautiful plantation style home she saw horses tied out front.
Frightened to go inside she snuck to the window and peered inside. Her mother
and Helga were both sitting in chairs at the big oak table. She realized with a
start was they were not sitting there by choice but by force! She stifled a
scream of fright, as is dawned on her those shadows were not neighbors but
Union soldiers.
Missouri was so
intent upon the sight before her she failed to hear the footsteps behind her.
She remained unaware of anyone’s presence until she felt something grab her
from behind. Her attempt at a scream was smothered by the soldier’s strong
grip. Her teeth dug into his hand and he momentarily released his iron grasp on
her and she lunged towards the house. If only she could get into her Father’s
study there was a gun in the desk. But she never made it that far for before
she had gotten 10 feet he had her in his grasp again. “Let go of me you filthy
galute!” she cried through her rage. “How dare you come to my house and treat
us like criminals!” The blue clad soldier began dragging her into the house
with her kicking and clawing the whole time. “Look what I found outside,
Colonel. And a feisty one she is at that.” said the soldier looking down at his
bloody, tooth scared hand. “Missouri!” her mother exclaimed looking up and down
her. Missouri didn't understand that outburst until she looked down at herself.
Her beautiful day dress was filthy and torn, her hoop skirt was sticking out
and her long hair was knotted and sticking everywhere. Everyone stood around
staring at Missouri until the awkward silence was finally broken by the Colonel
cleared his throat and began speaking, “Madam” he directed at Mary, “I assume
you know the reason we are here.” “Actually Colonel, you are mistaken. I haven’t
any idea why you have invaded my home, grabbed my daughter and tore her
clothes” she said, all the while her steel blue eyes penetrated through him.
“Let me explain it to you then”, the Colonel began, “Your husband is a
well-known Confederate spy whom we have been chasing for months yet he has
always eluded us. We have information that he comes to visit his family as much
as possible. Our intent is to occupy this house as long as necessary, in order
to capture him the minute he steps foot on this property.” Missouri and her
mother both gasped. “You’re trespassing! And I won’t allow you in this house
another minute!” Mary screamed. The Colonel smirked “Madam, you have no
choice.”
So the waiting began. Missouri and her mother continued to
be treated as prisoners in their own home. During one of her long seclusions of
being locked in her room, Missouri’s thoughts dwelled on her father’s visits.
They were usually spaced about a month between, possibly a little longer. He hadn't been to visit for about a month now. His next visit probably wouldn't be
too far in the future. She had to warn him somehow. To keep him from these men
who were over-running the house, eating their food and confiscating what
livestock they had left. But how, she
wondered, my every move is guarded by one
of them. I spend most of my days locked in this room until they need me to cook
supper, milk the cow or do some other chore, she thought disgustedly. There must be some way of escape. Missouri
continued to watch for any possible way out. One day while milking the cow,
Bessie, the soldier’s back was turned and she tried to run but he caught her
and after that an even closer watch was kept on her. Missouri hardly ever saw
her mother but one evening she did and whispered to her the plan of escape.
Before Mary could reply she was whisked away but she glanced a look that
Missouri knew so well; it was warning glance. But despite that Missouri knew
she had to escape. Her mother was just worried about her safety. As it came on
a week that the soldiers had occupied the plantation, Missouri began to devise
a plan. She was often sent outside to gather wood, with the escort of 1 soldier,
so that would have to be the time of escape. All of the neighbors were unaware
of the soldiers in the house. If anyone came to call Mary was sent to the door and
forced to send them away. The nearest neighbor was several miles away. If she
could only make it to their house she could borrow a horse and find her father
somehow. So the plan began to fall in to place, and the next evening it would
go into motion.
As it happened as day turned into night the soldiers found
the wood box needed filling and as always Missouri was sent outside to fetch
some wood. It was chopped by a soldier but she had to carry it in. As Missouri
walked towards the wood pile she realized this was the perfect time of escape.
She could easily fade into the darkness and be less of a target than in the
day. Missouri began picking up wood but abruptly dropped the pile, grabbed
herself and fell to the ground. While the soldier was moving towards her she
moved her hand slightly to a piece of wood. When he got there she pointed to
her ankle and winced; he bent over her ankle and when he had his head turned away
from her, she grabbed the wood that she fingered and hit him over the head with
it. The blue clad boy fell to the ground with a groan. For a moment Missouri
sat there in shock that she had actually knocked someone out. But she realized
the soldier would punish her if she didn't run, and run swiftly, this very
moment. She ran for the field and not a moment too soon for just as she reached
the high weeds she heard the back door open and soldier’s voices filled the
night. It was getting dark and fast, but the moon was coming out. This moon at
any other time would have been a joy to Missouri, it was a full moon, which she
usually gazed on endlessly, but tonight it was quite unwanted. She had
forgotten that aspect when she had planned her daring escape. She did the best
she could though and ran the fastest she had possibly ever run. It seemed to
Missouri that the few miles between her house and the neighbor’s had never
taken so long. The noises she heard were strange and scary. On one side of her
there was the hoot of an owl, on the other a buzzing; but she forced herself
on. Finally she neared the neighbor’s house and approached the door cautiously.
At last she was there, after what seemed an eternity. At the door she pounded
loudly, but no answer came. No one was home. Oh well, she thought, I’ll
just run and borrow a horse. They will understand. The big barn door opened
with a loud creak that seemed to echo in the clear night. The sight that
Missouri’s eyes seemed the worst she had ever seen: an empty barn, not a horse
in sight. All she felt like doing was crying, but she had no time for that
because the terrorizing sound of hoof beats penetrated through her ears. The
thought of tears was replaced with terror. Run
and run now Missouri Owens! Her mind cried, get out of here before it’s too late and they catch you. So run she
did.
She never looked back until a familiar voice called her
name, “Missouri! Missouri! Stop running, it’s me James!” Missouri still
couldn’t believe it. She slowly turned around to see the voice who called.
Through the darkness she saw men, lots of men, all on horses. In the front, beside
a man wearing a tan hat with a feather hanging from it, sat her brother James.
James hopped down off his horse and Missouri ran and hugged him hard and said
“James, I‘ve never been as happy to see you as I am right now!” “Missouri if
you don’t loosen your grip a little I won’t be alive long enough for you to see
me much longer!” he said with a smile and tousled her already messy hair. “What
are you doing out here anyway? “James!” Missouri cried as her journey’s mission
came back to mind, “You’ve got to get house! The Yankees have taken over and
they are waiting to capture Father!” James didn’t say anything but pulled loose
of her grasp and ran over to the man in the feathered hat, whispering a
something. When James finished the man smiled then yelled “Mount up boys, we
have some Yankees to tend to.” He looked at James and said, “You follow along
but stay near the back with your sister.” And with that he galloped off. “Who
was that James?” Missouri asked as her eyes followed the dashing figure,
galloping off into the night. “That” James replied with a look of admiration in
his eyes, “Is Major General J.E.B. Stuart.” James mounted his horse then reached
down and pulled Missouri on behind him. Still awed at having seen the famous
J.E.B. Stuart, commander of the Cavalry Corps of Northern Virginia, she didn't say much on the ride back home. When James and Missouri finally arrived home
the house was ablaze with lights. The property was in disarray; soldiers were
darting here and there, a few Yankee prisoners were being escorted to the barn
for safe keeping over-night, but even with all this going on Missouri was at
ease because she knew her home and father were safe once again. The next day
the Cavalry cleared out and took their prisoners with them. Missouri never knew
why they were so near her house on that night but she was sure of two things:
God must have sent them to protect her family and she was awfully glad they
were. Two weeks later Missouri, outside to milk the cow, once again heard hoof
beats. Fear tingled down her spine, but she rose from the low milking stool she
was seated on and peaked out the window. A smile grew on her face and she
rushed outside. “Father!” Missouri screamed delightedly. John Owens jumped off
his horse and grabbed her in a hug, picked her up and swirled her around. “How
are you darlin’?” he asked. “I’m doing just fine. Come on into the house.
Mother will be so happy to see you!” Missouri grabbed his hand and pulled him
towards the house. When they reached the porch John Owens asked “Did anything
exciting happen while I was gone?” Missouri stopped towing him and looked up at
her father. A giggle rose in her throat as she replied “Oh Father, you just wouldn't believe it.”
Missouri let her father go into the house ahead of her.
She stood on the porch remembering her thoughts that day at the creek before
the Yankee soldiers captured their house. Missouri laughed and thought, I finally did something important.
