University of Alabama - Corolla Yearbook (Tuscaloosa, AL)

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Cory, the faithful old driver, hitched up the carriage, all piled in, and he drove them away into the woods in the direction of what is now the new cemetery. The woods soon became so thick that further flight was impossible. They waited, not knowing what else to do. Day was dawning, a beautiful, balmy spring day. Suddenly, in the direction of town, the whole heavens became illumined-a mass of brilliant fire. The Yankees had entered the town and had set fire to the public buildings. Still not a sound was heard, and their hearts jumped with every crackle of the twigs around them. Soon there was a movement in the underbrush, and a man approached, whom they recognized to be a neighbor, also seeking safety in flight. He urged them not to remain in that unsafe place, but to find protection at the nearest house. Cory was told to lead the horses farther into the woods and they began their tramp on foot. Hungry, exhausted, wet up to the knees with the early spring dew, they reached the hospital about seven olclock. Mrs. Bryce gave them a hot breakfast and some dry clothes. In the midst of this good cheer, a noise was heard in the.direction of the University and running to the windows they beheld eight buildings in full blaze. The Yankees had reached the University, and the pride of Alabama was falling in ruins! It seemed that the Yankees had waited until day-light to make the attack, for they knew of the military training, had heard of the impetuosity of the boys, and then the negroes had told them that uthem boys sho' do shoot in ev'ry direction! But make the attack they were sure to do, for it was said, and the statement has since been corroborated, that the officers were commanded to burn every public building in the South and Particularly the University of Alabama. Soon word was brought that the presidentls house was on fire and grandmother said: I mast go. She did go, and it was through her heroic efforts that the fire was put out and the house saved. She was not the only woman who showed fortitude in that hour of need: By constantly supplying wet blankets, Mrs. Richardson saved her house, which stood on the site of Garland Hall, but which was afterwards destroyed, and Mrs. Chapman, the wife of ex-govemor Chapman, successfully pleaded with the soldiers to spare the observatory, though they did break the very valuable telescope lens. Many years have passed since that eventful morning, the fourth of April, 1865. New buildings have been built and our beloved Alabama is again the pride of the State. The little Round Tower is the only building left within the campus enclosure to perpetuate the memory of the good old daysf' But scattered here and there a mound bears witness to that glorious past and endears ten-fold Alabama's,' history, for a land without ruins is a land without memoryf' 17

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