Chapter I: Front Matter

FROM FLAG TO FLAG

_A WOMAN’S ADVENTURES AND EXPERIENCES
IN THE SOUTH DURING THE WAR,
IN MEXICO AND IN CUBA_

BY
ELIZA McHATTON-RIPLEY

“Faith! I ran when I saw others run.”--I HENRY IV.

“See here, my friends and loving countrymen;
This token serveth for a flag of truce
Betwixt ourselves.”--I HENRY IV.

NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1889

COPYRIGHT, 1888,
BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.

NOTE.

The years covered by this narrative were full of stirring interest. Civil war in the United States put the nation under arms from the St. Lawrence to the Rio Grande, and shattered the entire social and political fabric of the South. Mexico was conquered by the French, who, in time, were driven from the country, and the improbability of any European power obtaining a foothold there forever settled. A large portion of the Island of Cuba was for years under the control of the insurgents; and, not until a sea of blood and millions of treasure had been poured out, was a semblance of peace secured.

The minor part I bore in these exciting times has been a thrice-told tale at my fireside; and, believing the unfamiliar pictures of life, varied incidents, and historical facts worthy of record, I have written why, and how, we ran “from flag to flag.”

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A PLANTATION HOME IN LOUISIANA 7

II. THE NEW FLAG--CAMPAIGN SEWING SOCIETY--CAPTURE
OF NEW ORLEANS 10

III. A CREVASSE--OCCUPATION OF BATON ROUGE--DEFENSELESS
CITIZENS 19

IV. WILLY’S ERRAND--BRECKINRIDGE’S MESSAGE--THE RAW
RECRUITS 27

V. THE BATTLE--RUSH TO ARLINGTON--DISASTER--DEPARTURE
OF OUR GUESTS 33

VI. RESTORING ORDER--SCENES OF VANDALISM--PREPARATIONS
FOR DEPARTURE 42

VII. SECOND VISIT OF THE ENEMY--MIDNIGHT FLIGHT--FAREWELL
TO ARLINGTON 53

VIII. “PICKETS DOWN DAR!”--HARD JOURNEYING--WILLY’S
FATE--CHARLOTTE 60

IX. CAMPING BY NIGHT--FORLORN WOMEN--BEAUMONT--HOUSTON 66

X. TRAVELING THROUGH TEXAS--NEARING THE RIO GRANDE 76

XI. LAREDO--MEXICAN ESCORT TO PIEDRAS NEGRAS--THE
CUSTOM-HOUSE--A NORTHER--SAN ANTONIO--SCARCITY
OF NECESSARIES 83

XII. FINAL TRIP TO THE RIO GRANDE--MATAMORAS OCCUPIED
BY THE FRENCH--WAITING!--MARTHA BEFORE THE ALCALDE--WAR
OVER! 104

XIII. HAVANA--HÔTEL CUBANO--OUR HOME ON THE CERRO 125

XIV. STREET SIGHTS AND SOUNDS--EVENINGS IN THE CITY--SHOPS
AND SHOPPING--BEGGARS--VACCINATION 134

XV. A POLYGLOT--ZELL--BEATRIZ’S SCHOOL--IGNORANT GUAJIROS 142

XVI. PLANTATION PURCHASED--LIFE AT “DESENGAÑO”--AT
WORK ONCE MORE 149

XVII. RAINY SEASON--CULTIVATING ABANDONED FIELDS--DON
FULGENCIO’S MODE--FIRST SUMMER AT DESENGAÑO--BOOKS 156

XVIII. MORE LABORERS REQUIRED--HENRY SHOOTS WILD DOGS--MILITARY
RULE--EXTORTION 165

XIX. NEW CHINESE--COOLIE REBELLION--ZELL’S BRAVERY--CHINESE
LABOR CONTRACT--VICIOUS INSECTS 170

XX. CIRIACO--PLANTATION GARDEN--TASAJO--NEGRO MUSIC
AND DANCING 183

XXI. THE GOOD OLD PRIEST--RELIGION AND SUPERSTITION
OF THE NEGROES--THE SEÑORA’S GHOST 190

XXII. CATTLE--BUTTER AND CHURN--OVERRUN WITH CATS--CURIOUS
VOLCANO--MAJA AND JUTIA 197

XXIII. HARASSED BY THE MILITARY--LAWLESS SITUATION--MEN
DRIVEN TO THE MOUNTAINS--RESTRICTED
WALKS 205

XXIV. MURDEROUS ASSAULT--COMPLAINTS TO THE CAPTAIN-GENERAL--CARLOS
GARCIA 210

XXV. “BEHOLD A MAN FULL OF LEPROSY!” 222

XXVI. SUGAR-MAKING--DINNER AT “JOSEFITA’S”--DOMESTIC
SERVICE--POOR DON PEDRO 227

XXVII. A PARADISE--A GUAJIRO BALL--OUR NEIGHBORS--A
DAY WITH THE MARQUIS 234

XXVIII. FERTILITY OF THE SOIL--WORK DURING SUGAR-MAKING--FIRE
IN THE CANE-FIELDS 253

XXIX. DON RUANO’S COFFEE ESTATE--COFFEE-MILLS AND COFFEE-POTS--WASTE
OF FRUITS--DON RUANO AND HIS
MOTHER 263

XXX. HOUSE-BUILDING ANTS--ELLIE’S YOUNG OWLS--HENRY
SAYS “ADIOS” 270

XXXI. BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER--VIEW FROM THE MOUNTAIN--TERRIBLE
TEMPORAL--DEVASTATION 277

XXXII. DULLNESS--ISOLATION--WEARINESS--CUBA, FAREWELL! 288

FROM FLAG TO FLAG.