The old saying goes; "Don't ever underestimate the power of a woman." And, when you have a group of women, look out!

On March 18, 1863, hungry and unable to pay inflated prices for food that was available, 75 women, most of whom were wives of Confederate soldiers, armed themselves with axes and went on a search for hoarded food. They first went to the train depot where they were turned away by the station master. When the women asked for flour, the station master said, "I don't have any." Not believing him, they broke into the warehouse and found 10 barrels. Across the street in one of the stores used by the railroad, they found another seven barrels. Now the ladies were not through, as they just had a feeling there was more. One of the ladies yelled, "Government warehouse." With that yell all 75 took off for the Government warehouse, but were disappointed, as it was empty. A suspected speculator was spotted and when they approached him, they relieved him of a large sack of salt.

Not long after these events, a farmer arrived at the station with a wagon load of tobacco for shipment. The story is told that when the station master told the farmer about the ladies, he high-tailed it out of town with the words, " God, I'm gone for fear that they will learn to chew."

Thought for the day: There isn't much to be seen in a small town, but what you hear makes up for it.