Miss A. M. Zollicoffer

Confederate Veteran
Volume 11, No. 1, Page 35-6
January 1903

The seventh child born to Felix Kirk Zollicoffer and his wife, Louisa Gordon, was Ann Maria, the subject of this sketch. Of the six children who preceded her, only the eldest, a daughter, survived the first few weeks of life. Five infant sons, in succession, died before the advent of the second daughter, whose babyhood was consequently a source of peculiar pleasure to her parents. The special tenderness accorded her daughters who eventually completed the family circle, none was more indulged than she, who was familiarly called "Ridie." In her, above the others perhaps, was centered the ambitious hopes of her father, who early discovered the artistic tastes that afterwards distinguished Miss Zollicoffer. Nothing was left undone to foster this and her other talents until such time as she should be sent abroad to complete her education and study art in foreign studios—plans which were frustrated by the events of 1861-65.

On Gen. Zollicoffer's departure from Nashville for the seat of war, the five young children were left in care of their oldest sister, Mrs. James H. Wilson, their mother having died several years before. Mrs. Wilson removed with them to her husband's plantation, "Harpeth," sixteen miles from Nashville, where she nobly supplied a mother's place until ill health and a growing family of her own caused the duties of her position to fall by degrees on the youthful shoulders of Maria, who gradually became, in turn, the head of the bad of orphans. At an age when girls are usually thinking chiefly of pleasure, her time and thoughts became engrossed with the problems of the nursery. After the battle of Fishing Creek, whereby the children were doubly orphaned, they also suffered the loss of the good old "black mammy" who had from their infancy nursed and bathed each of them, rocked them to sleep, and tucked them in bed; motherly offices which thenceforth devolved on the devoted young sister. Mending and darning became part of each week's programme, and when, under stress of war times, it became impossible to go through the Federal lines into the city for replenishment of the family wardrobe, it was her girlish hands that ransacked cedar chests and clothes presses for materials to cut down and make over for the nurslings. Nor was the importance of systematic training of the children's minds forgotten. Every morning, with the punctuality of a seminary, school was opened in a detached building on the place, where for several hours the little ones were drilled in the rudiments of education, after which the higher branches were diligently studied by the teacher herself, who deplored the interruption of her own culture. There were also hours devoted by her to music and languages, lest what had been learned before leaving town should be forgotten.

In pursuance of the same idea, a newspaper, edited in French by the head of the school, made its appearance from time to time, creating a mild sensation in the admiring family. Other studious hours were spent by the self-appointed governess in the antique, walnut-paneled library of the Wilson homestead in reading after classic poets, historians, and essayists, thus laying broad foundations for the store of solid information for which she was in after life noted. As for pastimes, there was horseback riding, in which Maria was exceptionally expert and daring. On her trained hunter, "Di Vernon," she could clear a fence or scale a precipice at need. It was no uncommon feat for her to mount an unbroken colt and skim over the country lanes as erect and fearless as an Indian maiden.

Another favorite recreation was to portray on canvass or paper the beauties of the surrounding scenes. For a long while the quietude of the secluded place was undisturbed by either army. But in the course of time it chanced that soldiers penetrated the serene valley. A detachment of Federals and a small party of Texas Rangers came to close quarters one morning in front of the Wilson house. Volleys of firing from the line of "bluecoats" deployed across the lawn, together with the boom of a piece of ordnance which was brought into action, startles the retired family and gave promise of a serious affray. With characteristic self-forgetfulness, the young girl gathered her still younger sisters into the safest corner of the remotest room behind a barricade of feather beds, then betook herself to a window commanding the field, and, heedless of bullets or balls, calmly watched the incipient battle. Fortunately, the skirmish ended quickly and without casualties; as the Texans, being greatly outnumbered, withdrew to a more advantageous position, artfully tolling the enemy after them in their maneuvers along the Wilson turnpike.

On another occasion, when Wheeler's men, who were out after the Yankees, stopped by for refreshment of men and horses, it was "Ridie" who, with patriotic sympathy for the hungry Confederates, hied her to the storeroom and drew molasses for the soldiers until the last canteen was filled and the last sirupy drop had been drained from the barrel.

It was not until some years after the war between the States was over that Miss Zollicoffer's ability as an artist was properly cultivated in the schools of Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. In these, as well as several Southern cities, her finished work was admired and purchased. In Columbia, Tenn., where she at one time made her home, a number of portraits of prominent citizens attest the appreciation in which her talents were held. A fine specimen of her portraiture is the likeness of Gen. Leonidas Polk, painted in oil on a satin banner, as ordered by the Leonidas Polk Bivouac, of Columbia. Miss Zollicoffer resembled her father in face and form. She was fearless in temperament, upright in character, and unswervingly faithful in her affections. In manner like her father also, she combined rare dignity with a most winning gentleness of demeanor.

Aside from the pursuit of art, her life was devoted to making those around her happy. Her influence on others was altogether ennobling. She inspired with the highest aspirations those she loved, and called out eh best that was in the nature of each. The world is better that she lived. Having pointed the way to right living and reared a stainless standard for those who are left behind, she passed into the spirit world on October 3, 1902, at the home of her sister, Mrs. R. H. Sanson, in Knoxville, Tenn.

The surviving sisters are Mrs. Virginia Wilson, of Nashville; Mrs. J. M. Metcalfe (Felicia), of Fayetteville, who is President of the Zollicoffer-Fulton Chapter of U. D. C. at that place; Mrs. J. B. Bond (Octavia), of Maury County, Tenn.; and Mrs. R. H. Sanson (Louisa), President of the Knoxville Chapter U. D. C. Mrs. Nat Gaither (Mary Dorothea), of Hopkinsville, Ky., died many years ago, leaving one son, Felix Zollicoffer Gaither, who now lives in Fort Worth, Tex.