HEADLAND -- The United Daughters of the Confederacy has thousands of members, but only a handful can be called "real" daughters.
To earn that special designation, a woman must be able to prove that she is more than a direct descendant of a Confederate soldier -- she must have been his daughter.
As she nears her 97th birthday in November she can look back on decades of devotion to the UDC. That's why she spent part of last week preparing to go to Prattville on Saturday for the annual meeting of the organization.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation to "Ms. Stacia" -- as she's known to one and all -- of the coveted Winnie Davis Award, named for the daughter of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
During a Wednesday telephone interview from her home in Headland, Ms. Stacia reminisced about "Papa," who survived Chickamauga -- a pivotal battle of the Civil War -- and returned home with lice covering his shoeless, emaciated body.
She said Augustus Chance was reluctant to talk much about his experiences during America's bloodiest war, but, on occasion he would open up and describe for his family what he and other soldiers in Company "E" of the 6th Alabama Cavalry went through.
During the battle of Chickamauga, his horse was shot out from under him and another bullet struck his elbow. When the war ended, his unit was in Macon, Ga., and it was up to its members to get back home on their own.
Augustus walked all the way. When he finally reached his house, his mother took one look at him and ordered him out of his clothes and into a tub of hot water. His clothes were discarded immediately.
He was only 5-feet-4 inches tall and weighed just a tad over 130 pounds when his cavalry career ended, but he quickly made up for lost time on the family farm.
He and his wife welcomed a daughter they named Vara Chance. His wife died 20 years later. Following a period of mourning, Augustus felt he should be married again. It would be to Ms. Stacia's mother -- Stacia King. Augustus was 56 at the time and his second wife was 19. She also was the daughter of Berry King, his wartime buddy.
Asked why she would agree to marry someone so much older, his young bride would tell people that she'd rather be "an old man's sweetheart than a young man's plaything."
Together, the Chances would have seven children. Ms. Stacia was the youngest and, as such, was pampered and protected by her parents and siblings.
When it came to discipline, Ms. Stacia (pronounced Staysha), knew that her father could get things done with just a "look."
"Papa was strict, and when he talked, we knew he meant business," she said. "He had rules and they were to be obeyed."
At times, one of her father's cavalry comrades would drop by the house and they'd go outside, sit under a huge oak tree and tell war stories. Other than that, he kept those memories from his family.
Augustus Chance, who was 70 years old when the youngest member of his family was born, died at the age of 94 in 1935.
Six of Ms. Stacia's seven children are still living and she is a proud great-great grandmother. Several relatives live near her and make sure she is OK.
They take her to Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church every Sunday and love to drop by to get a slice of her prized pound cake.
Ms. Stacia reports that she's in good shape for a woman her age, but wonders at times if her memory may be slipping just a bit.
She and Frank Grace were married for 58 years. He was 77 years old when he died and she retains fond memories of a good husband, father and family provider.
Frank, her parents and other relatives are buried at a cemetery near her church. One day she will join her husband in a plot next to his.
Until then, she plans to keep making those delicious pound cakes, going to church, crocheting, watching the news on television and fawning over so many descendants that it's hard to keep up with all their names.
Alabama's only other UDC "real" daughter is Elizabeth Harrell Carrigan of Montgomery. She's 103. Two sisters, Lela, 101 and Rena, 105, live in Panama City.
Alvin Benn writes about people and places in central and south Alabama. If you have suggestions for a story, contact him at 875-3249 or e-mail him at benn8071@bellsouth.net.
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20090920/NEWS01/909200313/Alabama+woman+shares+Confederate+soldier+father+s+story
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