certaining whether the family, of which
the girl was a hopeftil scion, was Union or
rebel.
♦
Bather be a Soldier's Widow than aCowazd's
Wlfb.
One day a poor wounded soldier on
crutches entered one of the New York
dty railway cars, which on this occasion
happened to be occupied mainly by wo-
men. One of them considerately arose
and gave the wounded man her place.
Her neighbor, seeming to be scandalized
by this abdication of feminine privilege,
asked her if it were possible that she had
vduntarily resigned her seat to 'that
man.' She replied she had ; that she had
a husband who was a soldier in the Union
army, and that she had done only what
she would wish others should do for him
in a similar situation. The other replied
that she had no husband in the army, and
was glad of it " Well," retorted the true
American wife, '* I would rather be a sol-
diet's widow than a cowards wife^
Interestfxiir Oontribatlon to a Saaltcu-y Fair.
One of the contributions to the Gncin-
nati Sanitary Fair consisted of a letter
fix)m Thomas Clay to his ftither. When
the great statesman, Henry Clay, was liv-
ing, he purchased a farm for his son Thom-
as, and stocked and prepared it thoroughly
for his use. After a few years' residence
on the ftmn, Thomas wrote to his &thcr
for more money, — that his farm needed
important improvements, and he had not
the wherewith to procure what he needed.
Mr. Clay replied to the effect that as he
(Thomas) had squandered the mea^s he
had given him in preparing the farm for
his use, he might now go to — . Thomas
replied in a brief letter to his &ther, as
follows :
" My Dear Father: Your kind letter
of — instant is before me. I have perused
and digested its contents, and am obliged
to return you my warmest gratitude for
the kindly admonition it contains. The
destination you direct me to go will be
strange to me, and I have deemed it the
part of a dutiftd son to request of you a
letter of introduction.
Hoping to hear from you, I remain your
most obedient and dutiful son,
Thomas Clat
Oonfbderate Brooches not to General 'Vlele*^
Taste.
Greneral Viele's method of dealing with
secession and its abettors was that of the
suaviter in modo^fortitur in re. For in*
stance, a lady went into his office to con-
sult him or demand some favor. He re-
ceived her with his usual politeness, but
Digitized by
Google
DOMESTIC, WOMANLY, HOSPITAL, PRISON, ETC.
621
suddenly noticing that she wore the Con-
federate colors prominently, in the shape
of a brooch, he mildly suggested that it
would, perhaps, have been better taste to
ccmie to his office without such a decoration.
" I have a right, Sir, to consult my own
wishes as to what I shall wear."
« Then, Madam," replied the General,
"permit me to claim an equal right in
choosing with whom I shall converse."
The dignified lady thought it best to
make a speedy exit fi*om his presence.
Whoever would read more of these
sparkling morceaux, will find a rich feast
in Dawley's admirable series — the " Camp
and Fireside Library."
Axmie Ullybrldffe and Ltoatenant W —
Annie Lillybridge, of Detroit, was for
^ Union,' and in &vor of the hardships and
dangers of war, if need be, to secure that
end. She courted, rather than shrank
from, those hardships, and bared her breast
to rebel bullets.
According to Annie's account, her pa-
rents resided in Hamilton, Canada West
In the spring of 1862, she was employed
in a dry goods store in Detroit, where she
became acquainted with Lieutenant W — ,
of one of the Michigan regiments, and an
intimacy immediately sprang up between
them. They corresponded for some time,
and became much attached to each other.
But during the ensuing summer season.
Lieutenant W. was appointed to a position
in the Twenty-first Michigan Infentry,
then rendezvousing in Ionia county.
The thought of parting from the gay
Lieutenant nearly drove Annie mad, and
she resolved to share his dangers and be
near him. No sooner had she resolved
upon this course than she proceeded to
act. Purchasing male attire she visited
Ionia, and enlisted in Captain Kavanagh's
Company, Twenty-first regiment. While
in camp she managed to keep her secret
fix>m eh ; not even the object of her at-
tachment, who met her every day, was
aware of her presence so near him.
Annie left with her regiment for Ken-
tucky, passed through all the dangers and
temptations of a camp-life, endured long
marches, and slept on the cold ground —
all without a murmur. At last, before the
battle of Pea Ridge, in which her regi-
ment took part, her sex was curiously dis-
covered by a member of her company,
upon whom she laid the injunction of se-
cresy, after relating to him her previous
history.
On the following day she was under fire,
and from a letter in her possession, it ap-
pears she behaved with marked gallantry,
and by her own hand shot a rebel Captain
who was in the act of firing upon Lieu-
tenant W. But the fear of revealing her
sex continually haunted her.
After the battle, she was sent out with
others, to collect the wounded, and one of
the first corpses found by her was the sol-
dier who had discovered her sex. Tays
and weeks passed on, and she became a
universal favorite with the regiment ; so
much so, that her Colonel, Stephens, fre-
quently detailed her as regimental derk-r
a position that brought her in close con-
tact with her lover, who, at this time, was
Miyor, or Adjutant, of the regiment.
A few weeks subsequently she was out
on picket duty, when she received a shot
in the arm that disabled her, and notwith-
standing the efibrts of the surgeon, her
wound grew worse from day to day. She
was sent to the hospital at Loubville,
where she remained several months, when
she was discharged by the post sui^geon, as
her arm was stiffened and useless.
Annie implored to be permitted to re-
turn to her regiment, but the surgeon was
unyielding, and discharged her. Annie
immediately hurried toward home. At
Cincinnati she told her secret to a benevo-
lent lady, and was supplied with female
attire. She declared she would enlist in
her old regiment again, if there was a re-
cruiting officer for the Twenty-first in
Michigan. She still clung to the Lieuten-
anV— 6aid she must be near him if he feH,
Digitized by
Google
622
THE BOOK OF ANBODOTES OF THE BEBELLION.
or was taken down sick — that where he
went she would go — and when he died,
she would end her life by her own hands.
Frank, the Pretty Female Bnirler of the
ZSiflrlith Ulohiiraii*
In the spring of 1863, a Union Captain,
accompanied by a young soldier apparent-
ly about seventeen years of age, arrived
in Louisville, Ky., in charge of some rebel
prisoners.
During their stay in Louisville, the
young soldier alluded to had occasioit to
visit head-quarters, and at once attracted
the attention of Colonel Mundy as being
exceedingly sprightly, and possessed of
more than ordinary intelligence. Being
in need of such a young man at Barracks
Na 1, the Colonel detailed him for ser-
vice in that institution.
A few dap subsequently, however, the
startling secret was disclosed, that the sup-
posed young man was a young lady, and
the fact was established beyond doubt by
a soldier who was raised in the same town
with her, and knew her parents. She * ac-
knowledged the com,* and begged to be
retained in the position to which she had
been assigned ; having been in the service
ten months, she desired to serve during the
war. Her wish was accordingly granted,
and she remained at her post
Frank was bom near Bristol, Penn.,
and she was raised in Alleghany Gty,
the place of her parents' residence, —
highly respectable people, and in good cir-
cumstances. She was sent to a convent in
Wheeling, Virginia, at twelve years of age,
where she remained until the breaking out
of the war, having acquired a military ed-
ucation, and all the accomplishments of
modem usage.
She visited home after leaving the con-
vent, and, after taking leave of her par
rents, proceeded to Louisville in July,
1862, fdth the design <^ enl»ting in the
Second East Tennessee Oavalry, whidi
she aooomplished, and accompanied the
Axmy of the Cnmberiand to Nashville.
She was in the thidcest of the %ht at
Murfreesboro,' and was severely wounded
in the shoulder, but fought gallantly, and
waded Stone river into Murfreesboro', on
the memorable Sunday on which our forces
were driven back. She had her wound
dressed, and here her sex was disclosed,
General Bosecrans being made acquaint-
ed with the foct.
Frank was accordingly mustered out of
service, notwithstanding her earnest en-
treaty to be allowed to serve the cause she
loved so well. The General was very
fovorably impressed with her daring bra^
very, and superintended the arrangements
for her transmission to her parents. She
left the Army of the Cumberland, resolved
to enlist again in the very first regimait
she met. YHien she arrived at Bowling
Green, therefore, she foimd the Eighth
Michigan there, and enlisted, and continued
to share its fortunes, being honored with
the position of regimental bugler. She
was an excellent horseman ; saw and brave-
ly endured all the privations and hard-
ships incident to the life of a soldier ; and
gained an enviable reputation as a scout,
having made several remarkable expedi-
tions, which were attended with signal
success.
Of only eighteen years of age, quite
small, and a beautifol figure, Frank was a
decided attraction. She had aubum hair,
which she wore quite short, and large blue
eyes, beaming with intelligence. Her
complexion, naturally very &ir, became
somewhat bronzed from exposure. In
fine, she was exceedingly pretty and ami-
able. Her conversation denoted moi^
than ordinary accomplishment, and, what
was stranger than all, she appeared verj
refined in her manners, giving no evidence
whatever of the rudeness which might
naturally be expected from her camp and
field contacts.
The pretty bugler stated that ^e had
discovered a great many females in the
army, and was intimately acquainted wiQi
one sudi—a young lady holding a <
Digitized by
Google
DOMESTIC, WOMANLT, HOSPITAL, PRISON, ETC.
628
sion as Lieutenant in the army. She had
assisted in burying three female soldiers
at different times, whose sex was unknown
to any but herself.
Batinff op tiie Stan and Bars.
Notwithstanding General Butler^s vigi-
lance in terrifying secessionism in the Cres-
cent Gty, there was revived, in March,
1863, the novelty of an openly avowed
secesh lady in the streets. Miss y de-
fying the celebrated order « No. 28," made
her appearance on the pavement with a
handkerchief round her neck, on the comer
of which was contemptuously displayed,
in conspicuously wrought colors, a rebel
flag. It is not probable that any particu-
lar notice would have been taken of the
circurastance if the &ir owner had not
defiantly flouted said offensive symbol in
the face of a naval officer, who then veiy
promptly escorted the lady before Greneral
Bowen. While the examination of the
case was going on, the young lady, in her
indignation and rancor, absolutely tore the
material of the symbolized flag out of the
handkerchief with her teeth, and ate it up^
so she literally put the blessed ^ Stars and
Bars" very near her heart The hand-
kerchief was confiscated and the young
lady was ordered to report once a day, for
one month, to Captain Kilbom, Deputy
Provost Marshal, — during which time, it
is innocently intimated, the Captain had
several implications for positions of head
clerks.
Hoataca Wanted fbr hia WUb axkl Bamlly.
When the so-called Provisional Gov-
ernment of Kentucky was on its hegira
southward, they stopped and made a po-
litical and social call at the house of
Cbbnel Wm. H. Polk, the party being
under the convoy of George N. Sanders.
Just before leaving, and after receiving
the most hospitable treatment at the hands
of the Cblonel, the. latter addressed San-
ders, and said that be had a particiUar
fiitvor to ask.
" Bill," said George to his host, speak-
ing out of a full heart and a full chest,
" Bill, you are a boy after my own heart ;
whatever request you make I granf*
**It is only a trifle," said Mr. Pblk,
** which you can easily grant, and which
will please you.**
" It is granted," interrupted the grateful
Sanders.
I "I may be arrested," continued Mr.
I Polk, " within a few minutes, for disagree-
^ ing with some measures which Gov. Har-
ris has urged upon the people."
^ Never mind that," said the impetuous
Sanders, " 1*11 stand by you."
** All I want," continued Mr. Polk, « is
for you to return to Nashville as a hostage
for my wife and family,^
"Bill Polk," said George, gravely but
firmly, "you are a man I love; I love
you, and I love your wife and &mily;
hut if ever I go hack to NcuhviUe may 1
he /"
Of course there was no reply to this,
and the redoubtable and wife-and-family-
loving George, with the Provisional Gov-
ernment, were soon on their way to the
dixiest part of Dixie.
DEaJor ]
-, en route with the Spaalah
Widow.
Som^ of the domestic and extra-peison-
al experiences of the war will, at no dis-
tant day, furnish the staple of many a fine-
ly-wrought novellette — such, for instance,
as the following, narrated by an officer of
the Twenty-seventh Corps of the Union
Army. Hear him: —
We had (says the narrator,) a very
pleasant trip down to the Crescent City,
with some political prisoners from the De-
partment of the Missouri, and persons who
were aBowed to pass into the Confederate
lines to see their relations, look aft»r their
property, d^c
Among the exiles was Ashton P. John-
ston of St Louis, Marmaduke, late of the
Convention, Rev. Father Donnelly, of St.
Joseph, and withers of less import
Digitized by
Google
624
THE BOOK OF ANECDOTES OF THE REBELLION.
Among the 'voluntaries' were young
maids and old maids, wives and widows.
Among the young maids was one who can-
fidentiaUy told me she was going to Mo-
bile to be married. It looked to me very
much like sending supplies to the enemy ;
but I couldn't help it, so let it go. They
nearly all came to this place in charge
of Captain Dwight, Assistant-Inspector
Genei^ of the Department of the Mis-
souri.
In the party was a young widow.
' Pretty ! * In my judgment she was in-
teresting — when was a young and pretty
widow not ? Being young, pretty, and a
widow, is it strange that a young officer,
to whose care she was entrusted, should
extend to her all the courtesies and atten-
Hi^ B , en ronte with the SpaoSsh Widow.
tion proper and consistent with his official
position ? It waa not strange ; nor was it
strange that in return for his kindness,
and at his solicitation, she should confide
to him the tale of her woes.
She was from Mexico; her husband
had been conscripted in Texas, into the
rebel army ; had died, leaving her the sole
proprietress of numerous droves of mus-
tangs, and the mother of two small chil-
dren, (mostly boys and girls.)
Her spirits and her person, draped in
the habiliments of mourning, for the length
of time deemed proper, she resolved to
quit the place where each familiar object
reminded her of the time spent in conju-
gal felicity with the dear departed one ;
that one ^gone to a ranch from which
there was no return ; ' so all the personal
property, with the exception of some un-
ruly must&ngs, who refused to be ' cotch-
ed,* and some colored individual, who,
having heard of the Proclamation, refused
to be considered personal property, and
wouldn't be * cotched neither,' was convert-
ed into Confederate tr — cash, and the
randi vacated.
At Matamoras the Confederate money
was exchanged for gold, and passage secur-
ed on a Spanish vessel to Havana, which was
soon bounding «u:ross the Gulf. Tears
were shed, as on leaving one's native land
they will always be ; but it was all for the
best — a residence upon the beautiful island
of Cuba, a place in the afiTections and
family of the dear relations who anticipat-
ed her coming— quiet walks beneath fra-
grant orange groves, — the air of that de-
lightful and Ealubrious climate — would go
far toward dispelling the gloom which
shrouded her young and ardent soul.
But, alas ! for the orange groves and
ambrosial atmosphere, a storm arose, the
ship was driven into an inlet off the coast
of Florida, was taken by our blockading
squadron off Key West, for a blockade
runner, and sent to New York, where,
afler an examination, she was released,
and sent away.
The &ir widow, having escaped the
dangers of the sea, resolved not to venture
again, till her nerves had re^uned their
wonted firmness. Having friends at St.
Louis, she resolved to visit that city. Ar-
riving there — there she remained until
the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson,
and the consequent opening of the Missis-
sippi river, when she resolved to attempt
Havana, this time via New Orleans. Ma-
jor B. was on the boat. The Major, yon
must know, is a very gallant man. The
\ ladies, dear creatures, would fall in love
Digitized by
Google
DOMESTIC, WOMANLY, HOSPITAL, PRISON, ETC.
625
with him. In fact, the citadel of their af-
fections invariably capitulated when he
laid siege.
The Miyor was introduced to the fair
widow by the Captain in charge, and he
had a soul to sympathize with her in her
affliction, so to his special care was she
assigned. It was soon a mutual discovery
that their tastes and sympathies were sim-
ilar. Did he admire any particular scenery
along the shores ?— ditto, she. Together
they would pass hours in some retired
place upon the guards of the boat, in
sweet interchange of thought and senti-
ment
He had never met one before for whom
he had formed an attachment so sincere,
and she, fi*om the moment when first in-
troduced, felt that she saw in him the re-
alization of her hopes. In him she saw
the only one who should ever catch the
untamed mustangs), and again bring joy
to the ranch.
Thus did this enamored pair pass the
long hours of the journey. Arrived in
New Orleans. Would the Major be so
kind as to secure her rooms at the hotel,
and to make some inquiry ailer her uncle,
who resided somewhere in the city ? Of
course he would. Mine host of the St.
Charles provided the proper apartments,
and, the widow duly domiciled therein,
the Major sallied forth to make inquiries
after " our unde,** in which he was entire-
ly unsuccessful, not being able to find any
gentleman of that name. The widow felt
sad — was disappointed.
Her uncle was formerly a man of wealth
and influence, and she had not calculated
upon having any difficulty in finding him ;
but this cruel war had changed every-
thing; and then the beautiful eyes of the
fair and fascinating widow filled with tears.
It grew rather embarrassing to the Ma-
jor. He was expecting to meet his wife,
who was waiting in the city for him, hav-
ing come around via the Gul£ But ike
fair creature whose head was redining
39
upon his shoulder, and whose heaving bo-
som was beating against his own, knew
nothing of that — she only knew, as she
scud, that in that great city, among stran-
gers, without the Major her heart would
break.
How benevolent the Msgor's intentions
may have been can only be conjectured,
for unlooked-for events will sometimes
play the deuce with one's arrangements.
At least it was so in this case. The fact
was, the wife of the Major learning of his
arrival made inquiries, and ascertaining
that he had taken No. — , resolved upon
a pleasant surprise for him, so with two
of the little majors in tow she proceeded
to No. — . Passing an adjoining room
she overheiurd the voice of the one sought
for, and thinking there must be some mis-
take in the number of the room, and that
where that familiar voice was heard must
be the right one, she pushed open the
door and entered.
Whether the scene which met her eye
was calculated to increase her faith in the
constancy of her spouse, or otherwise,
those who are able to judge must decide.
It is known, however, that the Major's
baggage was removed to another part of
the house before many hours had expired,
and that he was the recipient of a note,
through me derk of the house, to the fol-
lowing efiect :
* Dear Major : — Having unexpectedly
found my unde, I will relieve you and
yours fix>m any further care upon my part,
if you will be so kind as to settle the bill
which the derk will present to you.
Adios. L.
P. S. Not having sold my gold yet,
it is inconvenient for me to reftmd you the
dollars which you so kindly loaned
to me. L.'
The Major is a wiser man: he looks
meek, but will fire up upon any allusion
being made to mustangs or Spanish widows.
Digitized by
Google
626
THE BOOK OF ANECDOTES OF THE BEBELLION.
Qrim War and tha Innooenta.
Rev. Dr. Maginnis stated at the sessicm
of the Christian Commission in Saratoga,
that he was at Easton, attending a Synod,
when Harrisburg was in danger, and the
people came rushing down to meet the
common enemj. There he saw a compa-
ny marching resolutely along the street,
and among the multitudes who gazed upon
them as they passed was a little girl whose
tender eye rested upon the forms of those
noble men with a strange earnestness.
He watched her. As the company came
by she clasped her little hands, and then
began to shake and quiver, as she scanned
closely every soldier's face. Suddenly
she wrung her hands, and her childish
voice broke out in faint agony — ^^ That's
him! that's him! That's papa! Papa!
He's goiug ! he's going ! " and she bowed
her head upon her bosom and wept.
Three Noble Union Oirla.
During the advance of Colonel Streight's
ill-fated raid in the spring, a portion of his
command had a heavy skirmish on the last
day of April, near a place called Day's
Gap. A Union soldier was killed in this
skirmish, and as a matter of necessity, his
body was left in possession of the foe.
The latter, after stripping the corpse, bu-
ried it beside the road on the spot where
he fell. They then drove a stake into the
ground, evidently intending to have it
pierce the body, and attached to it a pla-
card, the blasphemy of which was most
barbarous, and totally unfit to be recited.
The Union people suppressed their indig-
nation, for it would liave been death to in-
terfere. They did not, however, forget
where the patriot was buried, and three
young ladies, with their own hands, some
time after, built a fence around the grave,
removed the stake, and planted evergreens
and fiowers in attractive taste, to bloom
and shed their fragrance over the resting
place of the defender of his country.
Sonor to those noble girls I
Zietteir of Bympatliy firom a Union Soldier to
a Oonfbderate Officer's Betrothed.
It was in one of the skirmishes be-
tween the Fourteenth Army Corps under
Greneral Sherman, and the Confederate
forces, that Lieutenant Ross, of Georgia,
was woimded and captured. His wound
soon proved fatal, but he was carefully
nursed to the last by Major Fitzgibbons,
of the Fourteenth Michigan regiment.
At the request of the dying man, Major.
Fitzgibbons imdertook to forward the per-
sonal effects of Ross to a young lady in
Oxford, Greorgia, to whom he was engaged
to be married ; and accompanied them by
the following letter : —
Camp 14th Mich. Vet. Vol. Inf.,
Near Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 8, 1864.
Miss Emma Jane Kennon, Oxford, Gku:
Bereaved Girl : With melancholy pleas-
ure I herewith send to you the valuables
and personal effects of the late Lieutenant
Ross, Sixty-sixth Georgia. From his dy-
ing lips he told me he loved you above all
else in the world, and conmiitting these
effects to my charge, his last sigh was
turned into a prayer that I would, if pos-
sible, send you your likeness, which he
carried next to and in his heart
The asperities that demagogues engender
in the minds of those separated from the
field of battle and the scenes of death —
the unnatural bitterness of feeling that has
seemingly soured the better natures of our
countrymen and women in both extreme
sections of our common country — ^finds
neither home nor resting-place in the hearts
of this army of ours, and I assure you that
I took as tender and respectful hold and
care of your betrothed as if he were my
own comrade or brother. The innocence
depicted in his fair and beautiful face — his
heroic efforts at staying the retreat of his