Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-28

aud that OF her husband. Wate,h..
one OF the drum boys was des;raI sihs EeedA
draw some from the we'll in the Nv. 10 80 AZ
dld not seem much inclined to the . butt
was lingering at the door with ny a. TASK al
dangling in his hand. "Why dom, We we Opcke
water?" said the surgeon. "Tha ~ you got /
frightened" said Mrs. R. and Pu W Thug
at 1t, give it to me and III go for il 10 Son$s
ing she relieved the drummer from X. Sose
duty, and amid the dreadful discbsr"s Peenlos 4
lery playing on the battery, she let E do, at
vessel to fill it with water. UOSa&.
She had scarcely done SO, when tho
cut by shot; but she determined y OpeVa
message with her, and, begging tba y, Saha
OF sailor, she recovered the bvcke, - S'Ssslala
ii filled with water down to the ho ~ trough :
where her attention to the wounded proof
was beyond all praise. In the S%GIdln 1
carried sand bags for the repair of Tho I ~ 81:
handed along ammunition and suDnG S.usFI
men al the guns with wine and water r 5nI la
the other two women, who had been S,'I VIE
RIGS in one of the bomb proofs, from IL a!s1'
the action commenced, were LEAVING lb ,s' un:
ry, she refused to go. ' U'V5
Next morning, our ammunition ben,
pended, we ceased firing, and the French a.
the diIapitated state of the fort senf doDg
strong force to take possession of the nIso. '"
our men were mustered for their rrc css,A,
when Mrs. R was al the post with tb p1.o
ers, determined to share in the danger ~ =. Wiz
critical moment, for, had they eot noJ Nv"
range of our guns, our efforts would have b.n
unavailing. Through the ruinous state of f,~
fort, three guns, all that we could brine ,oL ''
upon them, were crammed with lo,sa ,o,aI
grape, ball cartridges, sc. TO the muzzlr ,oa5
for farewell shot, and when they Came WV.
in two or three hundred yards Of the for,
poured their contents into the very hear, Of i,
column and laid the half Of them pros,ra,o ~.
the earth. Those who survived took to ai,l.
their batteries again opened, and fresh spH,r.
of ammunition having arrived for us.we re r[5
ed their salute; but the place being found unite.
nable, the surviving part of the garrison va,
Withdrawn by the boats Of our fleet.
Mrs. R@still exhibited The same und,ur.
ed spirit; she made three different iourhies :.
cross the battery for her husbands necessarie;
and her own.
The last was for her child, who was lyingf
the bomb proof think see her vet, while
the shot and shells were flying thick arour5
her, bending l,er body over it TO shield il from
danger by the exposure Of her own person.
Luckily, she escaped unhurt, and still lives, and
is at present residing in Glasgow. But Wilt
be believed, that she never received the smaes.
token of appreciation for her intrepid conduct,
and the service which she rendered on that oc.
casion.
The only instance of the kind, exclusive Of
that now related, that witnessed in the course
of my service, was in the person Of woman,
who lived as the wife OF captain of one of the
light companies Of our brigade. She had &C.
conpanied him through the campaign, exposed
to all the dangers and priyations attending on
such life, with deVotedness that no legally
married woman could have surpassed. Attn
battle Of Vittoria, when the army was engaged
she was left with the baggage; but hearit;
from some Of the disabled men, that the captal
was wounded, she mounted her horse and gal
loped down into the scene OF action, regaTdk,S
of the danger, to seek out and relieve him.
wherever he might be. She found him when
he had breathed his last, and stopped by him
until he was buried.
This was an appalling blow for her; she was
left friendless in strange country, & those eno
paid her any attention in the captains lite tune,
now felt no compassion for her; her gold watch,
her favorite poney, and all she held through
her protector, were taken from her, and sho'.
time after | saw her struggling thro' the mud
on the line of march, with the shoes torn OFT b.
feet. She soon after disappeared, bat what b.
came Of her do not know.