Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-11-09
Written for the Sunday Times.
Historical Scenes and Incidents.
THE HEROINE OF WHEELING.


and suffered so greatly to establish the princi-
pies of that government under which we now
exist, we must not forget that those heroic wo-
men who as mothers and wives, sent forth with
eager hearts and cheering words their sons
and husbands to the bitter fields of strife, or
as sisters aided to clothe and equip their broth
ers. Their aching hearts were silent, their
burning tears were brushed away, as with
smiles they embraced them at parting, and
with high words of trustful faith, like the wo-
men of Sparta, bade them turn no back upon
the conquering foe.
The records of all ages bear no slight testi-
mony to the devoted courage of woman; and
were our own history more perfectly known,
instances of female courage would be found to
parallel the most wonderful of ancient chroni-
| cles. We have now to record an act perform
ed by a young woman during our revolution
ary struggle, which for nerve and desperate
mes, is scarcely to be matched.
! In the year 1779, Wheeling, Virginia, was
beseiged by large force of British and Indi-
ans At this time the fort with an insufficient
force was under the command of Colonel Silas
Zane, brave and meritorious officer. Distant
from this about eighty yards, and outside the
wall, was situated a block k-house, in which was
Colonel Ebenezer Zane, brother of SilAs,
and the senior officer, with few men. There
were several women in the fort, and among
them at the time was Elizabeth Zane, sister
of the Colonel She was young woman of
extraordinary beauty, having tall and finely
formed figure with head like Juno; a black
eye, mild and firm in its expression; and voice
soft and musical as lutte; and with an cx-
preston of countenance as bland as Italian
skies, though beneath it might slumber pas
sions as warm as the fires of Vesuvius 1t
may be supposed that many soldiers eye
followed her wistfully, as in days of quiet she
roamed about the fort, or strolled for a walk
in company with one of her brothers. Many
proposal had been made in vain. Officers of
high rank had sued for her, and many a gal
liant enterprise was undertaken in her name
but all to no effect so far as winning her affec-
tons went. She was not one of those light
witted women, to be caught bY ine show and
fine professions. As far as the heart went,
she placed no difference between high nod
ding plumes and the last man in the ranks
the last man not the least. She was above
that age when young women are the most apt
to be caught by fine compliments or dashing
appearances; but plain and direct in her man
ner, it was her study to give no encourage
ment to the attention of her numerous suitors
Yet from this description the reader must not
infer that she was not susceptible to the soft
er passions of love. Far from it, for her troth
was at that time plghted; nor could the most
ambiguous thought in the world have Tempt
ed her to swerye' from the Sanctity of VOWS
made to the lover of her choice-made as low
er's oaths are, in the quiet evening hour, and
witnessed by the moon that lovers planet and
fafH the starry hosts. of heaven
Among the soldiers in the fort at the time,
none was greater favorite with officers and
men than Ashley Harper. Bold, adventurous,
and generous almost to a fault, no hazardous
expedition was projected in which he was not
always ready to volunteer; and many des-
perate adventure and many forlorn hope had
seen him face the savage foe with odds against
him. and while powder flashed and bayenets
cleaned he was sure to be found in the hot
test of the fray. On two occasions had he
saved the life of bis superior officer, when the
uphfted towahawk glittered with the fearful
expectation of its victims blood. He had en-
listed in the service a year previous, as pri
vate; and although promotion to the rank of
non-commissioned officer had been offered
him on account of his good qualities as a sol
dier and his intelligence as man, he had re-
fused its acceptance, declaring that, as his only
desire to serve his country, he was willing to
serve through the war as private, leaving all
conditions above that to soldiers more compe-
tent or more ambitious. He was the son of a
respectable farmer, whose industry had ena-
bled him to raise up and educate large fam
ily-a man of severe discipline, whose watch
full eye detected youthful faults in time to pre-
vent their maturing to crimes. He had been
intimate with the family of the Zaues, and,
when Ashley expressed desire to enlist, the
old man easily prevailed upon Colonel Silas to
enrol him among his own men.
Now we will not pretend to say that there
had been any particular understanding be-
tween Miss Elizabeth and sthe Young gentle
man above spoken of previous to his becoming
a soldier, though such a thing might possibly
have been in mute way Verbal declara-
tions, certainly had not been made; foran owl
told how, one moonlight evening, while he was
sitting in theishady branches of chestnut that
stood but few yards from the fort
-'considering, as well he might,
Ways and means for supper that night
he looked about with solemn scowl, and be-
held coming from the shadow of the fort low
er and his mistress, they spoke SO tenderly to
one anOJner
They came out from the fort stealthily, and
stole softly over the green sward to the foot of
the chestnut and sitting down on one Of the
gnarled roots, said kind things uttered sacred
VOWS, and breathed fervent sighs, one to the
other. They sat there an hour-a good hour
by the march of Saturn-talking and sighing
all the while, when calling upon all the stars
to witness their oaths, and sealing their VOWS
with kiss, they retired.
1t was but short time after this occurrence
that the seige of Wheeling was commenced
by the British and Indians; and although the
place was defended with zeal and an unlimit-
ed amount of courage, the hopes of the be-
sieged grew somewhat dim as they looked
forth upon the masses that surrounded them.
A scarcity of provisions was not what alarmed
them, for of those at present they had sufi-
cient supply; but alarm became almost con-
sternaton when it was announced, on the sec