Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-15
u ISC f LL A II Y.
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES.
THE HEROINE uF WHEELING.

Though we may sing of and tell about the hardy and
true WIN fought So braveIy and suffered greatly
establish the principles Of that government under
~ Ich exist must forget those heroic
women who, motners aud wives. sent firth with ia
ger hearts and cheering ~ords their and husbands
the bitter fields Of strife sisters aided cothe
and equip their brothers. Taeir aching hearts were
lent, their burHmg tears were brushed away, with
smiles they eScsd hse e At psTsg pSs and with agG
them turn no back upon the conYUering Oe
The rcolds Of all ayes bear slight testimony to the
devoted courage of woman, aud our own history
perfectly knoN instances "i female courage would
be found parallel the mos, wonderful of ancient chrou-
cIes. We have now to record an act performed by a
young woman during ur revolutionary struggle, which
for and drsprrarness, is scarcely be matched
In .he year l77S, WheeIiag, Virginia was besipged
6y large force BRUSH and indIans Al this time the
fort, with an insufficient force, under the con and
Of Colonel Sllas Zane brave aud lnrrorous ui er.-
Distant from thi, about eighty yards, and oaslde the
walls, was situated bock-house, in which was Colonel
Ebenezer Zme brother of Sllas. and the senior officer
with fea 1lrn. Iuere we're several in tn tort
and among them the time Elizabeth Zane, sister
OF the Colonel. She young woman of extraordi-
nary beauty having tall and finely formed Iure, tn
head like Juno black eve, mild aud firm IN its ex-
presson and voice sott and musical Lutte and with
an expression Of c'untenance bland as Italian kes
rhough beneath it might su,aber passions the
fires of Yesuvus IL may be supposed that many sol
dies eye followed her wstiuy as In days of quiet she
raned about tn FORT or stroed for walk in company
with Of her brothers. Many proposal had been
do k.-b b,,r: oEh 4.
her, end any gallant enterprise undertaken IN her
name, but all to no effect far Winning her affections
went. She not of those ligt-wi,led women, to
be caught by fine show and 6ne professions. As tar as
her heart went she placed no difference between high
nodding puues and the last man in the ranks-he last
not the least. She about that age when young
the most apt be caught by fine coup pments
dashng appearances but plain and direct in her man
her study give no noenSonraseen to the at
ention of her numerous sutors Yet from this descrp-
on the reader not infer that she was not suscepti-
BILE tire softer passions of love. Far from it, for her
troth was at that TIME pghted coald the most am
bilious thought in the world have tempted her
from the sancty Of made TO The lover Of her choice
made, all lovers oalhs in the quiet evening hoof,
and witnessed by the moon, that lovers planet and tall
the starry hosts Of heaven"
Among tn soldiers in the fort at the time, none was
greater faVorlte with officers and uen than Ashley Har-
per- Bold, adventurous and generous almost TO fault,
no hazardous expedition pr jected in which lie was
not always ready to volunteer; and many desperate
adventure and fOrlon hope had him face the saw
age toe with odds against him; and, while the powder
flashed and bayoue,s gsamed, he sure 10 be fund
In the hottest OF the fray. Ontwo occasions lie hud
ed The lte OF his superior fcer when the uped TOM
ahawk gt,ered with the fearful expectation Of its vic.
TIM blood tie had enlisted in the service year pre-
TiodS as private and although prCmnlion the rank
OF n'-comhisSse' ticer had hapn offered hun on ac
cuuE # his go'd qnalines soldier and his n,elli-
g n'an. hr had refused acceptance declaring
that ds his only desire serve his country he was
willing to serve through the war private leaving
ali conditions above that 10 soldiers more comne,nt
able farmer whose industry had enabled him,o raise
up and educate large family; of severe discipline,
whose watchtu eye detected youthful faults in tine TO
prevent their maturing into crimes. He had been intl-
mate with the family of the Zanes, and when Ashley
pressed desire to enlist, the old easily prevailed
upon Vol. SlIas to enlist him aulong his men.
Now will pr tend to say that there had been any
particular understanding between Miss Elizabeth and the
young gentleman above spoken Of previous to his becon-
Ing so'aer' though such thing might possibly have
been done In mute way Verbal declarations certainly