Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-02-13
THE HEROINE OF WHEELING,

4
women who, as mothers and wives
sent forth, with eager hearts anC
cheering words, their sons and hus
bands, TO the bitter fields of strife
or as sisters aided to clothe and equiv
their brothers. Their aching heart:
were silent, their burning tears were
brushed away, as with smiles they
embraced them at parting, and witt
high words of trustful faith, like tht
women of Sparta, bade them turr
not back upon the conquering foe.
| The words of all ages bear M
slight testimony TO the devoted cour
age OF women; and were our owl
history more perfectly known, in
stances OF female courage would bt
found TO parallel the most wonder
ful Of ancient chronicles. We have
now TO record an act performed by
a young women during our revolu,
tionary struggle, which, for nerve
and desperateness, is scarcely TO be
matched.
In the year IT'S, Wheeling, Vir,
ginia. was besieged by large force
of British and Indians. At this time
the Fort, with an insufficient force,
was under the command of Col. 81.
las Zane, brave and meritorious Of
ficer. Distant from this, about eigh-
ty yards, and outside the wall, was
situated a block house, in which was
Col. Ebenezer Zane, a brother OF ST.
las, and the Senior officer. with a
few men. There were several wo-
men in the Fort, and among them
at the time, was Elizabeth Zane, a
sister of the Colonel. She was a
young woman OF extraordinary beau
ty, having a tall and finely formed
figure, with head like Juno; black
eye, mild and firm in its expression;
voice soft and musical as a lutte;
and with an expression OF counte-
nance as bland as Italian skies, though
beneath it might slumber passions as
warm as the fires of Vesuvius. II
may be supposed that many a sol
dier's eye followed her wis tiully, as
in days Of quiet she roamed about the
Fort, or strolled for a walk in COM
pany with one OF her brothers. Ma
nv a proposal had been made in vain.
Officers of high rank had sued for
her, and many gallant empire was
undertaken in her name, but all
to no effect, so lar as winning her
affection went. She was not one Of
those light-witted women, to be
caught by fine show and fine Proles-
sions. As far as the heart went,
she placed no difference between
high-nodding plumes, and the last
man in the ranks--the last man,
not the least. She was above that
age when young women are most
apt TO be caught by fine compliments,
or dashing appearances; but, plain
and direct in her manner, it was her
study to give no encouragement 10
the attention of her suitorS.
Yet from the description the rea-
der must not infer that she was not
susceptible to the softer passion OF
love. Far from it, her troth was at
that time plighted; nor could the
most ambitious thought in the world
have tempted her 10 swerve from the
sanctity of those vows made to the
loverof her choice-made, as all low
ers oaths are, in the quiet evening
hour, and witnessed by the moon,
that lovers's planet, and "all the STAR
ry host Of heaven"
Among the soldiers in the fort at
this time none was a greater favor
ite with officers and men than Ashly
Harper. Bold, adventurous, and
almost to a fault, no haz-
ardous expedition was projected in
which he was not always ready to
and many a desperate
adventure and many a forlorn hope
had seen him face the savage foe with
odds against him; and while powder
flashed, and bayonets CLEANED, he
was sure TO be found in the hottest
Of the fray. On two occasions, had
he saved the life Of his superior off,
GER, when the tomahawk glittered
with the fearful expectation Of its
victims blood. He had enlisted 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 soldier, and
his intelligence as man, he had re-
fused its acceptance, declaring that,
as his only desire was TO serve his
country, he was willing to serve
through the war as private, leaving
all conditions above that to soldiers
more competent or more ambitious.
He was the son Of respectable
farmer, whose industry had enabled |
him to raise up, and respectfully ed
ucate, a large family-a man Of Sc
we're dicipline, whose waichfuI eye
detected youthful faults in time 10 |
prevent their maturing to crimes