The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-21
Communicated
The RraNe Girls Of the NorthWest.

he brave riTIS Oh the
The many brave and heroic actions perform
ed by our soldiers elicit, on all occasions our
special admiration. While we are willing
always TO extend TO our own Sax the praise
Justly merited by them, we should not De so
preiudIcad as to entirely disregard ana over
look those of the ''fair sex Inc trials ana
difficulties through which the women OF the
Revolution passed-the almost Spartan bra
very which CharaC terIZed all their exploits
have been entirely surpassed by some of our
own ladies Of the "Suuny South, VINO nave
given US valuable aid and information. One
of the most striking instances on record, ana
one which viii make one OF the brighteSt pages
in Southern history, is the daring exploit per
formed by two young ladies OF North western
Virginia. The circumstances, as Tar as l nave
been a0le to learn, are these Inc day before
the battle of Phllhppi the Federal troops OF
Gen McClellan's command numbering over
1000 started from Fairmont 40 miles from
Phillippi} to attack the Virginia troops under
Col. Porterfeid, and which numbered only
500 armed men. The movement was conduct
nj on the part OF our enemies with such secresy
that their designs were known 10 but lew
vet their object was obvious TO some, lhty
saw that the annihilatiOn of our gallant little
hand was their desire. Scarcely had they lett
their camp when TWO young ladies, gaming
information Of the enemy design, immedi-
ately noun ted their pet horses ana started 20
inform our troops. lhey mad not pToCeeueu
far before they were halted by 4 detachment
of Federal troops, aud after parleyirE with
them for Il whir, and watching every oppor-
tunity escape, they St" tdNofaoie one
and having whip to their horses started Inc
enemy fired a v0lley upon them, and some OF
the balls passed through their clothes
Nothing daunted, they sun pursued their
! course and passed the enemy : lines In SAFETY.
Arriving at PruntytoWn they stopped few
| moments to have 4 shoe put on one OF the
! horses. and after they had gone few miles
! further, they We're stopped by crowd OF
! Union men who demanded "Who tuey were
/ and where they were going" They contrlyed
! an ingenious and plausible tory, such As only
woman can invent, and alter a detention oil
over an hour, were allowed 70 proceed on their
/ Journey Starting again, and after proceed
| ing sOrTF I ght or ten miles further, one OF the
! ladies W brown from her horse, not, how
| ever hLI ing her seriously by lhiS they
vrere detained some time. They AT last ar
| rived at Phlllippi at o'clock +. II having
/ ridden n distance of 50 miles in six nOurs.-
/ They Immediately proceeded to the ONCE OF
/ Col porterfeld, introduced themselves, m
formed him of the designs and the number OF
| the enemy and adYise ed him to re treat without
! delay. will not worry you with detail OF
| The battle, Ac.; suffice IL TO say that II the
advice OF the ladies had been pursued our forces
| could have ted to a pass in the noun
taius but few miles Instant, where they
could have made IL noble night.
After the battle was over and many TunOr'
were in circulation regarding the hn'noei o
our men taken prisoners, these young ladies
q resolved TO ascertain the truth OF the report
| Disgusting themselves AZ OLD country women
and with buckets OF soap, they rrocetut'
! where our troops iittt tt%ltdt'ti' " Wv
euerny's camp. They entered the HesSia'
commanders quarters and vaIn.y endeayore'
| TO dispose of their merchandise. " nile there
they discovered that one OF our men was
! prisoner in the house and watching Il taYOrA
/ hla OpDortunity, and while but few TelndlHe
within, one OF the young ladies auuOusij
proceeded up stairs, cut the CORDS with "hltI
he was bound, procured an old hat and coat
made him put them on and got him doW
l stairs In safety. They then proceeded 10 letV
I the house making the gentleman whom the
rescued carry the soap They were not IN
P ! least suspiciOned. Arrived on tside the caInt
= , they got him on one OF lhS horses ana ctli Le
! ! hun To our forces
! The gentleman whom they rescued
!, | named Withers, a member OF the RockbrIdg
Cavalry. 1t is due 10 the young ladies
state that they never saw Mr.. Withers befUT
they rescued him. The ladies were CONF lete
q ly exhausted when they arrived at our CAM
J. The severe trials and hardshlps throu2
< which they had passed-the cold that the
=. had contrac ted by riding III a very hard rai
= produced II very serious illness, from Whlc
:, they have not entirely recovered at the pre-
# ent time. | almost forgot to mention ina
. after the enemy had learned OF this eXplOi
"a Col. Kelley, their commander, immedidteI
= offered a thousand dollars reward for the
4 capture. Deeming il unsafe TO return HON
- they came TO this city, and are no" at Il
Y residence OF Chas. Campbell, LSqr VINE
l. they Kindly cared tor.
70 Such individual Instances Of herolsm =
ps few, and should be cherished As one OF .
= striking illustrations OF female bra cry 81
! PATRIOTISM. Ought not the Convention no
~ assembled, Mr.. Editor, present At least
- these Young ladies', Il resolution OF thanks
a Let It not be- sand that ' irgiuians are so
A. creaut 10 every principle OF gratitude a
rs praise lis 10 entirely disregard this matter
20 Inc writer of this il entirely unknown 10 1
10 young ladies bat he received this SIM
N and unvaruished statement from young oi
j. Ger who was engaged III the battle At fhillIl
IS therefore, it may De deemed entirely rel!ab