Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-08-15
THE FIRST VT. REGIMENT
G. KINGSLEY, Sec.

- A Lady escorted through the enemy's lines
EDITOR, RUTLAND HERALD One OF
the last acts of the 1st Regiment at New
port News, was one of gallantrv to a lady.
the wife of an officer in the rebel army. who
was escorted to the enemy's lines with all the
honors due to her station and her pass from
Gen. Scott. The cortege, in charge of Sur
geon Sanborn and Lieut.. Roberts, was ar
ranged by Col Phelps with an eye to effect
on the enemy, and it was not without inter
est to our own camp. The military escort
consisted Of Sergeant Sheldon and six pri-
Yates of the Rutland Light Guard. under
command Of Lieut.. Roberts, with a private
from Hawkins Zouaves for guide, and a
drummer boy from the Vermont Regiment
mounted on pony with flag Of truce
The lady and children were accommodated
in an ambulance drawn by pair of mules,
o.4.i III .7~O4t ~ith al Amy wagon and four
mules and postillion. the officers being mount
ed and in uniform. Col. Phelps gave or
ders 10 90 until the lady could be left in
charge of a commissioned officer OF the rebel
army. The picket guard Of the enemy, with
Lieut.. Jones, was found about ten miles from
/ camp, on the main road. 1t consisted OF SIX
mounted men without uniform, in fact as
4
be imagined Some had double barreed
shot guns. some old sabres and horse-pistols
while all had a white rag around the hat as a
badge, and all were well mounted They
evidently consisted OF the neighborinc inbab
itants doing patrol duty. After Sc ne hour,
delay TO enable the officer in command to
consult bis superior at the half way house
(between Bethel and Yorktown the lady
was transferred to Ter friends with many ex-
rressions Of gratitude for the kindness and
attentions shown her,
As the two parties confronted each other
in the dusty road, the contrast between the
SIX iooters of the Light Guard in their span
new uniform, and with their military bearing
which was not relaxed for a moment. and
the sour faced, sullen looking banditti OF the
ether side, was very apparent, and evidently
effected the lady southerner herself Lieut.
R. whose solicltude for the welfare of the sex
is so well known and appreciated by his
friends, gives daily evidence of slight COM
FUNCTIONS of conscience in leaving so agree
able and well bred a lady in charge OF such
a ruffianly looking crew. But the lady took
her choice, and with an Interchange of the
compliments Of the canteen with the officer
in command, the parties separated, when to
meet again, the fortunes of war may decide.
1t should not be omitted that one of the
pleasantest incidents of the excursion was
the hospitable entertainment of the entire
party at the elegant mansion of Capt. Smith,
overlooking James River. Capt. 5. is a
Massachusetts man with an accomplished
New York wife, who has settled here to en-
JOY his fortune and preserve his shattered
constitution. His interests and associates are
all with the North, while being within the
lines of the enemy he is obliged to be neu-
trail.
His position is particularly delicate and
disagreeable, as from his relations and posi-
ton to the two beligerent parties he is robbed
by both parties and protected by neither
His negroes had been recently taken to
Yorktown to work on the batteries, while his
horses have been levied into the service of
the United States, at Newport News.
He entertained the greatest respect for the
Vermont Regiment aud its commander, who
had extended fayors to himself and family,
and while waiting for the return of the mes
senger to headquarters in relation to the lady,
entertained the party in true Virginia style.
The house is finely situated. commanding an
extensive view on James River, and richly
furnished, the halls giving evidence of the
cultivated taste of the owner in hume rous
fine paintings gathered in foreign travels.