Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-09-19
Statement of Mrs. Curtis.

|
Clev, land, Sept. 9. 1861.
Statement of Mrs. Curtis.
Mrs. Curtis, of Albion, N. Y, spirited wo
man of % years. we'll educated and Intelligent
arrived at Washington shortly after the 4th Q
July to visit her brother in the Rochester Regi
ment. After the battle of Bull Run she frequen
tly visited Fort Burnett, in campany with
daughter of Mr.. Pearce, Virginian, in who's
family Mr.. Curtis boarded. One fine morning
during ride towards Falls Church with Mis-.
Pearce and Mr.. Eldridge for companions, the,
were taken prisoners by reble pickets. ant
| brought before a confederate officer. Miss
Pearce was allowed to return home Mrs Curti
| was taken a prisoner to Richmond and finall,
set at liberty and sent to Washington with othe
prisoners. We append the interesting state
ment made by Mrs. Curtis;
Then they sent Mr.. Eldridge and myself, un
der an escort, to Col. Stuart, of the lst Virgni;
Regiment. who l may as we'll here remark
treated me with all the kindness in his power
He is one of natures noblemen, and am truly
sorry his talents are enlisted upon the side O
the Rebels. At Fairfax Court House they re-
lieved me of my house, as they did my eompan.
ion. have not seen Mr.. Eldridge since we
arrived at Fairfax. i remained at Fairfax Couri
|
in ascertaiRing that there were at least iOur reg
iments stationed there. met some of Gen
Reauregard's 8 staff, and also some of Gen. Bon.
| hams, to all Of whom expressed my opinion
pretty freely upon the subject of Secession
| Some ofthem seemed pleased at what they term
ed my "Yankce grill, while others were for hav-
ing us hanged. was told by some ladies of
| Fairfax that our troops while passing through
that place were very respectful in their deport-
meat toward the ladies that remained. So you
can see that the stories that the Rebels tell
about their insulting women and children are
false. Some of the residences were very much
injured by some of our soldiers. but think il
was done more for mischief than anything else.
The fifth day after my arrest l was sent to
Manassas Col. Stuart having tried every means
to have me released, but without success. We
started about 10 o'clock in the morning, and We
did not arrive at Manassas until six clock in the
evening. The distance is about l6 miles. You
can have some idea of the speed with which
they travel in Virginia, was accompanied by
Mr.. Edward Savlas of Cincinnati, who was ar
rested at Fairfax after the battle. He is still at
Richmond. We passed by the famous battle
field, and never shall forget il. The atmos-
phere for miles was impregnated with the nau-
scous vapors that it seemed impossible to breath,
and upen every hand rose the huge graves of
assas Gen. Johnston refused to hear anything
had TO say, but ordered me to be sent to Rich
mond by the first train. l was .hrn sent to the
quarters of the Provost Marshal, who lnsulted
me sharnefully. He threatened to put hand
cuffs on me. / was placed in a room and a
guard placed at the door, with the orders to not
let me escape. The next morning was sent
forward to Richmond with Capt. Tremain as an
escort; be is of the 8lh Louisiana Regiment
He treated me with kindness and did every
thing in his power to render my situation more
pleasant. At every station was surrounded by
rabble of men and boys, and am sorry to say
sometimes ladies mixed with The crowd, who
amused me by suggesting that had better be
hung. and by asking me i'll washed and sewrd
for the soldiers; and by crowding around me
and staring at me as though l was the famous
What is Ii? at Barnum's. ~,-
But, with all my trouble, arrived at Ricl-
mond the same evening, when l was immedi-
ately surrounded by crowd, composed chiefly
of greasy darkies who seemed highly pleased.
was kindly received by the officers fthe War
Department. They, for the first time, informed
me why had been arrested. They said was
suspected of being aspy, and that they thought
l was in e dangerous situation. ] told them
that did not fear them. They must treat me
as they saw fit. 1 was prepared for anything.
was provided WIN DOaru al private mouse, In
the family OF Mr.. Pryor, who treated me we'll.
All this time was obliged to wear my riding
habit. The Government never provided me
with thing. They often promised me to get
me everything needed, but it never amounted
to anything more than promises. A few days
after my arrival learned that Col. Wilcox of
the I'd Michigan, and several others had arrived.
l was determined TO see them if possible. l
went to the Surgeon General. and told him that
l was Southern lady, and that had friends
there that / would like to see. He gave me
permission. / saw Capt. Ricketts, and Col. Will
cox, Major Potter. Capt. Jones, and several 9th
ers whose names cannot now remember. They
all seemed to be doing well. know. from good
authority. that our wounded men are not very
we'll treated. 1 tried (but unsuecesfully) to
see Mr.. Ely and Col. Corcoran. believe they
are retained as hostages for Col. Thomas, or the
"French lady" Richmond is very dull and
there is auniversal complaint of hard times, and
a great deal Of complaint against being compell
ed to fight. They are darfting all the men Ca
pable of beariug arms. Ifany of the Savannah
prisoners are executed, they will hang ten for
every one. believe they will do as they say.
l was liberated and sent to Norfolk, in company
with twenty y-three others. When we arrived at
Norfolk we were put on beard a steam trg and
conveyed, under flag of truce, to the United
States steamship Minnesota. Our glorious flag
never looked SO beautiful as when first looked
upon it to-day" "Oh! long may it wave DER
the land of the free and the home of the brave"