Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-06-20


room, Zagonyi's clear voice ordered those
inside TO surrender, while at the same mo-
ment, the fifer gave an exutant-- 2
"yankee Doode's to town, Yankee Doodle dsudy,s
Armstrong saw the trap, and fred his re-
volver, hitting the gray-halred old grand
mother, leveling her with the ground. No,
body noticed the shot excepting Tommy,
and as he held her bleeding head on his
knees, he never shed tear; but he is on
one of Commodore Foote'S gunboats as a
powder-monkey to-day, and he never hands
charge but he thinks of that terrible hour.
One or two on both sides were wounded
but the struggle was soon over, and the reb-
els marched out bound together with Old
chains. which the boys very gladly fornd.
Zagonyi must take the prisoners with him,
for men couldn't be spared TO guard them,
and as they were all in front of The door
before starting, Mrs. Dudly, who knew ec-
cry inch of the ground in the vicinity, un-
dertook to tell them a nearer road TO the
town. They did notiunderstand her har-
ried, nervous directions, and she started as
it to so with them; then she remembered
her dying mother, and drew back, calling
Tommy from the sufferers side TO take the
place in her stead.
But the dying woman's faint voice STOP
ped her. You go, Lucy he might make
mistake; he will take care Of me, and We
will keep the old flag flying"
The reserve in the lane by Zagonyi's or.
der had already come up, and Lucy only
staid to kiss the pale lips and precious face
and then she mounted her own stout mare
and led the way She guided them safely
in the intricate path up 10 the very edge o,
the path, where, according to Armstrong;
talk, she knew the willy foe were hidden.
1t was the very spot Zagonyi wished to be
in, and she had saved him long stretch OF
dangerous road. Then she fell back TO the
ar, just as Zagonyis eager eye took in the
whole of his position. Desperatel Wha,
will he say, what will those men do, who
have been taunted with being holiday sol.
diers on the pavements of St. Louis?
" Soldiers, your war-cry is Fremont and
the Union. Draw saber, by the right flank
quick, trot march,"
His voice, shrill and intense, pierced every
heart, and as those bright swords glittered
in the sunshine and the little band sped to
their deadly work, wonder not that Lucy
Dudly's brown mare kept her place, as ca
ger as her mistress to do gallant work. That
bsttle will always burn on the pages of his
tory, and need write none Of its details
here ; only this much that everywhere, help
ing off the wounded, handing weapons, do
ing anything, everything that coel head
and steady hand could do, was Lucy Dud
ly. AT last the day was ours, and as Ia
gonyi gathered the remant of his force a
bout him, he shrank back, for he could moi
count the dead, and it took not long to mum,
Der the living. Where was Lucy Dudly
Hardly one Of tlose bloody, blackened faces
but could tell of some good deed she did fol
them during those long dreadful hours
Even while they were speaking Of her she
came in sight, net now mounted on her
brown mare, but instead the mare was har.
messed with market wagon, and its broad
bottom was covered with wounded soldiers.
She was walking beside il, holding the reins
looking fearfully pale and tired; fer, now
the excitement was past. her womanheed
was uppermost, and her only care was &c
help the wounded and comfort the dying
They knew she was taking their suffering
comrades to the shelter of her own home
and not man from the major downward,
but would have been eager to escort her, but
she refused them all and when the major
pressed the matter, she teId them she knew
the way better than they did, and was safe
enough alone. They gathered around her
they called her all noble, heroic names, such
as men use in moments Of elevation OF soul:
but she looked surprised, and answered al
most coldly, why shouldn't do all COULD
my grandmother did more at Bunker Hill,
and her husband died at Concord
They bent low before her as she turned
away, and not one of these strong-handed
German fellows will ever forget the woman
who fought side by side with them at the
battle of Springfield. Home she went to
find the old mother dead, and the children
hiding from retreating rebels; but the flag
still waved and as the poor, pale fellows in
the cart caught sight of its blessed folds,
they gave feeble shout, touching in its
weakness.
All through the winter she nursed and
fed that housefu) of sufferers, and as one az
ter another grew strong and left her, all she
asked Of them was that they would strike
manly blows for their country, and keep al
ways the noble war-cry of Zagonyi, The
Union and Fremont close to their hearts.
| thank God for that woman; no Dudly
that ever won spurs in the olden days had
braver or more loving heart than hers
HaverhiH, Nay 20.