Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-20
General james B. sseadman ChaIieneed by

GenSEal James b Steadman Challenged By
Woman.
1t viii be seen by the following, from
the Kentucky army correspondence of the
Cincinnati Commercial, that General
Steadmsn, formerly of the 18th Ohio, met
fierce woman lately:
Riding slong to day caught up with
General Steadmsn, who, in his province
as commander of this brigade, had called
at dwelling on the roadside to see about
the sick soldiers left in the house. The
General knocked at the door, and a voice
within yelled out, "Come in" 0beying
the injunction, he opened the door and in
quired how many men we're there, and al
SO if they had the requisite attention shown
them. After few minutes talk with the
soldiers, General S. entered into CONVEX
sstion with Mr.. Reynolds, the owner Of
/ the property, who, among other things,
asked the General when he thought the war
would end-to which the General replied,
q Not till the rebels lay down their arms
or the secessionists get perfectly tired Of
having their country thoroughly devasta-
ted"
This reply brought in third party, old
| Mrs. Reynolds-a regular spit fire-a she
secessionist Of the most rabid, rantanker-
Gus species-a tiger-est in petticoats. This
she specimen Of the Esprit Of the South"
of the demon Of desolstion, had bottled up
her venom during the conversation of her
son, but could hold in no longer; her ViGL
of wrath " busted" the cork few out, and
the way she came at the General, was a
caution to the way -farers, over this road
at any rate.
"Oh yes and that's all you nasty
Yankees come here for, is to destroy our
property, invade our sile, deserlatin our
but Yankee speculation, gotten up by
the North, so that they can steal niggers,
and drive US from our homes"
"Well, madam, it is not my province TO
quarrel with a woman; 1 shall not talk TO
you. You get excited and don't know what
you're talking about"
"0hl but I'll talk to you as much as
please. You're all sneaking set of
thieves; you can just take yourself out of
my house, you dirty pup. You're drunk"
The General very plaeidly listened to the
old termagent, and merely remarked that
1t was too cold to 60 out Of the house just
then, he guessed he'd warm himself first.
"Get out quick, said she, opening the
door, "TIl let you know Pm Harney yes,
I'm granddaughter Of General Harvey,
Of revolutionary fame"
We'll, madam, have before told you
don't want to quarrel with a woman;
but if you have any of the male Harneys |
about the house, who will give me the tenth |
part Of the insolence l have listened to, from
the lips Of one 'old enough to know better
Twill soon show him Of what mettle an
made"
"'Jeemss, give me your six shooter,
fairly shrieked the old woman, tPn soon |
show him. I'll fight you at ten PAGES, Sir |
The General laughed at her last remark,
seeing which, she seemed perfectly furi- |
Gus, her sons and daughters begging her
to desist from such talk, but the more they
cried don't the less she don'tsd.'
Z The family by this time had been made
aware that it was q real General at whom /
this insolent tongue was being hurled, and |
the tribulstion Of the son was great.
The General, after thoroughly warming
himself, quietly walked out with his staff,
the son followed to the door making all
sorts of apologies for his mother-that she
had been sick, was peevish, and at times
out Of her head. ! suggested to him, that
I didn't think she would be so apt to be out
of her head if John Morgan had come along
instead ofa Uuion man. Lucky for that
house and its inmates that the 9th Ohio, or
any Of General Stesdman's command
were not apprised of the proceedings"