The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-06-25
Career Of q Female Volunteer

Among the registered enemies fthe United
States Government who have bean recently
sent aerosathe iiues from New Orleans. there
is now in jackson, Mississippi, . lady
whose adventures place her ia the ranks
Of tho Molly Pitchers IF tho present
revolution A. tie breaking out Of the
war HRS Laura j. Williams was u TO.
eidant of Arkansas. Like smost of tue W omen
Of the South, her whole soul was enlisted il
the struggle for Independence. Her husband
was Northern man by birth and education,
and strong Union rlan. After Arkansaa Ge.'
csded ffo.u the Union he went to Connecticut,
ha said. to see his relations aud settle up 9o1ae
business Mrs. Williams suep scted his purpose
and Ideally she received Information that he
had Joined the Yankee army. The Jackson
M.ssissippiaa gives the ress Of her history:
Disgusting herself in a Confederate uniform,
ani adopting the rame OF "Henry Bsuford, =
she proceeded to Texas, where she raj sed and
equipped an independent company, and Went
to Virginia with it. as lst Lieutenant. Saewas
in the battle of Leesbarg and several skir-
mishes; but, finally, her sex having been dis
covered by the surgeon Of the reginAens-the
5th Texas Volunteers, to which the company
-
in Arkansas. After remaining there a short
time shs proceeded to Corinth, and was in the
battle of ShiIoh, where she displayed great
coolusss and conraxe. she saw her father on
the field, but of course he did not recognize
her, and che did not make herself known to
him In the seeond days fighting she was
wounded ia the head, aud was ordered to
the rear She wrote 70 her father, and then
came on down to Grenada, where she waited
for some time. bu: never saw or heard from
him.
Sac then visited Nav Osleans, was tak.n
sick, and while sick the city was captured.
Ga recovery abe retired to the coast, where
she emp,oyed herself in carrying communica-
tions aud assisting parties to run the blockade
informed on by o negro and arrested and
brought before Gen. Butler. Sac made her
Appearance before Gen. Is. in Southern
homsspun dress Sbe refused to take tho
oath-told him she gloried in being rebat-
had fought side BY side with Southern zaen
ses" Dixie I" she would DO it again. Butler de-
noancsd her as the most incorrigible chs rebel
lie had ever met with. BY order Of the Beast
she was placed In confinement, where she re-
mained three months. Sometime after her re-
leass she was arrested again for carrying on
cOntraband correspondence" and kept In .
dungeon fourteen days on bread and water.
Al til0 oAViI6l1OH WulOu sAs&99 9u0 Wo~ HssSS~s
in the Siats Prison as dangerous enemy.
Her husband. il 30 happened, was Lieutenant
in the 18th Conu. regiment, and on duty as pro.
vost guard in the city. He accidentally found
her out and asked Ii she wanted to sea bia.
She sent him word she never wanted 70 go
him 60 long as he wore the Yankee Uniform.
Bot he forcsd himself upon her, tried to psr-
saade her TO take the oath, and get . release,
when be said he would resign and take her 20
his relations in Connecticut. She indignantly
spurnsd his proposition, and he LEFT her 70 her
fate. When Gen. Banks assumed conmaAd
he released great many prisoners, bes .epa
her In confinement until the l7sh OF Nay last.
when she was sent iacrOes the liRes ~ 0sadse-
willie with the registered enemisA
An article was recently published in the NeW
York World In relation 10 the pant ArA Vii
liams has played In this WAT, but the above e,
we are assured, = trne account Of her remark.
able career. We uudsrstaad she has attached
herself to the medical staff of brigade now
in this city, aud will render all the assistsae>
in her power 70 the wounded ~ the appsoesn
ing struggle for possession OF the great Valley
Of the nissis yippi.