Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-06-30
[From the Mississippian.
ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG LADY IN
THE ARMY.

u Among the registered enemies of the United
: States government who have been recently sent
across the lines, from New Orleans, there is now
In this city lady whose adventures place her in
d the ranks of the Molly Pitchers of the present
t revolution.
AT the breaking out of the war, Mrs. Laura J.
:. Wllllams, (the lady to whom we alIude y was a
f OF Arkansas. Like most of the women
whole soul was enlisted in the
oftLo 81 Her husband was a
struggle for independence --lad
Nortnern man by birth and educ.
strong Union man. After Arkansas sec..
from the Union, he wentto Connecticut. he said.
10 sec MS felatlons and settle upon some busi-
ness MRS. Williams suspected his purpose and
nnally she received information that he had ioin
ed the Yankee army. Possessing little of the
characteristic weakness of her SEX either in bo-
dy or mind, Mrs. W. vowed to offer her life upon
the aitar OF her country. Disgusting herself in
confederate uniform, and adopting the name
OF 'sHenry Benford,' she proceeded to Tevas
whefe she raised and equipped an independent
company, and went to Virginia with ii as 1st
Lieutenant. She was in the battle of Leesburp
ana several skirmishes; but, finally, her sex
having osen discovered by the surgeon of the
reglment-the 9th Texas Volunteers to which
the company had been attached-she returned to
ner nome In Arkansas. After remaining their a
snort time, she proceeded to Corinth, and was
IN the battle of Shiloh, where she displayed
great GOODNESS and courage. She saw her father
on the field, but, of course. he did not recopnize
her, and she did not make herself known to him.
In the second days fighting she was wounded in
the head, and was ordered to the rear She
wrote 10 her father, and then came on down to
Grenada, where she waited for some time. but
never saw or heard from him,
She then visited New Orleans was taken sick
and while sick the city was captured On re-
covery, she retired to coast, where she employ
ed nerself In carrying communications, assisting
parties to run the blockade with drugs and
cloths for uniforms She was informed on by
negro and arrested and brought before General
butler. She made her appearance before Gen.
Butter IN Southern homespun dress. She re-
fused to take the oath, told Elm she glorjed in
being a rebel-hsd fought side by side with
Southern men for Southern rights, and if she
ever lived to see ssDixie'' she would no it again
Butler denounced her as the most incorriSibIe
she rebel he had ever met with. BY order of
the Beast she was placed in confinement where
she remained three months. Some time after
her release, she was arrested again for Carving
ON sscontraband correspondence - and kept in
dungeon fourteen days on bread and water. at
the expiration of which time she was placed in
he State prison as dangerous enemy Her
husband, it so happened, lieutenant in the
10Th Connecticut regiment, and on duty as Pro-
7ost Guard in the city. He accidently found her
out and asked if she wanted to see him. She
tent him word she never wanted to see him as
oRg as he wore the Yankee uniform. But he
orced himself upon her, tried to persuade her
20 take the oath, get release, when he said he
would resign to take her to his relations in Con-
lectieut. She Indignantly spurned his PROPOSE
Ion, and he left her to her fate. When Gen.
Banks assumed command he released a great
many prisoners, but kept her in confinement un-
ii the 18th of May last, when she was sent a.
cross the lines to Meadesville with the registered
enemies.
An article was recently published in the New
ork 'sWorld'' in relation to the part Mrs. Will
Jams has played in this war, but the above is.
We are assured, a true account of her remarkable
career. We understand she has attached her
'ef to the medical staff Of brigade now in this
slty, and will render all assistance in her power
20 our woundad in the approaching struggle for
pi
IAnRsnr MISS Limo 1920