The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-02-28
VOL. XXIII---NO. %.
FROM Washington Letter.
An American Heroine.

which the present war has developed-
there Is one, now with the army of the
Potomac, whose history deserves to be
made conspicuous, fully jusufying, as it
does, that truth is stranger than felton,
and furnishing an example believed to 10
without a parallel in tho history OF the
Sex.
Anna Etherldge, or Minnesota, was born
in Detroit, Mich, and is now twenty-threo
year. OF age Her father was once o man
OF wealth; and hor early youth was
passed in the lap OF luxury, with no wish
ungratihed, and no want uncared for.
But misfortune came and swept away his
property, and broken in torture and do
pressed IN spirit, he removed TO Minneso-
Ia, where he died, leaving our heroine, at
the age OF twelve years, i'll comparative
poverty and want. On the breaking out
of the rebellion, she was visiting her
friends at Detroit Colonel Richardson
Was then engaged III raising the I'd Michl-
gan volunteers, and she and nineteen
other females volunteered to accompany
the regiment as nurses. Every other has
returned home or been discharged but
she has accompanied the regiment through
all It's fortunes, ana declares her deterrni-
nation 10 remain with u through it entire
term of service. She has for her use a
horse, furnished with q side-saddle saddle
bags, dc. At the commencement of q
battle, she fills her saddle bags with lint
and oandages, mounts her horse: and gal
lops 10 the front, passes under fire, and,
regardless oil shot and shell, engages in
the work OF staunchlng and binding up
the wounds OF our soldiers. In this man
ner she has passed through every battle IN
which the regiment has been engaged,
commencing with the battle of BIackb burn
Ford, preceding the first battle Of Bull
Run, including the Lattles OF the PENN
sula, and terminating with the battle OF
Fredericksburg. General Berry, the pres
sent commander OF the brigade to which
her regiment Is attached, and who highly
distinguished himz elf ior bravery and gal.
lantry in all these lights, declares that she
has been under Is hot q fire OF the enemy
as himself One one occasion, a soldier
was torn TO pieces by shell while she
was IN the act OF binding up his wounds
previously received, and on many occa-
sIons her dress has been pierced by bullets
and fragments .! shell, yet she has never
tlIuched and ne.er been wounded. Her
regiment belongs to the brigade COM
mauded by the lamented Gen. kearney
ill his death, and in consideration Of her
dauntless courage and invaluable service
Iey commissioned her as regimental
( Sergeant Nhen not actively engaged On
the battle field or the hospital, she super
intends tha cooking at the headquarters
/ of tie brigade. when the brigade moves,
! she mounts her horse and marches with
( the ambulances and surgeons, adminis-
terIBg 10 the wants OF The sick and wound
| ed, and at the blvouac she wraps herself
Ia her blanket, and sleeps upon the ground
with al! the hardihood of a trae soldier.
Ann Is Of Dutch descent about five feet
three inches in height, fair complexion,
(uow somewhat browned by exposure,l
brown halr, vigorous constitution, and
decidedly good-ookiug Her dress, OH
entering into battle, is a riding dress, so
arranged a. to be iooped up when she dis
/ mounts Her demeanor Is perfectly mod
est, quiet aHd retiring, and her habits and
conduct are correct and exemplary; yet
on the battlefield she seems to be alone
possessed and animated with desire to
be effective in saving the lives of the
wouulel soldiers No WI gar words were
ever known to be uttered by her, and she
IS held in the highest veneration and es-
TEEN by the soldiers, "a an angel of mercy.
She is indeed the idle OF the brigade,
every man OF which would submit to al
most any sacrifice in her behalf She
takes the deepest interest in the result 0
this contest, eagerly reading ali the papers
TO which she can obtain access, and keep
ing thoroughly posted as to the progress
Of the war. She says she feels IS if she
stood alone in the world, as it were, and
desires to good. She knows that she is
the instrument Of saving many lives and
I alleyiat.ng much suffering in her present
position, and feels il her duty to continue
II SO doing.
These facts can be substantiated by tes.
timony OF the highest character, and they
deserve to go forth to the world to show
that if England can beast OF the achieve
ments OF a Florence Nightensale, we Of
America can present still higher exam
pie of female heroism and exalted acts of
humanity in the person Of Anna Ether
| idge.-Bmgor Wig and Courier.
FAIEnAEKs' ScAI.Es.--Wei ghing.in the bal
ance OF u just criticism, all are obliged to
| admit that the scales Of Fairbanks l. Co.
are, without exception, the best ever in
vented. We know whereof We affirm.
! because we have tested their value aud
are fully satisfied Of their superior merits.
| The introduction of these scales has
! wrought a revolution in transaction Of
variaous business, and .heir accuracy is
]
established all over the country, thus maxi
ing them a ,at;onoL Lcgayi-cd standard Nor
are they confined to the United States
they have found their way to almost every
part OF the civilized world, and are adapt
ed to the standards of all countries, SO that
it may be said, all nations, if not weighed
in these balances" at least weigh by
thcm-H,mfs Wrchants Magazine.
New LIEN LAw.-Anong the few impor.
tant laws enacted during the session of
the General Assembly inst classed, is one
amendatory Of the machanics lien law.
1t is especially intended for the protection
of mechanics, instead of the contractors as
was generally the operation of the previous
law, under which the lien accured only to
the employer and rot to the employee.
The effect OF the new law will do away in
a GREAT measure with the contract system,
and cause work to be done 10y the day
under supervision of n foreman orsuper-
intendsnt. Wehave some doubt whether,
in the end the new law will prove to be Of
much real benefit to mechanics-neverthe-
less it may be well enough to try the ex-
perinaent
HIsToRY VEaIEID By SPIRIrUALIsM-A
gentleman recently attended 'circle !"
celebrated for its spiritual insight, and obs
tanned information ef very important
kind. A miserable and unprovok ed MUIR
der had been committed. lie was anxious
to satisfy himfelf as to the guilt Of the
supposed criminal and asked if tho spirit
of the deceased could be- summoned. He
wrote his name on q piece of paper, and
quick rappings testified to the fact that
the dead one was present. WAS he whose
name have written really your murderer p
The raps were affirmative. have noted
some Of the strange circumstan attend
ding your burial are they eorreot? The
raps answered. II was buried just as you
have described"