The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-07
A Loyal Woman's Work.
From the New York Evening

| JOuuSLOu was LehcIllilS u oOhooi III C3llo
bury, where she was born and always re-
sided. When the first prisoners were brought
into that place the Southern women turned
out in their carriages and with a band es
corted them through the town. and when
they filed past saluted them with contemp-
! tuous epithets From that time Mrs. John
ston determined to devote herself to the
amelioration of the condition of the prison
ers; and the testimony of thousands Of the
Union soldiers confined there proves how
nobly she performed the dutias she under
took. 1t was no easy task for she was en-
tirely alone, being the only woman who
openly advocated Union sentiments and
attempted TO administer to the wants of the
prisoners For fifteen months none of the
women of Salisbury spoke to her or called
upon her, and every possible indignity was
heaped upon her as a''Yankee sympathizsr.
Her scholars were withdrawn from her
school, and it was broken up, and her means
were very limited. nevertheless she accom-
plished more by sympathetic arrangements
than many would have done with larger
outlay of money 4 as
When the first exchange of prisoners was
made she went to the depot to arrange
some pallets for some of the sick who We're
leaving, when she stumbled in the crowd
and looking down she found young Fede-
raj soldier who had tainted aud fallen, and
was in danger of being trodden to death. =
She raised him up ana called for water, but
none of the people would get her drop to
save Yankees" life. Some of the sol,
diers who were in the cars threw their can
teens to her and she succeeded III reviving
him; during this time the crowd heaped up
on her every insulting epithet they could
think Of and her life even. was in danger.
But she braved it all, and succeeded in OBJ
tanning permission from Colonel Goodwin,
then in command of the post, who was
kind hearted man, to let her remove him to
her own house. promising to take care of
him as if he were her own son, aud if he
died to give him Christian burial. lie was
i'll the last stages of consumption, and she
felt sure he would die if taken to the prison
hospital None of the citizens of the place
would even assist i'll carrying him, and af-
ter a time two gentlemen from Richmond
stepped forward and helped to convey him
to her house. There she watched over him
for hours, as he was in terrible state from
neglect, having had bisters applied to his
chest which had never been dressed and
were full of vermin. The poor boy, whose
name was Hugh Berry, from Ohio, only
lived few days. and she had grave dug
for him in her garden in the night, for burr
al had been refused in the public grave
yard and she had been threatened that if she
she had him inferred decently his body should
be dug up and buried in the street They
even attempted 10 take his body from the
house for that purpose, but she stood at the
door, pistol in hand, and said that the first
man who dared to cross her threshold for
such purpose should be shot like dog
they did not attempt it, and she performed
her promise to the letter.
During the first two years she was ena,
bled to do great many acts of Kindness for
the prisoners. but after that time she was
watched very closely as Yankee sympathi.
yer. and the rules or the prison were stricter
and what she could do was done by strate-
gy. Her means now were much reduced,
but she still continued in her good works
cutting up her carpets and spare blankets
to make into moccasns and when new
squads of prisoners arrived supplied them
with bread and water as they halted in
front of Der house. which they were com
PEELED to do for hours waiting the routine
of being mustered into the prison. They
were not allowed to leave the ranks, and
she would turn an old-fashioned windlass
herself for hours, raising water from her
well; for the prisoners were often twenty
four to forty-eight hours on the railroad
without rations or water. Generally the
officer in command would grant her request
h,,f q ~ fCiI b.a, r,r,ixy
she gave any Of them drop of water or
piece of bread, or dared to come outside of
her gate for that purpose, he would pin her
to the earth with his bayonet She defed
him, and taking her pail of water in one
hand and basket of bread in the other,
she walked directly past him on her errand
Of mercy; be followed her, placing his bay
onet between her shoulders, just 80 that she
could feel the cold steel She turned and
cody asked him why he did not pin her to
the earth, as he had threatened do hut
got no reply, Then some of the rebels said.
Sergeant, you can't make anything out
of that woman, you had better let her alone, ,"
and she performed her work unmolested
She came north last summer to visit her
daughter who had been placed in school
in Connecticut by the kindness of some
Of the officers she had befriended
while in prison; transportation having been
given her by Generals Schofeld and Carter,
who testified to the services she had rem
dered our prisoners, and that she was en-
titled to the gratitude of the Government
and all loyal citizens.
Though Mrs Johnston does not ask for
any assistance, yet her means are so lmi-
ted that she may actuatls suffer this win
ter. Under these circumstances subserip-
ton has been opened for her relief aud any
contribution enclosed to e r Anthony,
Vice President of the Sun Mutual Insurance
Company, in this city, will he forwarded to
her
THE NEW STATE Of Colorado stretches
some 400 miles from east to west, by not
quite 800 from north to south and contains