Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-01-07
SeIefted Story.
TIE BOLD DRAGON.
n INCIDENT OF MARTINsBURG, IN 1862
BY JOHN ESTEN COOK.

Nothing can exceed the patriotism and
devotion displayed by the ladies of the
South during the late war; and it will prove
delightful task to Southern writer's in all
time to come, to collect and place upon
record the incidents and anecdotes which
exhibit the courage of their fair country
women in those days that tried men and
women's souls.
I try to do my part in this good work
by relating the following incident. 1t is
somewhat of the comic description, and
has nothing to do with ''blood and wounds
but it displays courage and wit in the
heroine of the adventure, and may enter
tain some readers who are fond of what
the French call bons mots:
Mrs, living in Martinsburg, Vir-
ginia, during the war, was lady of reso-
lutte, earnest and defiant Southern feeling,
with strong tinge of sarcastic humor,
under composed and smiling interior.
1t was this lady who Illuminated against
one of the Federal soldiers who trespassed
upon her in an aggravated manner, the
sarcastic retort which it is the purpose of
this paper to relate.
1t was in 1862, we believe, and the Uni
ted States troops occupied Martinsburg -
The name of the officer in command at the
time we connot give; but it is certain that
his name, if here recorded, would not be
found to be Meade, Sedgwick, Bayard,
McClellen, Hancock or Patterson. 1t is
sufficient to say that the worthy was one
of those who entertained the opinion that
the rebels have no rights and the FEEDER
/ al troops, infamed generally by bad whis-
key, were guilty of every species of out
rage towards the defenceless inhabitants
who adhered in sentiment to the cause of
the South. Who these rebellious citizens
were, the troops soon discovered and they
were made the special victims of military
aggression.
Among the most bitterly hated was the
brave and outspoken Mrs. -, who had a
son in the Confederate army, and made
little effort to conceal her opinions. She
speedily found herself exposed to every
outrage and annoyance. She was put un-
der surveillance; harassed by domiciliary
visits; denied every privilege that others
of more "loyal" views were permitted,
and made to feel in every manner that she
had incurred the extreme displeasure Of
the powers that were. When an insulated
individual-and the lady was almost iso-
lsted-thus becomes the object Of suspi-
cion, hatred and malevolence, the fact is
impressed upon upon him or her in many
ways. All privacy disappears-visits made
without ceremony at any hour Of the day
or night, to 'search for hidden arms" OF
on other pretexts, annoy, harass and en-
rage the unfortunate victim fowls mystic.
riously vanish eggs are stolen often wher
the squad which has searched the house
disappears, the owner finds that spoons
linen, books, gilt ornaments, every nova.
BILE has disappeared with them. The RICH
Of property does not exist in the case Of al
enemy-or at least, that was one of thu
cardinal maxims Of certain class Of Fed.
eral soldiers during the late war. "a
Mrs was subjected to these intru
sions and depredations on numerous occa.
sions, and was obliged to submit. One