Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-03-27

We ssect with hearty satisfaction the ap
noin,ment of Miss Eliza Van Lew, as post.
mistress of Richmond, Virginia. A special
order of the President confers this well.
deserved honor upon her. And there are
thousands of our soldiers now scattered
throughout the land who will approve the
generous act of their late leader, viewing in
the appointment, recognition Of their own
sufferings, as well oe the plying tenderness
and seifsacri6cing loyalty of a noble woman.
Miss Van Lew was resident OF the city
Of Richmond, rcsiutng in an elegant man
sion on what is knoYn as Church Hill, when
the rebellion broke out. Thoroughly loyal
at heart, she early found way to make her.
self known TO the "Yanks" who were con
6ned in tobacco warehouses of that city,
after tho disasterous battle OF Bull Run.--
Books and comforts were sent to the starv-
ing captives, while Captain Todd "a brother
of Mrs Lincoln) was commasdant of the
prisons. But that worthy gobbled up every.
thing Of the kind, and vented his rage in
drunken curses ON the giver, and those to
whom they were sent. But where there 10
a will, there Is a way, and woman's Wit will
always find it. Nothing daunted by her first
failure, Miss Van Lew offered rooms in her
house to Captain Gibbs, tho successor of
Todd. Under this cover she could and did
exercise degree of hospitality to the pri-
soners, in the way Of books, provisions and
clothing. Gibbs was an old soldier and q
kindly man, though in mary respects Sc.
yere disciplinariap Evidently, he winked
ut the acts of the lady beneath whose root
he was sheltered. Her kindnesses were
many, and were continued, when 1t was pos
sible, through the war. The writer il In
debted to her for comforts that were nos
only substantial, and helped to ward OIL the
effects of rebel starvation and cruelty, but
for the still more exquisite comfort OF know.
ing that, even where the rebel flag waved,
the Union had tried and trusty friends. Said
this lady, on the day when we left Richmond
for the North, a. she pointed to the stars 40 d
bars that waved above the Capital at Rich
mond, when the so called Confederate Con-
gress was in session, II would gladly sec
nv home laid in RUNE, II could once more
see the Government Of the United States
restored here. Tell your friends at the North
that there are some Of us left still who pray
day and night, that the stars and stripes
may take the place Of that rag Of rcbcliion!
1t Was through the kindness of Miss. Van
Lew that home was offered to Hon. Calvin
Husou, Of Rochester, a few days previous "a
his DEATH The rebel authorities kept this
distinguished gentleman confined IN the
room where nearly hundred officers passed
their days aud nights-where the noise
made by them, aud by 500 private soldiers
in the rooms above, was incessant and hard
to be borne by well man-until dclirium
had set in FROM typhoid fever. Then they
yielded a reluctant consent to the entreatles
of his faithful friend and fcllow.prisoner
Hon. Alfred Ely. of Rochester, and allowed
the invitation Of Miss Van Lew to be accept
ed. There Mr.. Ely closed his friends eyes;
from this hospitahle mansion, followed by
two of his late fellow. prisoners, under con
federatc guards, and the family of the host
the body was carried to the cemetery; in a
grave, in the burial plot of the Van Lews, II
was laid to rest until it should be claimed
by kindred and waiting until the grave
was filed, the hands of the loyal lady plant
ed q rose bush on the mound that covered
one who had been "only Yankee prisoner
But neither time nor space will suffice to
repeat the good deeds of this friend OF the
Union that have come within our ken. 1t IL
enough to say that their name is legion
Such devotion Of loyalty was rare during the
war, and deserves to be recognized and re
warded. 1t is n grateful tribute that ever,
soldier will appreciate. And the women o.
the nation will rejoice that the President
hss, by this act, championed the true doc
trine of womau's Troy Times.