The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-01-18

EtCFEaNAs anu A8t AtttNRAht A0t kkt t4s
seemed absolute 20 clothing was 10
be bad. aud be was siill il bis bloody
garments Of blue delicate food was
aeeded. but the impoverished Virginia
lsrter had none bat what was simple
and coarse.
At Haper's Ferry however. there
vas depot Of our Sanitary Commis
sion, and stores in abundance Some
one must undertake journey thither.
1t WAS long days ride to make the
distance and return, and success was
10y no means assured even If the store
house could be reached. 1t was in the
charge Of strangers aud enemies, The
Lieutenant was too feeble TO write, aud
even il he had been able to do So, there
was 10 method OF authenticating his
signature. But a woman would be far
IN 1re likely to succeed than man, and
in fact no man would be allowed TO
pass within the limits Of the garrison
encircliug Harper's Ferry. SO it came
about that the feeble Rosinante, and
the rattling wagon, aud the brave heart
ed solitary driver, made the dangerous
journey, aud brought back feast Of
good things for the sufferer.
The pieque had been seduced by her
eloquence TO send her 10 Headquarters
under charge Of guard which watch
ed her carefully as a probable spy. The
General in command bad seen MT to al
low her to carry away such triding ar
ticles as the Commission people would
be willing to give, and although the
chances we're even that the gifts would
be used in building up some wounded
rebel, still the earnestness and appar-
ent truthfullness of her entreaty for re-
lief oyerbore all scruples the old fash
ion vehicle was loaded with the wished
for supplies, and the suspicious guard
escorted the cargo beyond the lines.
The trip was thereafter repeated
week by week, and when letters were
at length received in answer to those
deposited by the fair messenger, post
marked among the Green Mountains,
her triumph was complete, and her
draft good for anything the Sanitary
treasury contained. The only hnger-
ing doubt was in regard to the enor-
nous amount OF whiskey the Invalid
required Mrs. YanMetre, however,
explained that it was needed for diplo.
matte as we'll as medicinal purposes
OF course il had been bruted about
among the neighbors that the miller's
wife was nursing Federal officer. In
that region now abandoned to the rule
Of Mosby and his men, concealmen,
was essential. Therefore ti1e old neu
who had heard OF the conyalesceni
must be taken into confidence and
pledged to secrecy, course rendered
possible only by the liberal use OF the
Spiritus Frumenti. Under the inhu-
ence Of such liquor as had not beer
guzzled 10 the Valley since the peace
ful days Of Buchanan, the venerable
rascals were easily convinced that sucl
a shattered life as that OF the Lieuteu
ant could not greatly injure their be-
loved ConfederOcy,
Five weeks after Bedell received hi
wounds, our army was encamped OF
Cedar Creek, and Sheridan was il
/ Washington. The Lieutenant great,
needed his valise from our baggag,
wagons. Therefore journey OF TWEEN
ty miles up the Valley was planned
which brought our heroine and her lit
tie neice to the army again, with a few
words traced by the manned righ
hand OF her charge as her credentials
Our feelings Of wonder and admiration
were most intense, as we learned iron
her simple story, that our fayorite VIII,
was dead was alive again, and felt hog
much true herolsm her modest word
concealed She bad plainly total
abandoned herself for weeks to th
care Of a suffering enemy, and yet sh
did not seem to realize that she deserv
ed any credit for SO dong, and tha
every woman wonld not have done a
much. We loaded her with the rud
attentions of the camp, and she spen
the night comfortably from a miitar
point OF view IN vacant tent at Gen
eral Getty's headquarters The desir
ed yalise was then at Winchester, bu
she obtained il on ber return.
The next day at daybreak found u
fighting the Battle of Cedar Greek. =
Amid the mounting in hot haste an
the thronging confusion Of the morn
ings surprise, General Getty fouu,
time to commit his terrified guests t,
the care OF an orderly, who by circni
tous route conducted them safely ou
Of the battle.
While our army was near Berryyill
IN September, some Of General Getty
aif.oiicers had called upon Mrs Van
Metre. and had persuaded her to pre-
pare for them meal or two from th
army ratioas, there being a magnetism
. Ia f.y,.ag.a .a.,f,aNst ik.F 49, -