The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-10

denC61Ortl, with Gil our might.
In every cnseto muster up
The courage to do right!
How a Dutch General was Oircum-
vented by an Actress.
It will be remembered BY many of
those who, during the early period of our
''late unpleasantness," were 80 unfortu-
nate as to acquire the title of s'rebel pri-
soner," that there were many, very many,
in the land Of moral ideas and wooden
nutmegs, who really sympathized with
the people of the South in their gallant
and heroic struggle for independence,
and who did not hesitate to manifest
that sympathy by furnishing assistance,
In the way of food and clothing, to their
imprisoned friends. Among those who
thus sympathized with the South, was
beautiful young actress in Philadelphia,
who resolved to dedicate every dollar of
her net earnings upon the stage to this
laudable purpose. The number of those
who thus contributed 20 the relief of
Confederate prisoners was so large, and
the contributions 90 Liberal, that to re-
ceive and distribute these benefactions
among the prisoners soon became annoy
ing and troublesome to prison COM
1nandants. The result was, that some of
these officers who had no hearts to feel
Tor the snfferinga of those whom they
were pleased to etigmatize as "rebels, !"
made complaint to Secretary Stanton,
whereupon he issued general order to
the effect that no one, other than rela-
tive. should be permitted to furnish
either food, clothing or money, to rebel
prisoners. This order, as might we'll be
expected, for short while, very effectu-
ally put a stop to the relief business.
But the ladies, Heaven bless them, who
are always foremost in deeds of beneyo-
lence, and never deaf to tho voice OF
suffering, soon discovered, in some way
or other, that they had good many
brothers, and uncles, and nophews. and
cousins, languishing in Northern prisonr.
and, under the generous promptinps of
oonsanguinity, they began to write let
ters to their imprisoned relatives, and to
send them boxes containing good, SUBJ
stantial clothing and wholesome food;
and, by the way, they would sometimes
manage, "by hook or by crook" to
smuggle in bottle or two of real old
London Dock. Under this system, the
work OF relief, after a while, became
almost as general as it was before Stan
ton issued his humane order.
In the month Of January, 1865, the
Yankees captured portion of Gen.
Early's command-sent them first to the
Old Capitol Prison. in Washington, and
from thence to Fort Delaware. Dor
friends at the North always had active
agents on the lookout, who lost no Oh.
portnnity Of getting tho names of as
many prisoners as possible while they
were being carried through the larger
cities and towns, and these were pub.
llshed in suoh newspapers as were willing
to do 30. This detachment from Gen.
EarIy's command consisted of thirtv.tiys
men-all private soldiers. On their ar
rival in Philadelphia, en- route for "Pea
Patch Isle, !. e. Fort Delaware, their
names were obtained and published in
the -. of which, presume, our
young heroine was regular reader.
will withhold the name of the newspa-
per for fear that, if reveal it, the dis
loyal editor thereof might be prosecuted
for treason against ''the best govern.
ment the world ever saw"
The young actress singled out ono
from the number, and addressed him a
short note, in these words:
My DEAR BROTHER: BY the merest ao.
cident, saw your name, among others,
published in the columns of the -
snls morning, as prisoner Of war, on
your way from the Old Capitol prison to
Fort Delaware. But for this fortuitous
circumstance, you might have languished
Tor months in prison without my know
ing. anything Of your whereabouts.
Write to me Immediately, and let me
know what you need in the way of food,
money or clothing; your wants shall be
supplied while in prison. Your affso-
tionate sister,
And assuming, for the time being, the
surname OF her new-found brother, she
signed the letter and mailed it to him at
Fort Delaware. The day after his ar
rival at this hospitable retreat and delight
fug aoatering place, he received his isis.
ter's" letter; and bis surprise when he
opened and read it may be better i'm
agihed than expressed. He had never
received such letter before, and know
nothing OF this ingenious method OF cir
cumventicg Stanton's malignity. He
was quite sure he had no sister in Yam
kQo 1AnHs M not ovap oooocl oo..:.,.