Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-04-03

resi- as his miserable pallet could afford,
orders were issued. in preparation for
the coming Battle Of the opequan. that
all sick and wounded should be at once
removed to Harper's Ferry, twenty miles
distant Army wagons and ambulanees
were therefore loaded with the unfortu-
mates, and an attempt was made to trans
port poor Bedell with the rest But al.
though be had previously endured a
rougher journey, it was while his wounds
were, as wounds always are for the FIRST
few hours. partially benumbed, the
nerves seeming paralyzed with the very
rudeuess Of the injury. Now the torn
flesh had become inRamed and was hav-
ing Its revenge
At every motion Of the ambulance he
groaned fearfully. and it was soon appa-
rent that to carry him mile would cost
him his life He was returned TO his
straw utterly exhausted. all but expiring.
The army was TO move tie next morn
ing. The surgeons were forced to decide
at once what they would do with the dy-
ing man. In fact but one course was
open, he must be abandoned to his fate.
True. we were to leave him to the north
Of Us, but in the Valley no attempt was
ever made to cover the long line of our
communications. Strong escorts guarded
our supply trains, and for the rest Mos
by had free swing. Moreover, though
We did not know it at the time, Martins
burgh was thenceforth TO be our base,
instead Of Harper Ferry; and the Vi
einity Of Berryville. where We then were.
instead of being threaded once in four
days by our caravans, as We expected.
was not revisited BY our troops or trains
for months. The wounded officer was
therefore left on his chamber floor with
a soldier nurse, and such hospital stores
as be would be likely to need before his
death.
We fought the battles Of the 0pequan
and Fishers Hill, .'Ehirling" the enemy
up the Valley, for month suppOsing
the Lieutenant dead. The attendant
left with him followed Us Immediately !;
Bedell himself thought it best. and it
was doubtless necessary, for the country
swarmed with guerillas, and the system
Of bloody reprisals engaged in by Mosby
and Custer reduced the probable life or
death Of the nurse to simple question
Of time. had be remained
1t appears that the family who allow
ed our officer the use Of the naked room
as a place in which to die, were hardly
pleased with their guest; in fact they
seem to have been utterly destitute Of
sympathy. and 70 have thought it best
for all concerned that he should leave
this world and them as speedily as pos
sible-and they left him at perfect lib
erty to do so. The promises they had
50 solemnly made Us to give the wound
ed officer care and attention, were en-
tirely neglected, and his chamber was
never entered Death, horrible in Its
loneliness and pain. would inevitably
have come quickly, had not Good Sa-
maritan appeared A Rebel among Reb-
els, there was a woman who most nObly
proved herself to unite with tender
heart the rarest courage and perseyer-
ance beyond account
Mrs Bette VanMetre was a Virgini-
an. born in the Luray Valley, scarcely
twenty al the time in question, and Of
attractive personal appearance. She had
been educated in comfortable eircum-
stances, and before the war her husband
had been moderately wealthy, but now
his farm was as barren as q desert, not
a fence 10 be seen, and nothing TO pro.
teet had any enclosure remained /; there
was a mill upon the premises, but the
miller had gone to fight for his country,
as he believed. and there was now nC
grain left in the country to be ground
! Officers who had called at her door, re-
Z marked the brave attempt al cheerful
ness which 50 Inanifestly struggled with
/ her sorrow, and treated her grief with
| Difference. For this delicately nurtured
I girl was living alone In the midst oi
war; battles had ragged around her Tery
dwelling she was entirely at the mercy
+ Of those whom she had been taught e
+ believe to be her deadly enemies, anC
who held her husband and brother prls
oners IN Fort Delaware, taken whil'
fighting In the Confederate army, th'
brother being. until long after this time
supposed to be dead Her only compan
ion was a little girl, perhaps ten year
of age. her neioe- There this young Wo
man and this child were waiting IN thei
anxiety and desolation. waiting an'
/ praying for peace
We should hardly expect the practie
Of active, labOrious. gratuitOus benevO
lence under such circumstances. but v
shall see
Il is not known how Mrs. YanMetr
learned that q Union officer was dyin
Of wounds and neglect in the house Q
her neighbor. but 10 sooner had Sd
made the discovery than all her woman
II svrurzthx was aroused. As she wouI