Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-06

"a AlS, ioimtu reaping ASSOCIATION, and
gathered not only their own crops, but
those OF every plantation in the district
whose master was fighting for their
country. Just after the battle of Kings
Mountain, William White rode up to his
farm, fresh from the bloody fray; and
seeing his wife and sisters attempting to
SOW wheat in the field, stopped just long
enough to show them !" the cast of the
hand" and darted off again to join the
patriot army.
The. famous Tory, Col. Ferguson,
dressed in new and dashing uniform
which CORVALLIS had given him, rode ND
to his brothers house, and was endeavor-
ing to win him to the roval cause "See
how the noble Earl has treated me,n he
urged; !" look at my rank and my clothes.
1t may be | shall be made Lord, and
how should feel then to hear it said nv
brother was rebels" His last word
brought the sturdy young wife to the door.
am rebel" she cried "my brothers
are all rebels, and the little dog Trip is a
rebel, too! would rather see you with a
sheep on your back than tricked out in all
those fine clothes! Refel and DE free, that
is my motto!" Then she turned to her
husband, whose patriotism was beginning
to waver-" Now, Samuel, in the pres
ence OF the whole British army, / tell you,
If you go with them, you may stay with
them, for | am no longer your wifep'
And Samuel was firm patriot after that
To battle and to prison did many of
these noble wives follow their husbands
women who unlike Capt. Mol, were pure
and irreproachable In character.
On that terrible march to Quebec,
through six hundred miles of savage will
derness, two men in Arnold's army were
accompanied by their wives. One of
these women was the wife of private
soldier, and very beautiful and vivacious.
When the expedition had reached the
Chaudiere, with the loss of half its force
persisted in the wilderness or succumbed
to the temptations of the way-this young
creature still marched beside her husband,
ard cheered him on by her love and
pluck. AT last he sank in the great march,
and declared he could go no farther-he
must die. His wife knelt by his side, and
pleaded for another effort. Aroused by
her tears and passionate love, the soldier
staggered on, supported by the faithful
woman for many days. The army was
far in advance, but the wilderness had no
terrors which could conquer a woman's
love. At length the poor man fell for the
last time. She watched beside him till
the dear life fled; then alone through the
deep wilderness she pushed her way; and,
after several weeks, Mrs. Warner brought
her husbands arms into the camp before
Quebec.
The most devoted and resolute of wives
was Sarah McCalla, of South Carolina.
Her husband had been in every engage
ment with the enemy in that bloody year
of 1880, until, on the evening of August
nth, he left the camp for visit to his
family. On the way he was captured and
taken to Camden, where Lord Rawdon
doomed him to the gallows. Day after
day the young wife waited N dreadful
suspense for the coming of his feet. At
last she set out alone to search for her
missing lord She went to the scenes of
Sumter's and Steel's surprises, and in
quired of all whom she met on the road
which was thronged with fugitives seek
ing safety in the upper country. No trace
of the loved one could she discover. At
last she determined to go to Camden,
hoping to hear of him through the pris-
oners in the British pens. She mounted
fleet horse, and, leaving home soon after
midnight, reached Camden in twelve
hours. Woman's courage, once aroused,
stops at nothing. She demanded to see
Lord Rawdon. The commanders aide,
Major Doyle, kind hearted officer, led
her to the Earl's presence. She scanned
his face with keen, anxious eyes, for so
much depended on the character of this
young man. He was fair and pleasant
looking, and the s0rrowing wife at once
poured out her heart unanimously, telling
all her fears, her deep grief, the sad con.
dition of her little ones at home-all laid
before him with the eloquence of dis
ressed wife and mother. Then she
fixed on the officer her eyes filled
with the pleading of tears. Lord
Rawson's answer was quick: 81 would
rather hang such cursed rebels than
eat my breakfastp Her fiery heart sprang
to her lips, and her eyes. no longer dim
with grief, grew bright with scorn.
Would YOU z" she cried; but love quick
ly taught her to bear, as well as to do, and
she humDiy pleaded: 81 beg of you to let
me see my husband"
"You should consider, madam, in
whose presence you stand. Your hus-
band is an infamous rebel"'
n gldUCe lIOlu MAUI DOfic tHSthco thS
bitter reply that was struggling for utter
ance. The aide led the Earl aside, and
soon returned with permission for the wife
to see her husband, in his presence, for
only ten minutes. How short time, and
vet how much it meant to this loving
womanl On the way TO the prison the
Major reproved Mrs. McCalla for her ex-
hibition OF resentment, saying that it was
only by hard pleading that he got even
this slight boon for her.
They reached the prison; II was a penl
Without shelter from the sun and rain,
the poor men were lying about on the
bare earth, many OF them in the last stages
of the smallpox. Thomas McCalla was
soon found, and the ten minutes were
quickly gone With one last clasp she
promised to return as quickly as posi-
lie, and bring clothes and provisions Tor
his use.
"Haye no fcar!' she shouted to the
prisoners as she reached the gate, the
women are doing their part of the service"
With lighter heart she took the sad
die again, and was once more with her
children before midnight-a wonderful
ride of 100 miles in less than twenty-iour
hours. The brave woman at once set to
work. and in a few days she started tor
another visit accompanied now by a
voune woman whose brother was among
the prisoners.
Every month, now, the devoted wife
made this Journey of hundred miles,
Va arf md rfI1Gu-