Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-07-21
From Washington Herald Biographies
MFRS. CssAP1INE.

| From Washington Herald Biographies.
MFRS. CsaAPIINE.
Mrs. Chapline,of Dubuque, Iowa, was
a native and formerly resident OF
West Virginia. She is the widow OF
Judge Chapline, IAN eminent lawyer, and
for six years a member of the Senate Of
West Virginia, and after his removal to
Iowa, United States Circuit Judge.
He was one of the electors in the Lin
coin Presidential campaign, and when
he came to Washington to bring the
returns he was accompanied by his
family, who visited their old home in
Virginia, expecting to return to their
home in Dubuque in a few weeks.
The country was in tumult of excite
ment from the horrors Of a civil war,
and blood was on the doorposts of
hitherto quiet homes all over the
Southern land. Judge Chapline gave
up all thoughts Of returning west, and
Immediately entered the army, being
detailed to special service, and his wife
and children remained at her father $
house in Jefferson county. Her hus-
band suffered all the prosecutions that
befell loyal men in those troublesome
times, and the mother and her children
were often driven from their home at
night, and their lives threatened, if
they did not give information of the
husband and father. The premature
grey hair OF Mrs. Chapine attests the
terrors she endured, and yet her loyal
heart never faltered. At one time,
before General Banks entered the
Valley Of Virginia, he sent to Mrs.
Chapline to send him amap of Jefferson
county. She set her woman's wits to
devise way by which it could be
safely conveyed to him. She filled a
bag with meal, carefully placing the
map, in as small package as possible,
in the center of the bag and iutrust-
ing it to an old family servant, she
started him, with instructions not to
give up his bag of meal to friend or
foe until he reached General Banks
The faithful old fellow plodded on, ex-
posed to every imaginable danger,
sleeping at night on his precious pill
low of meal, aud in daytime carrying
it over his shoulder. Several times he
was near losing it, but he pleaded so
pitifully for his little morsel of meal,
which would "keep the old oman and
children from starving" and his own
forlCrn and ragged appearance gave
credence to his story, that he was
allowed to pass. After days and nights
of dangers and fatigue, the bag of meal
with its contents was safely delivered
to General Banks 1t may not be out
of place to mention here that this same
old colored man is living in Shepherds
town, w. Va, utterly destitute, but as
honest and faithful as when he served
Banks in tie Valley of Virginia.
When there are as many situations as
laborers and messengers in the gift of
the government, it would be but a
simple act OF gratitude. to remember the
old man, who at least had in him some
of the stuff out of which heroes are
made. Judge Chapline died at the
close of the war, and the luxurious home
they had left in Dubuque, with no pre-
sentiment that they should never see it
again, passed into the possession of
strangers, and Mrs. Chapline found her
self destitute, with FIVE children TO sup
port. Unfaltering in her heroic deyo-
ton to those dependent upon her, she
came to this city, made application for
a position under government. and was
appointed in the Lighthouse Board,
where her efficiency makes her very
valuable.
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