The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-28
THE WEATHER YESTERDAY was clear, mild,
n -
TFor the Dispatch.l
A Woman General.

| TFor the DiSpatcb.l
| A Woman General.
From the Diary of a Southern Refugee during the
| war. Dy n lady of Virginia.
We left Winchester IN the stage for Stras-
burg at 10 o'clock at night on the oath OF
December. The weather was bitter cold,
and we congratulated ourselves that the
stage was not crowded. Mr.. - and the
girls were on the back seat, Methodist
clergyman, a soldier, and myself on the
middle, and two soldiers and onr maid
Betsy on the front seat. We went of by
starlight, with every prospect OF a pleasant
drive Of eighteen miles. AS we were leav.
ing the suburbs OF the town the driver
drew up before small house, from
which issued two women with baby,
two baskets, several bundles. and box.
The passengers began to shout out, I" GO
on, driver; what do you mean? There's
no room for another; go on" The Driver
made no answer, but the women came to
the stage-door and began to put in their
bundles. The gentlemen protested that
| they could not get in-there was no room.
| The woman with the baby said she would
get in; she was "agwine to Strasburg to
spend Christmas with her relations, whar
she was born and raised, and whar she had
not been for ten years, and nobody had 4
she was agwine, and Kitty Grim was
agwine, too-she's my sister-ln-law; and so
is baby, cause baby did never see her rela-
tions in Strasburg in her life. So Uncle
Benz she exclaimed to the driver stake
nv bag, basket, and box by you, and me
| and Kitty and baby and the bundles and
the little basket will go inside" All this
was said amidst violent protestations OF the
men within. "You can't get in; driver, 80
on.'' But, suiting the action to the word, she
opened the door, calling, "Come on Kit
| ty"; got on the step, and thrust her head
in, saying: ''If these gentlemen is gentle
men and has got any politeness they will
| cit out and set with Uncle Ben outside, and
| let ladies come inside" a pause ensued.
At last subdued tone from the soldier was
heard to say: "Madam, if you will get of
the step will get out" every well, sir !;
and why didn't you do that at first" ?
And now" said she, looking at a man on
the front seat, 'sthere's another seat by
Uncle Ben; spose'n you git out and let Kit
ty Grim have your seat; she's bound to
go." The poor man quietly got out with
out saying a word, but the very expression
Of his back as he got out the stage was sub
dued. snow, Kitty, git in, and bring the
little basket and them. two bundles; they
won't poster the lady much" The door
was closed, and then, the scene being over,
the passengers shouted with laughter.
Our heroine remained perfectly passive
till We got to the plcket-poSt-a mile from
town. The driver stopped. and a soldier
came out for passports. She was thunder
struck. siPasses! Passes for white folks.
I never hcarn OF sich thing. | amt got
no pass; nuther is Kitty Grim" J. sug-
gestcd to her to keep quiet, as the best
policy. Just at that time Tennessee sol
dier had to confess that he had forgotten to
ret q passport. "You can't go on" said
the official, and the soldier got out. Pre-
sently the womaa's turn came. Madam,
your passport, il you please" 9" aln't got
none; nuther is Kitty Grim CHATS my sis
ter-in-law). We amt agwinc to git out.
nuther, cause we's gwine to Strasburg TO
spend Christmas with my relations, and /
amt been thar ior ten year, and J. never
heard OF white folks having passes"
But, madam" began the official. "Iou
needn't to 'but madam me, cause / amt
arwine to cit out, and I'd like to see the man
| that would put me out. This is free
! country, and I'se agwine to StrasburS this
night; so you might as we'll take your Ian
tern out of my face" "But. madam, my
orders," began the picket. "Don't tell me
nothing 'bout orders; don't care nothing
'bout orders; and you needn't think cause
the Tennessee man got out that Pse agWine
| to cit out-'cause I amt. Amt got three
sons in the army, great sight bigger than
YOU is? And they tit at Manassas, and they
amt no towards; nuther is their mother
and amt agwine to git out this stage this
night, but Ise agWine to Strasburg, whar
was born and raised."
The poor man looked nonplussed, but
vet another effort. He began: ''My dear
madam" -. ~ ain't none Of your deal
madam. Pse just free white woman, and
so is Kitty Grim, and we amt no niggcrs to
get passes, and Pse gwine 'long this pike to
| Strasburg. Now T'se done talking" With
this she settled herself on the seat and leani
back with the most determined air. and the
discomtitted man shut the door amid peaIs OF
laughter from within and from without. 1n
few minutes we were quiet again, ano
all began to settle themselves for sleep
when the silence was broken by our be-
| roine: "Kitty, is you sck?" "No," saiC
! Kitty. "Well, it is no wonder. Gentle
men, can't one Of you take Kitty's seat and
Give her yourn? She gifts monstrons sick
when she is a-riding with her back to the
hosses." There was death-like silence
and my curiosity was aroused to know how
she would manage that point. After a few
minutes she began again: '' Kitty, is you
sick?" "No," says Kitty, "not yit.'
"WeIl, I do wish one OF you gentlemen
would give Kitty your seat" Still nc
reply. All was becoming quiet again
when she raised her voices: Kit,
Grim, is you sick?" "Yes," said
Kitty, ejust a llttle." "I knowed it,
Ii knowed she was sick; and wher
Kitty Grim gifts sick she most in genera
filings up" The effect was electric. "M,
dear madam" exclaimed both gentlemen a
once, stake my seat; byall means take my
seat.'' The Methodist clergyman, beins
nearest, gave up his seat and took hers
The change was soon effected, amidst TIT
most uproarious laughter, NIL feeling thel
were fairly outgeneralled the third time
| From that time until we reached Strasburg
at 9 O'Clock, she kept up II stream OF tall
addressed TO the baby, never inter
|rupted except once, when the quiet
Hooking soldier yentured TO say. 8 Madam
do you never sleep?" Never wher
ipm a-trayeIiing,' was the curt reply
and she talked on 20 the baby. 6 Look q
them mules-What a sight Of fodder they
must eat! The Yankees come down to figh
sscause we'se got niggers and they aim
got none. wish there Warn't no niggers
i 1 hate Yankees, and I hate niggers, too,
4 ETC., till we got TO Strasburg. She thei