Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-10-11
Lietenant Harry Buford.
A WOMAN WHO FOUGHT BRAVELY
AT MANASSAS.
Southern Intelligencer.

Some time in the year 1864 two of
our detectives came down to the Cas-
tie from Gen. Winder's Office, having
in their charge a person dressed in
the uniform of a cavalry lieutenant of
the Confederate army, which looked
rs if it had seen service in the field.
The person was below the ordinary
height Of man, was we'll formed,
aud had the bearing of a soldier. He
was a good-looking man, and the
wonder was, why he had been COM
mitted 9-what ofense was he charg-
ed wlth7 Very soon curiosity upon
this point was gratified. One of the
officers handed us q note from Gen.
Winder, which directed Capt. Alex
ander to take charge of "Liet. Harry
Buford" and keep him in the Castle
until further orders. 1t further IN
formed him that the said lieutenant
was a woman, who had been sent to
Richmond with no military offense
charged against her, but to wait until
the Secretary of War, or the Presi-
dent, should determine what were
her rights in the army, and therefore,
that she should be given good apart
ments and all proper courtesy and
respect paid her. This intelligence,
as was natural, excited great surprise
amongst us at the Castle, for no one
could suspect from her appearance
and dress that she was any other than
a cavalry officer. We assigned her
to proper apartments among the wo-
men prisoners, and all of them were
astonished to sec one of whom they
supposed to be a man put in among
them, and it was a source of much
merriment with them when they found
out she was woman in mans attire.
Her presence amongst us in such un-
usual garb for a woman to wear at
once created curiosity among EVERY
bedy to know her history. | shall
now tell it to my readers as heard
it from Harry herself and from others
who were cOnversant with it at the
time.
At the outbreak of the war she was
living in the State of Arkansas, in
which State she was born. Before
the war she married a Northern man
named Williams, who settled in that
State, and had acquired considerable
wealth. When hostilities commenced
Mr.. Williams left his home and Joined
the Federal army and fought on that
side until he was killed in battle.
His wife, after his departure, deter
mined that she would join our forces,
and getting together sum Of money,
and looming mans apparel, she pro-
ceeded to Texas, where she assisted
in raising and equiping q cavalry
company, of which she was appointed
first lieutenant, having declined the
which had been offered to
her, because she preferred that some
who was more skilled in military af-
fairs should take the responsibilities
of that position. When her company
was fully equipped 1T was mustered
into service, and ordered to Virginia
along with many Of the Southern
troops who came here during the first
year Of the war. Her regiment biv-
vouacked for time near Richmond,
where it received all possible drilling
the time afforded, when it was order
ed to Manassas, and arrived in time
to be engaged in the first battle Of
Manassas, in which Lieut.. Harry |
fought with the skill and bravery of
a veteran officer. She remained in
Virginia for about a year, performing
all the duties appertaining to her po-
sition as an officer, and nobody during
that time ever suspected that she was
woman, but thought her to he what
she looked to be-a brave, efficient !
officer. Her regiment then was re-
turned to the South, and was in ac-