The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24
A BRAVE WOMAN,
And Hom She Came to Mend GEN. asgruder's Pan.
taiosus
IBfsfalo Enpress.l


ALLOW me to introduce Mrs, Ill E. Dsnnf-
son, of New York, a daughter OF the late Judge
ID. r. McNaughton, of Numford, n Y" said
Captain Dasis, of Mansfield Post, No. 50, G. A.
H., to an Express reporter, at the Mansion
House yesterday. The lady wore badge as
Departments Inspector Of the Woman's Relief
Corps of thu State, practically the highest of
fee Ia that new auxiliary of the Grand Army.
She is quite military looking, if that describes
tall, straight woman, with much earnestness
and vigor in her manner with well-cut fea-
lures small mouth, and hair which is turned
quite gray.
II suppose there are many women In Buffalo
to-day attending the Encampment, who saw as
much of army life as many Of the veteran SOL
diers," said the reporter.
'Oh, yes. There are quite number, espe-
cially those who went as nurses or who accom-
panied their husbands" was the reply
"Your own recollections of those days must
be interesting" said the reporter, wbereupon,
after allHding to the causes for her going, Mrs.
Dennison said:
"The first few years had little experience Of
interest to others. My husband was in the
Government service. In the latter part of the
war he was sent to Fort Smith, Kan, to do
duty IN the Indian Department under Mai
Fuller and Indian-Agent Mcdonald. / was in
Washington and wished TO join him, but in
order TO do so had to procure nurses pass,
which did. The journey TO Fort Smith was
full of incidents, dangers and hardships, as we
passed through rebel States then under Fed
eral rule. The ladies OF our party were in
suited often, and redress was impossible. At
one time we had to lie down in the car while
rebel bullets flew through the windows FL
nally reached my husband.
We had not been together long before Mr..
Dennison had to go to Washington with vouch-
ers and agency papers. lie made arrangements
for me to follow, but it was three weeks after
ward before We left. There were six of US
women who had toy in wagons of the refugee
train" which left the fort fearing an attack by
rebels, which had been threatened. A part of
the train was on the opposite side of the Ar
kansas River, where the whole train was to be
made up when we arrived. 1t was evening
but there was no time TO lose. There were no
boats, the river was high, and there was no
way OF crossing, except by swimming. In the
dead OF night Government detective took us
women over on horseback, one by one. the
horses swimming, with the water over the sad
dies. After we were all across, the traicof fOS
wagons started, under command OF CdDCamp-
bell. We were preceded by the 18th Iowa
while the I'd Colorado followed as rear guard.
ave had reached place called Cow-Skin
Prairie in Kansas and feared an attack by
rebels. There were many little ravines on the
edge of the prairie, and our scouts advised the
to fire gun, under any circumstances, but il
was not long before wild prairie hog rushed
past the train. OF course every man fired at
the animal AS luck would have it, Mai. Purcy,
Of Gen. Dinwoodie's rebel regiment, and a
company of bushwhackers were camped in
rayine few miles away. They came down
upon us, soma dressed like Indians. After
they had fired upon US, every man of our train
fed ss fast as his horse would carry him The
rebels rihed the train took everything valuable,
especially wearing apparel, took my baggage,
made Us prisoners, but afterward paroled US.
Maj. Dobbins was sick in the ambulance wagon,
and his wife was with him. One of the BUSH
whackers rode up put pistol to the Majors
mouth and fired. He lived few hours and
we buried him on the prairie. 1t was not long
before the men who had left us reached Fort
Scott, then under command of Gen. Curtis and
Gen. Lane. They sent back an ambulance
wagon and provisions, as it was reported that /
was wounded. The rebels set the prairie on
fire, but fortunately the wind shifted and we
escaped. But private named Brown, who
was with US, was caught In the fire and burned
to death.
There had been an engagement of Gen.
Curtis's troops before we arrived at Fort Scott
and Magruder, the rebel General, had been
captured. was suffering from severe bruise
where mule had kicked me, and had to be
carried all one day of the journey to Fort Scott
But when we reached there, Gen. Curtis said
he had job for me. And what do you sup
pose it was2 Can't guess? Well, / mended
Gen. Magruder's pantaloons. He had on the
uniform of Federal officer when captured,
and in the skirmish they were torn in several
places. got a pass from Fort Scott to Fort
Leavenworth, rode there On horseback five
days journey-and lived there until my hus-
band came for me from Washington, in 1864"