St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-01
COURAGE or A MOTHER.
How Mrs. Littlepage Saved Her Home
and Children.
INCIDENT OF EARLY DAYS
A Governors Brutality Checkmated by
the Courageous Devotion OF
a Mother.


a Mother.
Philadelphia Times.
Among the first military movements
IT. the South was the sending by Viz
ginia of an army under Gen. John a.
Wise, afterward the famous war gov
ernor, to recover the wastprn part OF The
state, which had declined to secede.
This army followed the old turnpike
over the Alleghenics, through the Warm
and White Sulphur springs. and down
the Kanawha, and in June, 1861, it
reached and camped round about
Charleston. some sixty miles above the
Ohio. and now the capitol of the state.
Wise had been chosen to command this
expedition, in the hope that he would
crush out the union sentiment west of
the mountains by the prestige of his
name, and the persuasive power OF his
elOQuence rather than by arms: but he
chose, instead, to assert a tyrannical
military power, which soon maue him
cordially hated by many of his wOuld-Ue
friends. Nothing contributed to this
more than his first act OH arriving at
Charleston.
A few miles below the city, on the
bank of the Kanawha, where three i'm
POI tant roads eonverged, stood the Lit
tlepage mansion. Mr.. Littlepage was
business man and farmer of wealth and
enterprise. He owned many slaves and
kept a large general store at
this convenient point, which was
of great service to the people
of large region. He was
Southern man and Southern Sympa-
thizer, and would have been glad 10
join those of his neighbOrs and associ-
ates who led squads and companies of
recruits to swell Wise's army; but the
people of region had begged him not to
do so. representing that it was of great
importance that he remain there and
carry on his business. When Wise came
heard of this he affected to treat the
whole story as subtertuge on the part
of Mr.. Littlepage. and branded him in
rude language as a Yankee sympa-
thiZer, who must be taught lesson.
Commanding his presence before
him in Charleston. he repeated these
reverse his decision or he would he sent
to Richmond in chains and his property
would be confiscated, and then Wise
added:
Furthermore, propose to use your
house as my headquarters, and shall re-
Quire yOu to entertain my staff. So you
had better go home and get ready for
me-"
The Littlepage mansion was an JIM
mense and comfortably furnished house
OF stone. Around it spread acres upon
acres of rich bottom land. and behind it
were stables aud paddock filled with a
great herd of fine oxen and COWS, with
a score of high-bred horses and mules,
and granaries stored with produce and
implements. Down there the next
morning rode Gen. Wise and his staff,
prancing gayly at the head of their
troops. DismOunting at the gate Gen.
Wise stalked up to the broad door, ever
Hospitality open, and raped with his
SwOrdhilt. HIS knock was answered by
Mrs. Littlepage, slight, refined, gentle
Virginia matrOn.
II want this house for my headquar-
ters," was the officers rough demand.
Gen. Wise, my husband is power
less to resist your force, but this prop
erty is mine as much as his, and | shall
under no circumstances allow you to
enter it. Be good enough to leave the
premises. MIR. Littlepage's mouth is
closed and his hands are tied, but mine
are not-yet."
Her husband could be seen within,
and Wise called to him tauntingly:
while am home l rule my home.
Remove your wife and yield TO my de-
mand without any further foOliShness
if you are man."
81 am as much the head of my family
as you," he replied, "but in this i yield
to my wife's Judgment"
"Then | shall blow the house down
over your head" was the angry retort,
and the general strobe away.
Ten minutes after there was crash
and clatter of gaIlOping horses and the
loud rumbling of guns and caissons, as
a battery of artillery rushed down the
river road, wheeled into position in
front of the mansion and numbered its
six guns, which were trained Oh the
house. while a curious crowd of SOL
diers and officers gathered behind them.
But while the gunners wheeled their
cannon Mrs. Littlepage collected every
one of her seven children and placed
them around her on the porch. The
great crowd was hushed to silence an
the gargling music of the thrush, the
buoyant melody of the blackbird and
medlark tinkled through the noise OF
rammer and sponge, and the artillery
men. with ScOWling brOwS, loaded their
pieces,
Wise sat upon his horse in front of
his staff, the June sunlight glistening
from his gold lace and the trappings of
his saddle. The guns were loaded, the
men stepped back to their places and
stood erect, the concourse of soldiers
and citizens looked on as still as death,
the birds sang more sweet and loud than
ever.
Orderly. tell that woman 1 will Civ
her two minutes to get her children GU
of the way"
The message was delivered, and the
orderly. returning, touched his cap and
reported:
"She refuses to move, sir, and says"
Here he hesitated.
well, what was it she said?-quick !"
'She says that if yon came here to
make war upon women and children
she and her little ones might as well
fall as live dishOnored."
There was stir among the staff, and
hoarse murmurS among the few that
overheard. Wise's cOuntenance black
ened with rage as he turned to an aide
de-camp.
"Order them to fire at oncel" he COM
manded.
General, / cannot be party to such
an act, was the digniied reply.
Furious, the commander galloped over
| to the battery.
"Open fire!" he shouted to the captain
| in charge.
"Neverp was the prompt and indig-
| nant response.
"You are under arrest for insubordi-
nation!" Wise cried with an oath, and,
| turning around. himself gave the order.
| Not man left his place or raised a
| finger to obey. No discipline was strong
| enough to make those American soldiers
| discharge their cannon at that brave
| woman and her seven children: and