New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-12-17

above all others, he wanted as q
trophy of the descent upon the house
of the Grave White Squaw,'
name which Mrs. Van Alstine had al
ready earned. From that eventful
day Betty's hat enjoyed notoriety
it had not had before, and it is said
that long afterwards when the col
onies had secured their independence
and when Betty had little house
hold Of her own a Mohawk Indian
came to her home and laughingly
recalled the gallant defense Of the
philadelphia bonnet" Strange to
say, he was the same warrior who
had tried to carry it of the day the
band plundered her mothers house.
But the historic Mohawk valley
did not furnish the only girl patriot
Of the revolution. There is an old
saving that Gen Greene exchanged
his northern laurels for southern will
lows" It is true that lie met with
many reverses during his famous
campaigns in the Carolinas, and
more than once was compelled to fee
from victorious foe; but these de-
ieats do not detract from his great
ness.
During one of his retreats, when he
had Lord Rawdon at his heels, as it
were: Gen. Greene was DESTROYS of
sending a message to Gen. Sumter
the 'tgamecock of the revolution"
who was then on the Wateree with
bis detachment. Greene was anx-
ious to form junction with Sumter
believing that, combined, the Ameri-
can forces might fall upon Rawdon
with success as he had devided his
army and seemed to offer himself as
an easy prey.
In vain did Greene look for some
one to carry the message. The
|,country between him and Sumter
was full oftories who never neglected
an opportunity to shed the blood OF
wings, as the patriots were termed.
The, bravest men in the neighborhood
shrank from carrying the dispatch,
and Greene was despairing when
young girl presented herself at his
headquarters.
81 hear that you want to send a
message to Gen. SUMTER" said the
beautiful stranger. II will take it
to him. My name is Emily Geiger
and I want to do something for my
country
The parrot general was thunder
struck, but at the same time he
hailed her proposition with unbound
ed delight. .... ....= ST..
81 know the country through which
| will have to- pass" continued Emily,
"and if you will trust me with the
message, | promise to place it in
Sumter's hands," IL
Accordingly Gen. Greene wrote
letter which he gave the fearless girl,
at the same time telling her it's con
tents, which she was to communicate
verbally to Sumter in case of acct
dents; and with the paper carefully
concealed, Emily Geiger mounted
her horse and rode away. She had
embarked on a dangerous journey,
but this did not deter her. Her way
led through some unbroken country
and over ground infested by British
and tories, and on the second day
she was halted by some of Lord
RaWdOn's scouts, who refused to be-
ieve her artfully -contrived answers,
and conducted her into their camp.
Confronted by the new danger,
Emily Geiger's daring did not de-
sert her. She recalled Gen. Greene's
instructions, and when she had been
placed in a room there to remain un-
til she could be searched by one of
her own sex, she made up her mind
what she would do. A tory had been
dispatched for the woman who
was to search the suspected
girl, and before he had returned with
her Emily ate up Greene's written
Instructions to Sumter, piece by
piece. It was her only hope to es-
cape punishment, if not death, and
at the same time keep Greene's de-
signs from becoming known to the
enemy.
When the tory woman arrived,
Emily was carefully searched, but
nothing damaging was found on her
person, and as she refused to dis
close the secret she was suspected of
having in her possession, the tories
were compelled to set her at liberty.
Even then she was released under
protest, and when she rode off was
secretly followed; but taking round
about route she deceived her foes,
and soon aiterward galloped into
Sumter's camp, much to the surprise
and delight Of that officer.
One Of the historians of the revolu-
tion has truly said that "the saliva
ton Of the army was due more than
once to the watchfulncss and tact of
woman" and we have thought to
rescue from the annuls ofthat trying
period the names Of two ofits young
heroines-Betty Van Alstine and
Emily Geiger.
She Would Talk,
IT, 81 Is