Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-01
TALK srMI-nrIIrcosF.
NANNY BROWN.
An Old Virginia Wartime Figure VINO
Has Survived Until the Present.
phllad.lnhla Times.

One of the most familiar and beloved
faces in the Virginia hospitals during tho
war was that OF an old colored woman. By
the side of tho sick and dying she was
ALWAYS 10 be found, whether they wore plue
or gray. The face Of old Nanny Mary
Brown was the face Of an angel OF mercy
to many during this tine.
She belonged TO the old Nell estate neI
mother. who died within the last three
wears. lived TO the age Of one hundred ana
twelve. and was up to a few weeks OF heI
death n brisk, bright-eyed old woman. one
was visited By many of the quality folks
rs she rememb ered tho Revolutionary war,
being "A child Of some FIVE years old at thaJ
time Mary at the age of twenty-five was
bought BY Mr.. TOwsen (afterwards MaJOr
Towsen) who was then just married; Nlho
children were born into the family the
mother diving when the last child was an
infant in arms. So to Mary fell the care OF
the children, and they could not have fallen
into better bands. Her life was, gwen up
to them. She never married, ahord-
inc almost the only ease on record where
the colored dsmsel has failed to take unto
herself better half. Some years DelOre
tho war Mr.. Towaen moved TO Phlladei-
phia. taking Mary with him. " course
she was free upon crossing the lihe' puo
her deep devotion TO the family kept her
with them and she returned with them 70
the South. She had cause to be proud Oh
her little brood. seven OF which were boys
for they grew into noble men and women.
When the civil war came 1t was with, ah
aching heart that nanny" saw her pc
loved boys don their soldier clothes 10
leave her.
But she had no time for repining. Those
four years we're full of unselflsh deeds Tor
her. She was always nursing the NcS,
taking the covering from her own bed that
thev might not 60 cold, buying tDein
dainties from her own scant STOCK OIL
money.
Sleepless nights she watched by the SIDE
of some poor dying fellow, whose last
faint words were those Of THANKS ana
blessings for his nurse. She made from
two to three hundred suits of soldier
clothes. sewing them for the most part
during her night watches by the sick
At one time when the troops were STA
toned at Manassas, before the FIRST battle
thero she made barrel OF blackberry cor
dial. for the most part picking the berries
with her own hands. How those thirsty;
wornout boys bid cheer when that barrel
arrived! The story ofan old colored woman
having made 10 for them was told. Boys,
said one poor follow. let's give her three
cheers" And cheer ner they did. -,
NANNY was twice cheered by the
soldiers at Manassss-the second time OF
the reception of some much-needed clothes
she made.
All this time her heart was bleeding. for
her own especial seven. Before tho close
of the third wear there was not ono Otthem
left. 1T DO seem" she said on the occa,
sion 10 General Mosby, " dat do good
Lord hab set His mark oh death upon
'em.p They all died IN her arms.
All the boys made her the confidant OF
their JOYS and woes alike. ever finding her
a most sympathetic listener. On one oc-
casion Nanny lost all Of her few remain
ing possessions while travelling from che
town TO another. "Dey's wrapped IN an
old blue counterpart" she told ono OF the
soldiers, land dar IS a bottle OF luach
brandy in de bundle. III yer hnds de
Counterpart yer can hab dc bottle
II Is needless TO say that with such re-
ward offered most dilgent search was
made. but without avail The old blue
couutcrpane has never come 10 light. The
soldier. who has now changed into a port
w Judge who counts his dollars by the ten
thousands, never meets nanny without
saving. with a twinkle in his blue eyes,
nm still looking out for that blue counter
pane. NANNY, and remember. the bot
ties mine when | find it."
After the war nanny went 20 live with
Major TOWsen's daughter. where she be,
been ever since. She finds much comfort
in a new set of BOYS, though they can
never take the place of her dear dead sol
diers. The twin boys are her particular
delight. go,
NANNY is over ninety now, but still
brisk, and looks quite equal TO several
generations. Her life has indeed been full
Of good works, ever marked by loving,
unselEsh spirit.