The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-04-16
manitouof pilot.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1891.
NANNY BROWN.
An Old Virginia War Time Figure VINO
Has Survived Until the Present.

Has Survived Until the Present.
One of the most familiar and be-
loved faces in the Virginia hospitals
during the war was that of an old col
ored woman. By the side Of the sick
and diving she was always to be found
whether they wore blue OF gray. The
face OF old Nanny Mary Brown was
the face of an angel of mercy to many
during this time.
Size belonged to the old Nell estate.
Her mother. WHO died within the last
three wears lived to the age of III
and was. up TO few weeks OF her
death. a brisk. bright-cyed old lady.
She was visited by many of the quail
itv folks. rs she remembered the Rev
olutionary war being a child OF some
five years old ut that time. Mary. at
tie aye OF % WAS bought by Mr.. Tow
sen afterwards Major Tnwsen). who
was then Just married. Nine children
were born into the family. the mother
diving when the last child was an in
FAINT IL arms So to Mary fell the care
of the children. and they could not
have fallen into better hands. Her
life was given up to them. She never
married, affording almost the only
case on record where the cOlOred dam
sci has failed TO take unto herself
better half Some years before the
war Mr.. Towscn moved TO Philadel-
pha. taking Mary with him. OF course
she was free upon crossing the line,
but her deep devotion to the family
kept her with them. and she returned
Spnfb Shn had
cause to be proud of her little brood,
seven of which were boys. for they
grew into noble men and women.
When the civil war came it was with
an aching heart that ''mammy" saw
her beloved boys don their soldier
clothes to leave her.
But she had no time for repining.
Those four years were full Of unseliish
deeds for her. She was always rursing
the sick, taking the covering from her
own bed that they might not 20 cold,
buying them daintics from her own
scant stock of money.
SIcepIess nights she watched by the
side of some poor. dying fellow, whose
last faint words were those of thanks
and 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
stationed ut Manassas. before the first
battle there, she made n barrel of
blackberry cordial for the most part
picking the berries with herOwn hands.
How those thirsty, WORKOUT boys did
cheer when that barrel arrived! The
story of an old colorud woman having
made ii for them was told. Boys,
said one poor fellow, lets give her
three cheers" And cheer her they
did
Nanny was twice chcered by the
soldiers at ManasSaS-th second time
at the reception Of some much-necded
clothes she maiic.
All this time her heart was bleeding
for her own especial seven. Before
the close OF the third wear there was
not one Of them left 1t do SEEM"
She said on one occasion 10 Gen.
Mosbv, dat de good Lord hab set His
mark oh death upon them They all
died in her arms.
All the boys made her the confidant
Of their JOYS and woes alike. ever find
ING her most sympathetic listener.
Ga one occasion nanny lost all of her
few remaining possessions while tray-
cling from one town to another.
"Dcy's wrapped in an old blue coun-
tcrpanc.N She told one of III" soldiers,
land dar 5 Il bottle of juach brandy
in de bundle. FL yer finds der coun-
terpauc yer can hab dc bottle
1t is needless to say that with such a
reward offered, most dili@ent search
was made. but without await. The old
blue counterpanr has never come to
li9ht The soldier, who has now
CHANGED into Il portiy Judge. who
counts hi> dollars by the ten thousands,
never meets NANNY without saving
(wilh twinkle in his blue eycs), Il
am still looking out for that blue coun
terpane. NANNY, aud remember, the
bottles mine when | lind it.
After the war nanny went to live
with Major Towscn's daughter where
She has been ever since. She finds
much comfort in 4 new set of boys,
though they can never take the place
of her dear dead soldiers. The twin
boys are her particular delight.
Nanny is over 30 now, but still
brisk and looks qnilc equal to several
generations Her life has indeed been
full of good works, ever marked by
loving, uusellish spirit. Philadelphia
Times.