Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-07-27
THE LITTLE BLACK hoy WENT.

E.[|/
THE LITTLE BLACK BOY WENT
had come he was taken to a deserted
cabin, where his leg was amputated
and his hand dressed. The next morn
ing the order came for the army to fall
back. Lieut.. Bedell was unconscious
and too weak to be moved. The sur
geon said he could not live more than
twenty-four hours. His comrades left
a canteen of water by his side, and
joining their regiment marched away
Some little distance from the cabin
lived young woman, the wife of
confederate soldier named Van Meter.
The foragers of the army had taken
nearly everything of value about the
little farm. Her niece, a child of ten
years, and little black boy were her
only companions. When the soldiers
had gone the boy went down the coun-
try road rs far as the cabin. He heard
the lieutenant grooming and went in
The canteen was out of his reach and
his lips were parched with fever. He
could not speak.
The lad ran back TO Mrs. Van Meter
and told her about the suffering soldier
who wore the blue. Her heart was
touched and she fastened to the cabin.
Fresh water was secured and it revived
the lieutenant Then his limbs. were
dressed and newly bandaged. Mrs.
Van Meter sent the boy for a doctor
who lived some miles away When he
arrived he said there was very little
hope for the wounded soldier unless he
had stimulants and none could be Sc
cured. 1t didn't matter much, anyhow,
he said, for he had no interest in a
union soldier.
Mrs. Van Meter insisted that it was
her duty to save his life if possible, and
the next day she harnessed a mule to
an old cart and drove to Harper's Ferry
to get a supply of whisky and quinine.
The commander there heard her story,
said it was entirely improbable, but ac-
cepted it because of her frankness. She
did not hesitate to say She was the
wife of a confederate soldier The
stimulant gave Bedell strength, and it
was not long before he was able to sit
up. His clothing was badly torn and
blood-stained, ana nothing suitable for
him to wear could be found in the
neighborhood. His regiment was at
Winchester, twelve miles away. Mrs
Van Meter drove there and astonished
Lieut. Bedell's comrades by informing
them that che was alive and on the
road to recovery. She secured his port
manteau and returned
IV1,ur, naAa1I bod c. toia =
ly to be about he entered into con-
tract with a farmer in the neighbor-
hood to secure the return of a team of
mules which had been confscated by
his regiment in exchange for aid in
reaching the union lines.
Bedell was hidden under jag of hay,
and with Mrs. Van Meter as the driver
he reached Harper's Ferry. The com
mander accepted the terms of Bedell's
contract with the farmer and delivered
the mules.
Having heard nothing whatever from
her husband for several months, and
hearing he was either in a hospital or
a prisoner, Mrs. Van Meter was at a
loss what to do. Lieut.. Bedell de-
cided the matter for her by offering to
aid in finding her husband. He entered
into communication with President
Lincoln, telling what Mrs. Van Meter
had done for him The president wrote
an order directing the officer in charge
of any hospital or prison to deliver to
Mrs Van Meter any man she claimed
as her husband. Mrs. Van Meter and
her little niece joined Lieut.. Bedell in
Washington and they started on a tour
of the several prisons and hospitals,
They went through the prisons of
Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania
and finally found Van Meter in hos
pital. He was emaciated and unable
to stand. At Lieut. Bedelfs expense
he was transferred TO Z private institu-
ton, where in few weeks he recovered
sufficiently to warrant his discharge.
Lieut. Bedell took Van Meter and his
wife and the little niece to his home in
Vermont, and they remained his guests
for several months. They then returned
south and are now living in Berryville,
Clark county, Va Mr.. Bedell is hob
bling around on a crutch in his home.
Ex-Congressman John S. Wise Sc
cured Mrs an meter ADDRESS LOT MI.
Chittenden through Marshal McCor-
mack, a prominent citizen Of Clark
county.
II have written to Mrs. Van Meter
said Mr. Crittenden, and her letters
show her to be a simple Christian
woman. She writes that she did for
Lieut. Bedell what her conscience sug-
gested was ight, and she is happy in
the knowledge that she saved his life. "