Middletown transcript., 1894-03-31
COULD FIGHT AND MAKE LOVE.
A Yankee Who Wound Up an Even
fng's Courting by Killing
Four Rebels.

A 1ankee Who Wound Up an Even
fng's Courting by Killing
Four Rebels.
Recently published war reminis.
cences," said J. II. Geiselman lately,
"recall to my mind an instance of re-
markable GOODNESS and bravery which
people in Shenandoah Valley ever was
as daring soldierly deed as ever oc.
cured. lived down in the valley for
some years after the war, and l have
often heard the principal actor, Lieut..
Ferris, referred to as the bravest Yank
that ever wore boots.
''Fn the spring of 1868. when the
lines between Battletown and Win
chester were being changed every few
days, Ferris, Lieutenant in the Fifth
New York Calvary, made the acqaain-
lance of Miss Emma Bonham, one
OF the bellies Of a valley. 1t seemed to
be a case of love at first sight on both
sides. So great did Ferris's attach
ment for Miss Bonham become that
he was accustomed to steal through
the lines, never giving thought to
the recklessness Of such actions
although Mosby's men were as thick
as hops about the place.
Upon one occasion Mosby heard of
the daring of the Yankee officer, and
resolved to trap him. He sent de-
tachment of six men, led by the no.
torious Jim Wiltshire, to capture him
as he was calling upon his lady love.
AS the detachment filed out Of the
woods some distance from the Bonham
mansion the orderly who was with
Ferris discovered their approach, and
hurried in to inform his officer of the
danger. The situation did not discon-
cert Ferris bit; in fact he was so
slow in moving that Miss Bonham had
to inIplore him to hurry or lie would
be captured. He serenely told the or
derly to 60 saddle his horse, quietly
asking how many rebs were in the
party. The orderly replied that there
were six, and he ran for the stable
greatly excited. Ferris took leave of
Miss Bonham, and laughing at her
fears of his being captured walked
leisurely to the stable. The Mosby
men we're in the lane leading to the
house by this time, and as soon as they
saw Ferris Jim Wiltshire, who was
on splendid animal, spured
his horse, leading his detachment, and,
the gate with jump, called
upon Ferris to surrender. Ferris told
him he had something else to do and
urned to go into the stable. Wilt
shire grabbed for his revolver, but it
caught in his holster, and Ferris TAX
ing advantage Of the situation, pulled
lis gun, sending a ball through Wilt
'hire's neck. A young lawyer Of Bal
.imore named McGill dismounted, and
opening the gate came to Wiltshire's
lid. Ferris had retired to the stable,
)ut now came out and shot MuGill
through the breast. He then went
or the other four like demon. Ills
ife seemed charmed, for, while bullets |
lew all about him, he was not struck. |
At last only one man was left. He
urned his horse and started on dead |
5allop for the woods. Ferris quickly |
counted Wiltshires horse and followed. |
lie fired at him just as he was turning
rom the main road, hitting him in
the side. Here a body of Mosby,s |
nen came up, and started i'll persuit of |
Ferris. They chased him back to camp |
'ut he sustained no injury. Four of |
5he six Mosby men died from the ef- |
sects Of the shots.
Miss Bonham never saw Lieut.. |
Ferris after tia: day. lie was moved |
lp the valley. Later she married a
'rachcr. People in the Shenandoah |
Valley still talk of the young officers |
lucky fight.