The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-11
A WOMAN SOLDIER.

II know that-I know that. Mrs Logan
was with the general a good deal, and so
was General Frank Barlow's wife with
her husband in the army. have seen
Mrs. Barlow riding by the side of the gen.
earl on more than one march. saw her
once when Barlow's division was suddenly
attacked by the enemy. The bursting of
shells directly over her head did not seem
to scare her, and when the general directed
an orderly to escort Mrs. Barlow to a place
Of safety she begged to remain. Just then
dozen shells and solid shot rushed over
their heads like q train flying over a
bridge.
My dear said General Barlow, this
Is no place for you. Go hack. can't fight
with my wife in such danger as this
I'll go, general, said the lady, but
how must feel when know my husband
is in such danger?'
''Three or four of the Johnny camp ket-
ties, by the Whitworth gun route, dropped
over at that point, singing their well
known wisher- wosher- wusher-b boom bing-
ping ping ping song, when Barlow called
out: 'Goodby, my dear. I'll be back soon.
Orderly, obey your orders Take Mrs.
Barlow away from here at once And the
orderly and the woman galloped out of
danger.
But I've told a war story with wom-
IN in it when started out to test you on
the question of woman soldiers. Did you
know of any?'
81 said yes, and meant women soldiers,
not women with the army, such as you
have been telking about was Colonel
Charley Richardson's answer-Richard-
son, the printer, who was a private, made
a prisoner by Mosby, but lived to get out
and become Dakota editor, a colonel and
a member of the legislature. Then he told
this story:
at was made a prisoner soon after the
ord f7erhf NH - 4 &c
train guard, on our way with rations to
Culpeper. Upon reaching bit of forest
near Brandy Station, Aosby s men swooped
down upon us. The first thing 1 knew
Mosby was within few feet of me, calling
for surrender and allowing me to look
into six shooter. The guerrilla chief
caught sight of my fine new pair of high
topboots for which the sutler had received
$12 the day before.
"'Get out of those boots, young fellow
was his second order.
Cant keep themr
Back talk means hole through you
In second. Get out of those bootsP
"That was enough. The boots came OF.
Throw it up here, was his grun order
when one was of. I can see Just how the
rough rider looked as he swung his right
foot over to the left, took of his well worn
shoes and threw them at my feet with an
order to put them on, and blank quick,
too, for we have no time to fool away.
And they hadn't, for our cavalry had
heard the skirmish and were rapidly rid
ing to our relief. But they didn't catch
up with US. So, in time-it took q week
we reached Libby prison.
''My particular chum in prison was q
beardless young Virginian, Billy Gates,
whose family, he said, was loyal to the old
government and hadn't objected to his en-
tering the Union army. He had been cap
tured at about the time Mosby plucked
our squad. My ohum was very nervous
and hated prison life worse than did, if
possible. He mingled but little with the
other prisoners. We shared our rations,
slept under the same blanket and became
very good friends.
''In January, 1854, the Richmond Wing
Office was in great need of printers The
foreman called upon Major Dick Turner,
the prison keeper and the two came to
our floor and asked if there were any Yam
kee printers there. A Vermonter named
Baker and myself responded. They said
we could have work if we would take a
parole not to leave the city, give informa-
ton or do anything else unbecoming pa
rolled prisoners. We readily agreed to the
terms.
my chum, Gates, took on as badly As
if were his brother starting on long
and dangerous tour. He begged me not
to go, saying he didn't want to make
had been very brother to him. But 1
partially satisfied him by saying that it
was not likely that they would want US
more than week or two, and that now
and then I would send him something
good to eat But shall miss you ever so
much, Charley. Come back as soon as you
can
"It was IL O'Clock when they let Us out
We were to go to work at 2. While pass
ing the Spottswood House said: Baker,
let's go In and get a square meal It's
been long time since we've had one.
"After registering, washing and brush
ing up we started for the dining room,
when one of the Confederate officers, see
ing our blue clothes, asked US if we were
Yankees. We told him yes.
"'What in the name of blue blazes are
you doing hereP'
GIVE came here to dine
" Il arrest you
eel guess not, said Baker as he show
cd his pass from General Winder and a
copy of his parole. We were allowed to
dine. My, but how we did eatl We were
both young fellows. I was only II, and
we had boys appetites after that long, dry
spell in Libby prison. 1 had managed to
secrete $40 in greenbacks when captured.
had most of that with me. Imagine my
surprise upon stepping up to pay for that
dinner when the clerk said, Twenty dol
lars EACH had about $50 and Baker less
than SO. Suddenly it came to me that
his charge was based on Johnny money,
so I said: we have none of your money.
How much is it in greenbacks?' ooh, it's
Yankee money you have. A dollar of that
will do"
but what about woman soldierp"
"Be patient. had been at work on The
Wing a week or ten days when one day,
while on the way to the Office, I saw an
officer of the patrol guard, whom had
met several times, coming toward me. A
well dressed young woman was with him.
She looked at me as if she expected I
would recognize her Seeing that 1 did
not, she laughed, extended her hand and
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