The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-12
'A5W0MAN SOLDIER.

T. II know thats-l know that. Mrs. Logan
WINS with the general a good deal, and so
was General Drank Barlow's wife with
her husband Id the army. I have seen
Mrs. Barlow riding by the side Of the gen.
earl on more than one march. I 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 place
| Of safety she begged to remain. Just then
dozen shells and solid shot rushed over
their heads like train flying over q
| bridge.
My DEAR said General Barlow, this
is no place for you. Go back. 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 dangerP'
"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- 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 q war story with wom-
an In 1t when started out to test you on
the question of woman soldiers Did you
know Of any?'
i" said yes, and Imeant women soldiers
not women with the army, such as you
have been talking about" was Colonel
Charley Richardson's answer-Richard-
son, the printer, who was private, made
a prisoner by Mosby, but lived to get out
and become Dakota editor, q colonel and
member of the legislature. Then he told
this story:
II was made o prisoner soon after the
Kelly Ford fight, while member of this
train guard, on our way with rations to
Culpeper. Upon reaching bit of forest
near Brandy Station, Mosby 8 men swooped
down upon us. The first thing l knew
Mosby was within few feet of me, calling
for surrender and allowing me to look
into a six shooter. The guerrilla chief
caught sight Of my fine new pair of high
topboots, for which the sutler had received
s12 the day before.
"'Get out Of those boots, young fellowr
was his second order. -..t-
"'Can't keep thelnP
in second. Get out Of those bootsl
"That was enough. The boots came off.
"'Throw 1t up here, was his gruff order
when one was off. can see just how the
rough rider looked as no swung his right
foot over to the left, took off 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
Av,1 tl,a,, bod, f1..
heard the skirmish and were rapidly rid
ing to our relief. But they didn't catch
up with US. So, in time-it took week
we reached Libby prison.
My particular chum in prison was a
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 chum was very nervous
and hated prison life worse than 1 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.
I'm January, 1864 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
parole not to leave the city, give informa- |
ton or do anything else unbecoming pa
rolled prisoners. We readily agreed to the |
terms.
My ehum, Gates, took on as badly as
If l were his brother starting on long |
and dangerous tour. He begged me not |
to go, saying he didn't want to make |
friends with the others, declaring that /
had been a very brother to him. But /
partially satisfied him by saying that it
was not likely that they would want lis
more than week or two, and that now
and then l would send him something
good to eat. But shall miss you ever SO
much, Charley. Come back as soon as you
can
ut was II o'clock when they let us out.
We were to go to work at O. While pass
ing the Spottswood House said: Baker,
let's go in and get a square meal It's
been q 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 II we were
Yankees. We told him yes.
"'What in the name of blue blazes are
you doing hereP'
owe came here to dine.
az arrest you
al guess not, said Baker, as he show
ed his pass from General Winder and
copy of his parole. We were allowed to
dine. My, but how we did cat! We were
both young fellows. was only II, and
we had boys appetites after that long, dry
spell in Libby prison. had managed to
Eccrete $50 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 $15 and Baker less
than $40. Suddenly It came to me that
his charge was based on Johnny money,
80 l said: We have none of your money
How much Is it in greenbacksF' ooh, it's
Yankee money you have. A dollar of that
will do"
"But what about woman soldier?"
BE patient. had been at work on The
Wig week or ten days when one day,
while on the way to the office, l saw an
'fficer Of the patrol guard, whom had
net several times, coming toward me. A
veil dressed young woman was with him.
She looked at me as if she expected l
would recognize her. Seeing that did
rot, she laughed, extended her hand and
sked, why, Charley, don't you know
nep'
"'I'ye heard the voice, but can't place
ou.'
"im Billy Gates, your prison chum,
lot boy, rs you supposed, but girl and
OF the Union, if they hang me for it,.
"Her Virginia friends had found out
Vhere she was and by some means got
er out of prison. learned afterward !
rom the officer that she was relative of {
Ohm Minor Bolts, at one time distin- !
uished Virginia congressman, who re-
lained true to the Union. "--J. A. Wat