The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-24
a Medal FOR
a WAR HEROINE
One to Be Presented to Mrs.
Delina Reader Roberts.
Bravery Displayed by a Seventeen
1eaT-Oid Girl During Skir-
mish on the mississippi.

Mrs. peliua Reader Roberts is about to
he presented with a medal earned boy her
for an act OF herofsm during the civil
war. la September, 1861, and I'M
mediately following the Fort Donelson
lsattle. winch lasted three days and nights,
she securedfrom the provost marshalat 81.
Louis a Uoyermme mt pass to go aboard the
Government steamer hes Moines, which
was ordered To Donelson TO bring back
a load OF wounded soldiers who had
fought liz the Denelson IA tile. Her phi
ma ry object was 10 bring back her brother,
who was wounded. At that time Miss
Reader was only seventeen years old.
AS the Des Moines was about to leave
her mooriugs there came aboard the
Twenty -siXth India na Infantry, fun fegi-
ment, 600 strong, oToer red TO re-enforce
Col. James \. MunligaD who was at Lex
ington, Me. sgrounuei toy $4,000 Of Gen.
Sterling Prices men.
While passing through through the most
dangerous part OF tie country at night,
where hands OF gueIriiIas Nscrc numerous,
the boat ran into the bank. The office
windows were all open, and Miss Reader
was sitting on the high stool that belonged
10 the clerk of the boat. In the office were
Capt. George Cayton. one of the pilots;
Capt. Thomas Baldwin, the boats cap
tain. and Jerry Wetzeil, the first engineer
OF the boat. The nine compa MES OF the
Twenty sixth Indiana tad marched off the
boat e. the corn field. Before the troops
tad time "a get in line a terrific firing
commenced.
'-a;e Ja.ets," says Mrs. Roberts, were
flying around US thick and fast. Engineer
WetZell stayed but moment, nd then fell
on tbs hands aud Knees on tn office floor,
creptto the staIrway Y tina led do wnsta irs and
disappes red. After TIE battle | learned
that he went for safety t. the hold Of the
boat. Capt Cayton tried t. pull inc off the
stool, but deserted me and went on his
hands aud knees after the other one. Then
Capt Baldwin OF the bat gra bbedine. He,
tor. fell cn tits hands and knees and went
with his head foremost down the stairs TO
tte hold of the boat.
As soon as ne was gone flew from
any stool ANA ran downstairs to the gang
pIsak aud on TO the oornfield. The first
soldier 1 saw 1 stopped down and helped
10 raise. lore him, grooming and crying
with pain. % the toai. l ran as fast as
I could 10 the field again. and brought In
the ssIue manner another wounded sol
der. / made twent y-two trips OF this
kind, and each tine brought back
wounded usn. and filled the two state
rOolus between shc wheels OF the boat
when I ran through the cabin for an
otter wounded soldier the men We're re-
treat Ing IN CaLfIS:oii, ara the lower deck
ana plank were fun OF excited aud run
ming soldiers. The boat pulled out
ia the river, ran back two and one-half
miles. ana anchored until the earliest
dawn OF day"
After acting as hospital nurse, and
on tie seCtmd morning after the battle,
Col. wheatley invited Miss Reader out
on the low, TO take leave OF and bid
farewell to the. hoys, for they We're leav-
ing tie boat that morning 10 go over
land. roundabout way, TO reach Col.
Muliican. The officers OF the regiment
were standing on the Tow of the boat
Below. On the low OF the boat. was a
beautiful slaow white horse. with q new
sice-Sa ddie 81 tan and tan iiridle, which
Col. Kheatley, the Commander OF the regi-
ment, presented 10 her in 8 very impressive
speech as mark or gra altitude OF the Off
GERS OF the regiment.