Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-23

tion and strength Of the Union forces.
II is said that Miss Ford. on several occa-
sions attested her loyalty TO the S9nln'
Is bratIng great dangers 10 obtain iuIor-
nation for the Confederate coinluanuei''
HELD BY THE ENEMY.
In March. 1863, she was arrested with
her father and others by Union troops |
on suspicion of having given the lnIotIha-
finn which led to Mosbys successful at
tack ON Fairfax. At the time of her ar
rest the weather was very inclemeHt ana
the roads deep with mud. Provost-Mar-
shal Connor. however, decided that the
prisoners should walk 20 the old Capitol
prison in Washington, distance or hlteeh
miles.
A Mr.. sweetser, of Salem, Mass, who
is still living. was then an army trader at
Fairfax Courthouse, and had a wagon ana
several horses. He suggested that the
prisoners should ride in the wagon. This
nroposition was rejected by the provost
marshal who declared i'm vigorous IAN
g1age that the prisoners should walk.
Mr.. Sweetser replied that the prisoners
of whom some were sick, could not Walk
that distance in the mud-that IL would
! he inhuman for them 10 do so. He fur
ther said that as the provost marshal
jurisdiction extended only one mile, that
! fbev could walk that distance, and as
! there was no civil or military law TO COM
| mel them to walk any further. ne would
| take the responsibility and carry them 10
! Washington. Miss Ford was released
! after several months Imprisonment and
| sent to Richmond.
MARRIED HER GUARD.
But during her Imprisonment Miss Ford
made the acquaintance Of Major Charies
| Willard. Of the volunteer Union army
and proprietor Of Wizards Hotel, Wash
,neton. He was attracted by the bright
! heautv and the fearless nature OF MS
/ prisoner: she by the chivalry OF her guard
There is a novel hidden i'm the stories
they have told their son Of their courtship
under difficulties in the old Capitol prison.
but II was not long after Lee had surren-
Sorod ot Appomattox before the Fairfax
/ beautv gave her hand in marriage 70 the
brave and tender young Union officer.
Colonel willard is the result Of that
happy union.
A STORY OF GENERAL FlIH LEE
,rbere is another story suggested by the
foregoing which is well worth telling
coon after the capture Of Miss Ford an
advance Of the Confederate forces caused
! the Union forces TO ran back to"aIu
WASHINGTON. and Fairfax Courthouse was
, evacuated by them. This left the Union
? ists who were there unprotected, and all
| oVcent Mr. Sweetser, the trader, who nae
= been so kind TO Miss Ford hastily depart
/ cd one morning. He chose 70 be somewhat
deliberate In his movements, and he lei
| Tho afternoon come before he ieft Thef
7 he loaded up his goods. took his wife an'
r SON and started down the turnpike toWar'
e Alexandria. They stopped that night a
Arnandale with n large number OF traders
Y and n sGuad Of Union soldiers The FOL
l lowing morning General Fitzhush Le'
r entered the town with 1900 men and cap
a tured the entire party
= The prisoners were ordered IN line u
march 10 Richmond. Mr.. Sweetser wa
very lame. and his wife waited upoi
General Lee to allow her husband u
ridc. The request was granted.
The procession had not gone TAR "he,
General Lee came up and bade Mr.. Sweet
ser ahght and go about his business.
REWARD OF CHIVALRY.
Mr.. Sweetser, turning to General Lee
said: "Please. General give me a pas
| through YOUR lines" General Lee tooi
cut his pocket-book, tore out leaI, an
| wrote a pass on IL, adding: cause M
| defence OF a helpless woman" When Mi
Sweetser was captured members OF lie
| brigade took from him a handsome gci
watch This watch was returned 10 Mi
sveetser by order Of General Lee an
was carried by Mr.. Sweetser for mar
lars He now lives in Salem, Mass.