The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-02
MISSISSIPP'S HEROINE.
Thrilling Experience OF Mrs. Delina
Roberta


Mrs. Delina Reader Roberts IL about 10 be
presented with n medal earned by her for an
act OF heroism during the War of the Rebel
lion. This rs rather tardy recognition Of an
incident which is tremendously exciting. but
Mrs. Roberts (sie was Miss Reader when it
happened) is none the less happy for the
honor which 10 so deservedly bestowed upon
her.
In September, 1861. and immediat ely fol-
lowing the Fort Doneson battle, which
lasted three days and nights, she secured
from the provost marshal at st. Louis a
government PASS 70 go aboard the govern
ment steamboat Des Moines. which was
ordered To Donclson to bring back n lead
OF wounded soldiers who had fought in the
Donelson battle. Her primary object was 10
bring back her brother, who was wounded.
AT that time Miss Render was only seventeen
years IL !.
A the Des Moines was about 20 leave her
moorings there came aboard the Twenty
sixth Indiana infantry. full regiment,
ono thousand strong, ordered 10 reinforce
Colonel James A. Mulligan, who was at Lex
ington, Mo-, surrounded by twenty five
thousand OF General Sterling Prices rien.
While passing through the most dangerous
part of tho country at pight, where hands OF
euerilas were numerous the boat ran into
tho bank. The officers windows were nll
open, and Miss Reader was sitting ON the
high stool that belonged to the clerk OF the
boat. In the office were CAPTAIN George
Cayton. ono OF the pilots; Captain Thomas
Baldwin, the boats captain and Jerry
Wetzel first engineer OF tho boat. The nine
J M mi ~ n ha r,ra stwtl, Ind haI
marched of the boat 10 tho corn field.
Before the troops had time to get in line
terrific firing commenced "The bul.
lots" says Mrs. Roberts, "w9re flying
around us thick and fast Engineer wetzoll
stayed but moment and then fell on his
hands and kness on the office floor, crept TO
the stairway that led down stairs and dis.
appeared. After the battle learned that he
went for safety to the hold Of the boat.
CAPTAIN Cayton tried TO pull me OF the stool,
but descrted me and went on his hands and
knees after the other one. Then Captain
baldwin, of the toat, grabbed me. He, too,
foll on his bands and knees and went with
his head foremost down the stairs TO the
hold o; the boat.
''As soon as he wss gone / few from my
stool and ran down STAIRS To the gang plank
fnd on 10 the Ofnnelu. Ine yfst soldier i
saw down | stopped and helped 10 raise. ]
bore him, groaning and crying with pain, 10
the loat | ran a. fast as I could to the field
again and brought il the same manner
another wounded soldier. | made twenty
two trips of this kind, and 'ach time brous ht
back n wounded man and filed the top state
rooms between the wheels of the beat.
"When ran through the cabin for another
wounded soldier tie men were retreating in
confusion, and the lower deck and plank
were foil of excited and running soldiers.
The four boats pulled out in the river, ran
back two and one-half miles and ancnored
until the earliest dawn of day"
After acting as hospital nurse, and on the
second morning sftor the battle, Colonel
Wheatley invited Miss Reader ont on the bow
TO take leave OF and bid farewell 10 the boys,
for they were leaving the boats that morning
10 go overland "A roundabout way, 10 reach
Colonel Mulligan The officers of the regi-
mcnt were standing on the bow OF the boat.
Below, on tho how OF the boat, was n beau
tiiul snow white horse. with n new side
saddle Of tan and n tan bride which Colonel
wheatley, the commander OF the regiment,
phesented to her, in n very Impressive
speech os mark Of gratitude OF the officers
of the regiment.-N. Y. Herald.