The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-31
GEN. LEES PRISONER IN 1868.
Given a Pass Through the Lines for
Defending a Woman.

A dispatch from Salem. Mass. 10 tho
Boston Globe. says: Moses sweetser "a
wen-known business man. who was cap
ured by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in Virginia m
1865 observed his seventy-hf,h birthday
Thursday. lie enjoys excellent health
and is as straight MS an arrow. ln form
and feature be greatly resembles the late
james 6. Blaine. and was am Intimate
friend of the Maine statesman
During Che civil war Mr.. Sweetser was
a trader or Onion puryey0r 1t Fairfax
Courthouse After the civil war De sct-
tied I'm Parkersburg. W. Va. where Dee
resided up 10 recent period. he now
lives portion of the time In New York
and Elizabeth city y. j.. but says his
home is as much in this city as anywhere
else.
owing 20 % chivalrous deed DO was
shown special kindness when captured by
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. The facts in the case
are replete with interest
During tho civil war there lived at Fair
fax Courthouse Va. refined and edu-
Gated young woman. Miss Ani)nia i.
Ford She was intensely devoted 20 the
cause of the Confederacy and IL is said
that just previous TO the first battle OF
D..
=. b. Stuart TO secure Information as 20
the position and movements of several
Union brigades
In March 1903. she was arrested with
her father and others by Union troops
ON suspicion OK having given the informa-
ton which led 20 Mosby's successful at
tack ON Fairfax. AT the time OF her ar
rest the weather was very inclement and
the roads deep with mud. Provost Mar
shall Conner however decided that ths
prisoners should walk 90 the old Capitol
prison in Washington. distance of ne
teen miles.
Mr.. Sweetser then was trader "a
Fairfax Courthouse and had "a wagon and
several horses Iie suggested that the
prisoners should ride in the wagon
This proposition was rejected by tho
provost marshal. who declared in yig1r-
Gus language that the prisoners should
walk
Mr.. Sweetser replied that the pusol-
ers. of whom some We're sick could not
walk that distance in the mud ihlt o.
would be- inhuman for them 90 do s0 nc
further said that as the provost marshal IS
jurisdiction extended only one mile. fItt
they could walk that distance. and as
there was no civil or military law fO come
pei them 10 walk AMY further ho would
take the responsibility and carry fhem to
washington.
Miss Ford was released after several
months imprisonment and sent f0 Rrh-
mOnd.
Soon after tho events above narrated
an advance of the Confederate FORE
caused the Union forces 10 ION back 'o-
ward Washington. and Fairfax COURT
house was cxcavated by them. This left
tho Cnionists who were there unrrot-cf-
ed and an EXCEPT MA SHccfser h1s'i-
ly departed one mornine He ch0r 20
BE- somewhat d.lihorlte tn his NOV mtnts
and he let the afternoon come Defor' he
left
Then he loaded NJ his goods. took -
wife and son and started down Che trfn-
pike toward Alexandra They opped
that night az Annaud1le with a large
number OF traders and a sqnaG ~ Union
soldiers.
The following morning General Fliz-
hugh Lee entered tho town with l.f3 men
and captured the entire party
The prisoners were ordered in line ~
march to Richmond. MT s~eetser was
very lame. and his wife waited upon Con
eral Lee 20 allow her husband 10 RIDE.
The request was granted.
The procession had not gone iar wnen
General Lee came mp and bade Mr.. Sweet
ser allght and go about his business
Mr.. Sweetser. turning to General Lee
said: please. General give me a pass
through your lines
General Lee took out his pocket-book.
tore out a leaf ana wrote q pass on &C..
adding: Cause. his defense OF help
less woman.
During The time Miss Ford va In pris-
on she made the acqutntance and wOl
the love OF Major Charles Willard. OF ihe
l'nion army and proprietor OF Wizards
'Ilotei IN Washington. After the war she
was welded 10 him. Both are now dead.
When Mr. Sweetser was captured men,
beers Of Lee brigade took from him a
handsome gold watch This watch was
returned 90 Mr.. Sweetser by order oS
General Lee. and WAS carried By NJ.
Sweetser nor many years.
THAT TIRED FEELING Is due 10 i'm