The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-03

one of the best families of the place as
Mrs. 'DOsia Smith. Besides being good
looking, in a wholesome, hearty, CHEEKY
way, she possessed manner of that at
tractive style best described as at the
same time frank and cOnfiding. Fur
thermore, she was surrounded by the
mystery of her name, or rather her
title. Nobody knew whether the Mrs
stood for the quick or the dead, and
both she and her friends were ominOus-
ly silent on the subject. IN a very
short time Mrs. 'Dosia Smith became
the center of attraction. She was the
originator of all the balls in town, and
all the visits to camp. She became the
friend and adviser of every officer, and
entertained all of them at pretty little
dinners at her friends homes. 1t was
not long until she began to talk of her
family in the south, beyond the lines
in Tennessee their sufferingS and priva-
lions, and their need of her as the
daughter of the house, who could COM
fort them in their time of trial. But
the blockade on the Mississippi was
very strict at that time, and she had
no hope of reaching her old home. Her
friends in the Missouri town had kindly
asked her to remain with them until 1t
was possible for her to go down the
river, and she had gratefully accepted
their hospitality. That constituted the
only explanation that was ever given
of her presence. 1t was good one, and
really created much sympathy for her
Among the young and susceptible
officers who became acquainted with
Mrs. 'Dosia Smith and took turns with
his fellow officers in acting as her
escort to the local functions was one
lieutenant who served on the staff of
Brigadier General Thomas A. Davies.
Suddenly this lieutenant was called
away on detached service, which sub
sequently led to his promotion as per
sonal aid to Major General Schoheld at
st. Louis. Mrs. 'DOsia Smith, if not
forgotten, was at least left in the back
ground. In the course of a few months
he nj
animation for a majOrship and was
given command of the Sixty-second
United States infantry, colored troops,
and ordered down the river.
las he was about to go aboard the
Mississippi steamboat that was to car
ry his regiment he was confronted by
a woman in tears, wringing her hands
in an agony of fear at the prospect or
being left behind. The major immedi-
ately recognized the grief-stricken wo-
man as Mrs. 'Dosia Smith. She eX-
planned that the captain of the boat
was willing to take her as a passenger,
but that he said it was useless for her
to embark because he could not carry
her through the union lines and land
her where she wanted to go.
Her family were by this time in
great straits she said, and it was ur-
gent that she get to them. If a union
officer would act as her escort for
short distance she would quietly leave
the boat at some designated landing
place and make no trouble to any one.
What could the gallant major do less
than offer his protection? She smiled
through her tears and thankfully went
aboard. During the short voyage the
major found Mrs. 'DOSia Smith quite
changed from her former vtvac1ous self.
She no longer cared to form new ac-
quaintances, but dWelt upon the dis
tress of her dear ones. Quietly seated
in a steamer chair, looking lOngingly
toward the southland, she declined to
promenade the deck or to make friends
with any but the captain of the boat
and her whilom friend, the newly COM
missiOned major When the boat drew
up at a lonesome landing place tO"WoOd
and water and dfsembark her one pas
Senger for that point, the young major
escorted Mrs. 'DOsia Smith over the
gangplank and said goodbye with a
feeling of rejoicing that it was not rebel
women whom he was going to fight.
''As the boat slowly swung out into
the stream again the captain and the
major stood at the rail watching the
lone passenger as she toiled up the
steep little path from the landing to
the small river town. Suddenly they
exchanged quick meaning glances. She
had seemed to stagger as If under a
heavy load, and yet her trunk stood on
the sandy bank, where a black roust-
about had deposited it, and she carried
only a little satchel.
q BY cracky!' the captain said, and
turned on his heel, and the major
shrank under his new shOulder-straps
and sat down with his thinking cap on.
once more brought Mrs. 'Dosia Smith
and the major face to face. 1t was on
a Mississippi river steamer, too. He had
been mustered out after the last battle
of the war and was returning home, and
she was on her way back to Missouri
her missions to the south and her suf-
fering family ended. The major recOg-
nized her at once. and, marching
straight up to her, he put out his hand
and said:
Tell me. honest Injun, did escort
a rebel mail when 1 took you through
the union lines?'
50 Indeed you did, and a big one,' re-
sponded Mrs. 'Dosia Smith.
knowing that a portion of the troops
in Missouri would be sent south, she
had made their acquaintance with the
purpose in view of claiming the protec-
ton of the first officer who could assist
her in taking aid and comfort in the
form of letters to the boys in gray, and
her friends gladly helped her whenever
they could. Happily, there was no need
in the war with Spain for the clande-
slime carrying of letters and messages
between different points of our country.
We were making common cause against
an enemy of civilization and humanity.
Whether Mrs. 'Dosia Smith still lives
to recall the exciting days of the civil
war is not known to the teller of this
little story but the officer who escorted !
her and her mail through the lines is
now Brigadier General J. K. Hudson"
FAIR SEX PLATTER HIM.