Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-05-27

brief visit General Earl Van Dorm
made one of his famous raids into
Holly Springs. Ills object was to de
Stroy the cOmmisSary, ordnance and
QuartcrmaSter stores and other army
supplies concentrated there and there
by thWart and defeat the purpose of
the Federal commander III the onward
march OF his COnqucrins army through
Mississippi, Nicksburg being General
Grant 5 objective point. The raid was
complete surprise and perfect sue
cess, and an immense supply of stored
ammunition was captured and destroy
ed by the Conlcdcratcs.
Failing to find General Grants oni-
cial papers at his official headquarters,
General Van Dorm and some of his fol-
lowers dashed down to the Walter resi-.
dencc. Entering the house and hastily
ascending the broad stairway, the
ClankinS of their SaberS and rattling of
their spurs rcsounded through its great
halls. 1t was the purpose of the Con-
Icucratc TO search General Grants
apartments for the latter'S campaign
documents, but just as he reached the
head of the stairs Mrs. GoVan, Il Strik-
ingiy beautiful woman, with the man
n"r and hearing of IL queen, appeared
suddenly before him and said:
General, | cntrcat you not to enter
Mrs. Grants bedroom. Such an in-
truSion would do for IL yandal, but not
for southern soldiers"
Earl Van Dorm, Il man Of graceful
figure and courtly bearing whose chiy-
airy was only cqualed by his mqucS-
toned and unSwcrving courage, re
piled: Madam, the rules of war are
sometimes ironclad. 1t would be
courtesy and not the usual practice Of
war 10 leave the room unscarched.
However, he added, with Il merry
twinkle in his eye, we will not en-
ter, as it is possible the documents
may not he there
The Confederate soldiers left the lit
tie town after dusk that evening. ON
his return from oxford, twenty-fOur
hours later, General Grant was much
aStOniShcd over the result of the Con-
fedcratcS' pop call" knowing what
an uncompromiSing rebel Mrs. Govan
WAS, he said to her: Mrs. Govan, |
owe you debt of gratitude, for you
have unconSciouSly done me Il great
service You have saved my campaign
papers. All the documents General
Van Dorm wished We're in the drawer
in my wifcS dresser"
Mrs. GOVan was deeply grievcd that
possibly she had injured cause for
which she would have given her hearts
best blood, and yet she felt she had
acted from the right impulses. But
for the Womanly instinct prompting
her to Shield the wife Of generous
foe, and the chivalry of Il southern otli-
Ger, worthy to rank with Bayard in
gentle courtesy and Difference to the
wishes of good woman, history, as
the story goes, touching Van Dorm and
Grant might have been written differ
entity from what it is today,
When the distinguished Federal COM
mandcr left Holly Springs he gave Mrs.
Govan protection papers, which are
still in the possession of her family.
Several times thereafter the house was
tred by Union soldiers, but was always
quickly cXtinguishcd when this order
of Major General Grant was shown:
"Thc house of Mrs. Govan. in south
west part of town, will be exempt from
seizure for hospital or other public pur-
poses, the family having protected the
baggage, arms, etc, for officers Of the
army during the late raid, their home
also now being the home of parties who
hav" been deprived of their homes for
pub i. purposes" Memphis CONNER
cial Appeal.