Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-03-23
CONFEDERATE HERoINEs.
Records Which Some Women Made
for Themselves in Aiding the
Southern Cause.

give lew INSTANCES lTOH TecOlleC-
tion and hearsay of the deeds of
women on the confederate side, be-
cause / was confederate, and If the
screed serves to call the attention of
some women of ability to the subject
l shall be well satisfied. Those who
are old enough will recollect with
what frantic enthusiasm the women
on both sides, and especially those
Of the south, were imbued at the
breaking out of hostilities in 1861.
1t has been said, perhaps with some
degree of truth, that the sections
might never have come to blows had
it not been for the earnestness with
which the women of the south threw
themselves into the cause. However
that may be, it IS certain that they
attended meetings, made uniforms
and flags, sent their most valuable
jewels to the confederate treasury
to increase the fund, and urged their
husbands, brothers and lovers to go
at once into the ranks, to swell the
who was at all dilatory about voiun-
teering was at once placed under a
social ban; they would neither permit
him to visit them nor would they
speak to him on the streets, unless
with derisive contempt. He was
completely ostracised, and is it to be
wondered at that the confederate ar
mics sprung up like mushrooms in
night? A man can stand almost any
thing better than the scorn of his
women folks.
Soon after the war actually began
and the advance on Bull Run had
been made many OF the southern wom-
en- showed their mettle. Some time
before the battle was Joined, Gen.
]. e. B. Stuart, commanding the cav
airy, was very anxious to obtain GER
tain information as to the position
of several federal brigades. He was
acquainted with q highly educated,
quiet and refined young lady of Fair
fax Court House, and he doubtless
had discovered that she was possessed
of great nerve and spirit, and an en-
thusiastic devotion to the cause of
the south. He managed to get a
note to her, requesting her to obtain
such information as she could, little
thinking that she would not only OBJ
tain it, but bring it herself instead
of sending messenger.
His surprise was great, then, to see
her ride into his headquarters on the
eve OF the battle, thoroughly posted
as to what he wanted to know. She
had undergone much hardship and
danger, having been shot at many
times in running the gantlet of the
pickets, but she gamely persevered
until her mission was accomplished.
In recognition of her bravery and
intelligence, Stuart commissioned her
as lieutenant and -de-camp on his
staff, and this appointment was act
ually recognized by the confederate
government Miss F. was perhaps
the only female commissioned officer
in either army. The lady was after
wards captured and locked up for
many months in the old capitol pris-
on, think, and, after her release,
truth compels the statement that, in
the latter days of the war she was
married to federal major, then and
now q wealthy citizen of the city OF
Washington.
Belle Boyd, the well-known confed-
crate spy, need only to refer to here,
| but IL her adventures were written
out they would read like a romance,
and would show that her services at
one time were simply invaluable to
the cause she espoused. Mrs. Green
how, too, was a famous confederate
secret agent, and she had as much
nerve and daring as any man living.
While running the blockade at Will
mington, NJ c., as bearer of dis
| patches to England, in the third year
of the war, the steamer was sunk by
| Greenhow was among the drowned
Her loss was severe blow to the
confederate authorities, particularly
at the time it occurred
l have heard soldiers of the army
of the west speak enthusiastically oi
an incident well known in that army
During one of Gen. N. B. Forests
III lcliucooCO hS Wdo dnA-
ious to beat a strong force of the
enemy which was posted and in.
trenched on the opposite bank of 6
deep stream, the bridge over which
was the objective point. Forres
brought up his artillery, and charged
again and again with his dismountet
cavalry, but his every attempt wa!
bloodily repulsed. Toward nightfall
In o final desperate charge, Col
Forrest, the brother of the general
fell dead at the head of his command
Gen. Forrest, who was most ten
derly attached to his brother. wa!
maddened by his death and resolved
to whip the enemy or lose his com
mand He selected a picked squad
ron and a single piece of artillery, ant
directed the remainder of his com
| taI. 10 a