Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-08-14
Civil War Stories
a woman's Courage.


Morgan's men are ON us :"
II was in 1863, at the time whom
John Morgan and his famous band of
guerrillas We're raiding the country,
plllaging, burning and striking terror
10 all the country round about. that
little band of Union men, about 500. a
detachment of General Lew wallace's
division, who had been left to protect
supplies at point in Kentucky near
the Ohio line, were surprised and sur
rounded by Elsworth's division Of
Morgan's men.
A sergeant dashed without ceremony
into headquarters with the startling
news. There was no time for delay
The outposts had reported the stimuli
taneous appearance Of lines of mounted
men springing like ghosts from all
points Of the compass.
"Morgan's devils? That means trou,
be" cried the Colonel. Here. Craw-
ford, wire Cincinnati, for reinforce
ments.
Frank Crawford an aid TO General
Wallace, and detailed as telegraph OPP
orator, grasped the key of the ticker
and flashed an appeal over the wire
Back came the answer:
Special train, 1000 men, south
bound, pass you in an hour, Stop
them"
Preparations for defense were useless,
The guerrillas began to close in and the
bluecoats found themselves outnumber-
I'd five To one But there appeared to
be no intention on the part of the raid
ars To press fight. They amused them
selves by slowly riding around the
camp and setting slow fires to the sup
ports OF railroad bridges over the river
near the camp. This gave the Union
boys no little alarm. Some one must
get through the lines and flag the train
who will volunteer to run the
sauntletY' asked the commander.
He looked at the circle of brave men
around him There was pause, II
meant almost certain death.
Il will 60" cried one.
What, you, Crawford?'
Yes. Here, give me the flag"
Frank Crawford was no coward but
In a tent adjoining headquarters lay 4
handsome brown-eyed woman, his
wife, and hy her side bright little
baby boy, horn under the old flag but
four days before. Near by an old col
ored nurse was comforting a 3-year-old
lad who was frightened by the noise
without The husband and father chok.
al back the emotions whicb threatened
10 shake his brave purpose and after
hasty embrace and gsirting kiss
rushed out of the tent
The guerrillas We're riding around
outside, keeping close watch over every
movement In camp. Stealthily Craw
ford moved along, watching for an TIA
guarded point al an opportune mo
ment Mrs. Crawford was as brave az
her husband. Rising from her bed, SIN,
staggered to the door Of the tent JUS
i'm time to see him captured. Her hear
stood still for a momen then, quick as
A flash, she turned, pressed her babe t.
her bosom for an instant, then glidef
out and across the camp between the
tents, like white ROBBED specter. Heed
less of danger, she hurried on, the ex
element giving her strength
The soldiers stood aghast as the wo
man rushed past them. Ahead were
the bridges. and clouds Of smoke we"c
slowly rolling skyward from the rebe
fires beneath.
"Haltm The order rang out above
the din.
The determined woman paid no at
tention to the command.
fire" A cloud Of bullets fell or
all sides She needed them hot, but
ran on. her long black hair flying about
her shoulders and her loose gown and
bare feet giving her the appearance
Of an insane woman. She reached the
bridge and leaped from tie 10 tie III
safety. Beyond was second bridge
Could she make Il? II was burning
underneath. She could see the flames
leaping up around the beams, She
grew dizzy She dared not look down.
Everything was getting black. With
superhuman strength she gathered her
self for the final effort Another beam
was reached, another, one more. Thank
God. she was over.
Her foot had scarcely left the last
beam when, crash the whole structure
collapsed Horrltied and stunned by
the effect Of her narrow escape, for a
moment she was poweriess to move.
Then she heard the whistle OF the 10
c0motive as 1t rounded the curve.
Springing forward, followed by the
angry and disappointed cries Of her
pursuers. and grasping the little red
skirt Of her baby. which she had picked
up from the floor OF the tent as she
left. she raised il, and, summoning all
her remaining strength. waved il frant-
ically above her head. A rife shot rang
out, and the brave woman fell. pierced
by rebel bullet.
The signal was seen. The train with