Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-19
Of CIVIL WAR
RETOLD FROM MEMORY
Mrs. Du HameI Relates How
Country Boy Was Saved
From Death.

There resides in the hurly- burly, Office
seeking. tariff-making city Of Washing
ton a woman, long past her eightieth
milestone. who. while observing the af-
Mirs of the day, yet dwells in the days
that were. when polish and the minuet
held sway and electric lights and turkey
trot were alike unthought OF.
This woman is Mrs. Elizabeth Du
Hamel, who will be eighty-six years old
PSeptember % She resides at the Olym-
pia apartments, 14th and Euclid streets
northwest, her mind undimmed by the
yeArs, and with an unfailing store Of
s6ncedote and story for the interested
listener. She formerly dwelt at 7th and
] streets northwest.
Husband White House Physician.
Her husband. Dr. William j. Du Hamel.
Mas White House physician to Buchanan
and Johnson, and at the time of the
civil war was chief surgeon at the Sol
djer's Rest, in the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad station. There the physical con-
dition of the troops from the north was
passed upon before they were allowed to
go to the front. DIR. Du Hamel was an
Intimate friend of President Lincoln
31ter the war lie removed to $50 Indiana
avenue, where he died i'm 1852.
Perhaps the most interesting of her
"reminiscences is one concerning the strug-
gle between the north and south. recalled
by the recent celebration at Gettysburg
of tn fiftieth anniversary of that decisive
battle.
sDu Hamel, ''the darkest time of those
dreary four years; rancor and hatred
held the minds of all in bitter sway.
Spies swarmed over the land, and sus-
picion was rife. The Confederacy was at
FOOD tide, and the eastern shore of Mary
ffand, always Confederate in its leanings.
was ablaZe with southern enthusiasm.
Harry Embart, a young farmers boy of
Queen Anne county. was swimming in
the Chesapeake
Soldiers Suit in Lieu of His Own.
"On returning to the shore after his
swim. he found blue uniform in the
place Of his own clothes. Just how the
uniform came there Is unknown. but it is
thought that deserter donued the boy s
Clothes, leaving his own in their stead.
In any event, on his way homeward he
strayed into the Union lines, was cap
yfured as a spy and taken to Fort Della
ware. a Federal prison. His parents,
after weeks of searching. located him in
the fort prison, where he was sentenced
20 be hanged. The date of execution was
SSet for the following morning Charter
ing a locomotive. Mr.. Embert hurried to
Washington, arriving in the middle Of
the night. President Lincoln, according
to his summer custom, had gone to the
Riggs cottage. since then called Presi-
dents house, in the grounds of the Sol
diers' Home. Mr.. Embert was himself
unknown, and at that hour of the night
could not gain admission, but remember
ing DR.. Du Hamel. a former resident OF
the eastern shore. and boyhood friend
whom he knew to be prominent Union
list and a friend of the President, he
sought him out. DR.. Du Hamel was
aroused, and, sympathizlng with Mr.. En-
bert, at once accompanied him to the Sol
diers' Home.
Lincoln in Night Attire.
1.-THE President was asleep when they
arrived, but DR.. Du Hamel sent up his
card asking an Immediate interview on