Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-07-01
who called at the house


Every week vegetables. poultry. mutton, etc.
were brought to Valley Forge by the general.
own people. either from his farm eight miles
E from Morrtstown. N. j., or from the Livingston
manor house, for our heroes OF the Revolution
had to supply their own rations. and this one IN
n particular, who raised 4 regiment and equipped
Il At his own expense. was never repaid for food,
or services, by an ungrateful country.
Daily Lady Kitty would sally to the camp with
2 basket hlled with goodies on her, arm, followed
by 2 servant laden with clothing for the soldiers.
$S It was . long. cold walk from her home to the
camp, but the young girl brayed 1t in spite OF
snow and storm. The doors OF hut after hut
would be gently knocked at and the inmates ques-
g toned as to their most pressing needs. Nc one
what q blessingsst these visits were to
the suffering men. There was hardly one VII,
was not afflicted with frostbites and for these
LADY Kitty, had q sovereign cure learned from the
old squaw. This with other remedies drawn
from the handy reticule. were lavtshly given with
many g CHEEKY word or laugh at the travelling
drug shop. Il The baskets containing }d~elicacies for:
the very sick were soon emptied and besides;
many q mans heart was made glad by. the gift
of 9 warm worsted comforter for his neck or 4
pAirs OF knitted stockings Or mittens. Then there
were underclothes made fromH the fleece Of the
sheep raised on the Jersey hills. the WOOL having
been spun In tenants houses and woven on the
looms that sgroaned and creaked INCREASINGLY.
This wassthe work Of the women who stayed at;
home. while the men folk struggled with the
horrors Of army life. Y
The fingers OF the women OF the day were
never idle We arc told on page AT Of Mr.
Irving Life Of General Washington" that his
wife5'set an example to lady visitors BY gdiligent.s
" plying her needles knitting stockings for poor.
destitute soldiers .''$# And, indeed, women busy
needles clicked far into the night, even when
frugal housewives only permitted the blaze OF
the nre3 to light the rooms, forScandles were luxu-.
$ries IN those days, although they were home
made. and these self sacrificing women denied
themselves every comfort they could, In hopes Of
and many a candle that had been made IN the
family kitchen and perhaps from bayberrles
picked by delicate fingers found its way to the
shnts Of the men, Most OF these were sNliterate
fellows who had obeyed the call to arms leaving
their families in distant parts OF the country.
Lady Comforter as she was called by the men,
would askgeach one about his LIE. and suggest
that she would write letters to his home-boulnnd
family or friends. Per, ink and paper would be
whipped from the great }reticule hanging by her
side, and q dictation taken down, which must
have given pleasure and hope at many a desolate
.freside. The ladies were cheered In their benevo-
lent work In the camp by the Communications OF
the commander-in-chief who could not be sum
ciently grateful for these ministrations.
#s The young Saide-de-camp. James Monroe (who
was recruiting his strength after q severe wound
received during q late battIe) was detailed to
accompany the young LADY on her daily rounds.
to report officially on the condition Of the men.
This duty was not uncongenial to the young Wiz.
gtnianG and the one bright spot in the dark days
OF suffering for the men in camp was watching Y
the 2courtship o.. their future president, and his
engagement 10 Miss Nanny Browne was soon
duly announced and hurried arrangements made
for a wedding In the spring at the home of her
Mrs.Yan Horne: She could not have asked