Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-06-26

the furnishing soldiers who called at the house
for food
Every week vegetables, poultry mutton etc.,
were brought to Valley Forge by the generals
own people, either from his farm eight miles
from Morristown, N. j., or from the Livingston
manor house, for our heroes Of the Revolution
had to supply their own rations, and this one in
particular, who raised regiment and equipped
1t at his own expense, was never repaid for food.
or services, by ungrateful country.
Daily Lady Kitty would sally to the camp with
a basket filled with goodies on her ARM followed
by servant laden with clothing for the soldiers.
It was long, cold walk from her home to the
camp, but the young girl braved It in spite Of
snow and storm. The doors Of hut after hut
would be gently knocked at and the inmates cues
toned as to their most pressing needs. No one
can imagine what blessing these visits were to
the suffering men. There was hardly one who
was not afflicted with frostbites and for these
Lady Kitty had a sovereign cure learned from the
old squaw This, with other remedies drawn
from the handy reticule were lavishly given with
many CHEEKY word or laugh at the travelling
drug shop. The baskets containing delicacies for
the very sick were emptied and besides
many mans heart made glad by the gift
Of warm worsted comforter for his neck or a
pair of knitted stockings or mittens Then there
were underclothes made from the fleece OF the
sheep raised the Jersey hills, the wool having
been spun in tenants houses and woven on the
looms that groaned and creaked increasingly.
This the work of the women who stayed at
home. while the men folk struggled with the
horrors of army life.
The fingers of the women of the day were
never idle. We are told on page At OF Mr..
Irvfng's Life of General Washington" that his
wife, "set an example to lady visitors by diigent-
ly plying her needles knitting stockings for poor,
destitute soldiers" And indeed, women's busy
needles clicked far into the night, even when
frugal housewives only permitted the blaze Of
the HIGHT hn for 1l1v1Y
ries in those days, although they we're home
made, and these self-sacrifcng women denied
themselves every comfort they could, In hopes OF
being able to relieve the needs Of the soldiers,
and many candle that had been made in the
family kitchen, and perhaps from bayberries
picked by delicate fingers found it's way to the
huts OF the Most of these were illterate
fellows who had obeyed the call to arms leaving
their families in distant parts Of the country
Lady Comforter" she called by the men,
would ask each about his life, and suggest
that she would write letters to his homebound
family or friends. Pen, ink and paper would be
whipped from the great reticule hanging by her
side, and dictation taken down. which must
have given pleasure and hope at many desolate
lreside. The ladies were cheered in their benevo-
lent work In the camp by the concentrations of
the commanderin-chief, who could not be suf1-
GENTLY grateful for these ministrations.
The young aide-decamp, James Monroe (who
ives recruiting his strength after severe wound
received during a 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 Vir-
ginian and the one bright spot In the dark days
of suffering for the men in camp was watching
the courtship of their future president, and his
engagement to Miss Nanny Browne was soon
duly announced and hurried arrangements made
for wedding in the spring at the home Of her
aunt, Mrs. Van Horne. She could not have asked