The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-06-27


IN tWS noby nursed the sick. fed the
wv starving and clothed the naked
SN&kMV left unrecogniZed. There are
no public records OF them, even
their quarters that had been the shelter OF the
needy the stage Of the Conway cabal THAT was
one Of the remarkable and dramatic incidents OF
the war; the cradle of the first aid to the in
Jured, and the setting for love affair OF one OF
the first presidents of the United States, was
not included in the state reservation and taken
under its protection but is fast falling into decay
to the shame and dishonor Of the guardians who
are negecting one Of the two houses at Valley
Forge that historically noteworthy and for a
puerile reason unworthy OF a great common
wealth.
This little farmers house the headquarters
of Major General Lord Stirling, one Of the most
gallant and loyal American soldiers. Born and
bred in New York, he had inherited title from
his Scotch ancestors just at the breaking out OF
the Revolution. He had served as major and aide
de-camp to General Shirley at the time Of Gen.
eral Braddock's defeat He had been In every
battle fought. against the British in New York
and New Jersey and was General Washington's
most trusted general, as is proved by the numer-
GUS letters still preserved in the New York His
torical society. The headquarters OF this gentle
man was shared by his brave wife and daughter,
who abandoned their beautiful home at Basking-
ridge on the hills Of New Jersey, and with the
Of the celebrated winter speh n the windswept
valley on the outskirts Of civilization bravely
as any soldier officer or general
To these heroines Of Valley Forge no history
points no cenotaphs raised. even their deeds
are only traditional and crySallized in the memo
ries of few lovers of bravery, selfsacrifice and
feminine devotion.
II was early in the season when 1t was decided
to camp near Philadelphia, and the army under
General Washington collected at Valley
Forge, when Lord Stirling wrote to his wife en-
treating her to join him there, his duties de-
tanned him with his men, but he had been prom
ised comfortable quarters, and he had no idea Of
the smallness of the house and its numerous dis
comforts. For It great demand to make
of the delicately nurtured women, who had been
reared at the luxurious Livingston manor house,
on the Hudson river, in Mr.. Livingston's COM
Portable house in New York But Lady Stirling
wisely determined that her place was by her
husbands side. so with full stan Of servants
(for she foresaw the demands that would be
made on her hospitality she and her daughter.
Catherine started in the great family coach,
drawn by four gray horses, for the long drive
over the Jersey hills to Pennsylvania.
When they reached their destination they found
a small farmers cottage had been assigned to
Lord Stirling for his quarters It the
farthest house from General Washington's head
quarters, under a hillside and a creek. It
for the accommodation Of family and servants.
But with unfailing good humor and the capability
of splendid housewives, the ladies' COPIED with
the situation and made the house ready for win
ter. They filled long flannel bags with earth and
placed them against the door stills and the loose
ly fitting sashes TO keep out the wind. so the
house could be more readily kept warm They
pasted muslin on the walls and hung curtains
before the windows for the same purpose. Then
they sent to Baskingridge for many loads OF
hickory wood before the roads became choked
with snow. for fuel was scarce and the soldiers
requisitioned all that there was to be found in
the neighborhosd.
General Washington welcomed them gladly and
at once requested that they would assist him to
entertain the various people who daily visited
the camp. either for political purposes. business
or curiosity.
Lady Strings household was composed OF her
husband and his aide, DR.. Enoch Edwards, whose
name will be recognized by manv OF his descend
ants in Philadelphia today. Then there was
Lady Kitty and her friend Miss Nanny Browne,
the orphaned granddaughter Of Governor Brock
hoist, and these danes may well be called the
heroines Of Valley Forge although their minister
ings and suferings found no recognition in the
man-written chronicles of that fearsome winter.
Christmas passed sadly with little merrymaking
good cheer and daily the sufferings of the ILL.,
clad badly-housed soldiers we're forced on the
medical men became more and more distressing.
There we're comfortable hospitals. trained
nurses or even necessary clothing. bandages and
lint for the poor fellows. Lady Stirling and her
daughter we're no strangers to the sick room;
both were capable nurses and had learned from
an old Indian woman many salves and remedies
made from herbs simples, not the least Of
which was the celebrated Seneca OIL ST. Johns
wort lotion and rattesnake grease all of which
they had provided themselves with before leaving
home Without hesitation these brave women
arranged a division Of work among them. for II
fell entirely their individual efforts. since the
whole country was oyerburdened and there was
no relief to be obtained from organized sani-
tary commission or red cross association. Quiet
ly and unostentatiously the three ladies divided
the work among them to do what was possible
to alleviate the increasing horrors about them.
To Lady Kitty assigned a daily visit to the
camp while the delicate Miss Nanny sewed or
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