Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-07-03

"Cio IIeely gwen TO
the furnishing soldiers who called at the housa
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 rations and this one in
particular, who raised a 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
basket filled with goodies on her arm, followed
by servant laden with clothing for the soldiers
1t 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 ques-
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
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 laugh at the travelling
drug shop. The baskets containing delicacies for
the very sick were soon emptied and besides
many mans heart was 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
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 AIT of Mr.
Irvng's Life Of General Washington" that his
wife, "set example to lady visitors by diligent-
ly plying her needles knitting stockings for poor,
destitute soldiers" And, indeed, >womens busy
needles clicked far into ha night when
frugal housewives only permitted the blaze OF
the fire to light the rooms for candles luxu-
ries in those days, although they were home
made, and these self-sacrfcing women denied
themselves every comfort they could in hopes Of
being able to relieve the needs of the soldiers,
and many a candle that had been made in the
family kitchen, and ~erhaps from bayberries
picked by delicate fingers, found its way to the
huts of the men. Most Of these were illiterate
fellows who had obeyed the call to arms leaving
their families in distant parts of the country
Lady Comforter" as she called by the men,
would ask each one about his life, and suggest
that she would write letters to his home-b bound
family or friends. Pen, ink and paper would be
whipped from the great reticule hanging by her
side and dctation taken down, which must
have given pleasure and hope at many desolate
freside The ladies were cheered in their benevo
lent work in the camp by the commentators OF
the commander-in-chie' who could not be sutil-
GENTLY grateful for these minlstrations.
The young aide-decamp, James Monroe twhc
was recruiting his strength after a severe wound
received during late battle) was detailed to
accompany the young lady on her daily rounds,
to report officially on the condition Of the men.
This duty was not uncongenal to the young Vir-
ginian and the 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 - asked