Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-03-03

& to depositors in addition to
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Late Col. BedelPs Benefacsor Receives
Thanks Of State
A resolution in the Vermont legisla-
ture extends to southern woman the
thanks of Vermont for her kindness to
the late Col. H. E. Bedell of Newport
and a native of Orleans county. Major
Chas. G. Gould of Washing ton. d e.,
who was formerly member of 1t.
Bedell's regiment. and Thomas G..
| Cheney of MorrisviIle visited Mr.. and
Mrs. Van Metre in October and were
most Hospitality received. Mr.. Cheney
writes the editor: at seemed to me
| the most fitting that some recognition
should be made by Vermont of the.
great service she rendered one of our
S ,diers, so had these resolutions MIRO
duced by Col H. S. Foster. the mem
bar from Calais. 1t seemed to me.
most fitting that they should be intro
duced by him, since his father and two
Of his uncles were officers in 1t
B delPs regiment, and Col Foster,
wlila small boy, So mt several
months in the defense Of Washington
Ii
Bedeil Intimately"
The resolution follows:
Whereas Lit. Henry E Bedell Of Co.
D of the Eleventh Vermont. on Sept.
l3. 1864, was severely wounded at
| Opequan Creek while on reconnais
ance and suffered the amput ation Of
his left leg near the hip. from which
operation it was not thought he could
posi- bly, recover; and
| Whereas when few days later the
wounded and sick of the Union army
had to be removed to Harper's Ferry
in preparation for the coming battle of
Opequan, 1t. Bedell, after being trans
ported but short distance in an
ambulance tainted because of his in.
tense suffering. was removed to the
upper story of dwelling and laid upon
the floor, it not being expected he
would live through the night. and
Whereas food and medical supplies
were given people in charge of the
dwelling where he was left. who prom
lsed his comrades to care for him,
but who, utterly destitute of SYM
pathy. let him remain entirely alone
and uncared for, never entering his
room for three days, while he lay
utterly helpless, awaiting a death,
horrible in its loneliness and pain, which
would inevitably have come quickly
had not good Samaritan appeared in
the person Of Mrs. Bette Van Metre.
a southern woman scarcely twenty
years of age at the time, whose brother
had already fallen mortalIy wounded
at Gettysburg, and whose other broth
er and husband had been captured by
the Union forces and were then prison
ers az Fort Delaware, but who. not
Withstandlng all she had suffered be-
cause Of the war, most noplv proved
:, herself to unite with tender heart
the rarest courage and perseverance
and who, upon learning through nj
hearted negro Of Lit. Bedell's condition
went at once to see him, called in her
own family physician and for several
weeks devoted her entire time in an
endeavor t. save the wounded soldier S
life, notwithsta ndi G that it resulted
in her eing nearly ostracized by many
of her neigbbors b cause of their feel
ings toward the northern soldiers, and
Whereas she was obliged to make
frequent trips with broken-down
team, through region infested with
guerillas to Harper's Ferry, distance
of twenty miles. in order to secure
necessary medicines and supplies for
the patient, yet she never faltered and
| was finally rewarded by seeing the
wounded officer so far recovered that
, he was able to start for his home in
Westfeld. VT, accompanied by his
nurse, and
Whereas when Washington was
reached and 1t. Bedell had told Score
tary Stanton how his life had beer
saved through the devoted care OF
Mrs. Van Metre. the great secretary
l <,f off foI r h.
, order for the immediate release of Mr.
, Van Metre from Fort Delaware and he
acc mpanied his wife and It. Bedell t.
the latter's home in Vermont wher,
they remained until Lit Bedell hac
recovered from his wounds and Mr.
Van Metre from his sufferings occa
5 stoned by his imprisonment, and
: Whereas it has been learned that Mr.
t and Mrs Van Metre are still living a
: their old home in Berryville, Va. tn,
: former hale and hearty at the age o.
eighty. three, it seems most fitting tina
$ the state of Vermont should take some
! action in recognition of the unselfisf
t devotion of this young Virginia girl O.
S Mountain boys;
Therefore, be it resolved by tn
s senate and house of represent ative
e that we extend our hearty, though
e belated thanks and our best wishes TO
the years yet to be to Bette Val
; Metre, in whose noble soul glove,
: those fires which have done more thar
f laws could do to weld together tn
b North and the South. the old and M
new
r May the evening hours of her life b,
frightened by the memory of tina
. service rendered in life's morning. may
/, her declining years be years of rea
happiness and peace. and may ths
thought of her self-sacriticing ministr.
n to one who was accounted her enem.
t be ever an incentive to the men ant
i women of today, calling them out t