Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-08-26
STRANGE STORY OF MRS. VAN.
METRE
(From the Clarke Courier.


Mrs. Elizabeth VanMetre who died
here recently was the central figure
of an interesting historical episode
that occurred in this County during
the Civil War and which won her re-
cognition from the state of Vermont.
Several books, it is said have been
written around the story, one of the
being "An Unknown Heroine" by L.
! +. Chittenden, which is probably the
best known locally. 1t is of note
that the dedication the author in the
volume was made to Major Danger
field Lewis, of Audley Farm, near
Berryville, ''as a slight recongnition
of his hospitality and of his assistan-
&c in verifying the noble example of
one of his neighbors."
The book was published in 1893,
and contains as frontispice an early
portrait of Mrs. Van Metre.
Praises the Valley
Chapter 2 of the work opens with
these words that characterize so we'll
the impressions of a stranger when
he arrives in the Valley.
"There are localities in our favor
ed land which nature has made as
OCduLlI III DIS a DOtt uI6dHl--F rom
the fine, large, rambling buildings
always provided with broad lawns
dispense that liberal kindly hospital
ity which makes a visit to one of
these families an oasis in the life of
a resident of the city-an event long
to be remembered in the journal of
the traveller"
The episode. however, with which
this article is concerned and which
we promised several weeks ago has
to do with a young Yankee officer
named Bedell. Mrs Van Metre then
young married woman of about 20
years of age, was living on her hus-
bands plantation near Berryville.
A faithful old slave who had re-
fused to accept emancipation came to
her one dav and whispered that there
was Yankee officer dying for want
of water or bread in the next planta-
ton, which had been deserted when
its owners went to aid the Southern
Confederacy.
She and her faithful attendant
drove to the scene and found Lieut..
Henry E. Bedell of the 18th Ver-
mont Light Infantry on the verge of
agonizing death, locked in a barren
chamber on the floor of the home.
Only few months before her own
brother had died before Northern
guns, at Gettysburg, and her husband
and another brother had been sent
to Fort Delaware in captivity. Brush
ing aside the grief the war had
brought into her own home, she had
the room made comfortable and call
ed in her family physician to attend
the man.
Encountered Many Dangers
For two weeks the young Southern
girl nursed the Yankee officer night
and day. Often she had to ride all
the way to Harpers Ferry through
dangerous country for SURGICAL dress
ings and medicine. And after he had
reached a stage where he could COM
fortably leave, she, herself, under
took to smuggle him out of the Con-
federate territory.
When the matter was brought to
the attention of Secretary of War
Stanton, that officer Immediately or
dered the release of her husband,
Maj. Gen. E. A. Hitchcock was COM
nissioned to apprise Mrs. Van Metre
of the fact, and his letter follows:
Washington, D. c.,
Nov 4th, 1854.
Mrs. Van Metre, Harper's Ferry,
Madam 1t is with unfeigned
pleasure that comply with the in
structions of the Secretary of War.
and inform you that he has ordered
the unconditional discharge of your
husband. now at Fort Delaware.
20 L =.
touched by the report received
through General Stevenson, of your
noble and humane conduct toward a
wounded Federal officer and soldier,
and without moments delay has
acted upon the suggestions Of Gener-
al Stevenson and ordered the dis
charge of your husband, as some ac-
acknowledgements of the feminine
goodness and nobleness manifested in
your person.
IF such an example could but ex-
tensively find limitations, it would do
infinite honor to your sex and great
ly relieve war of some of its most
barbarous tendencies.
Very respectfully your obedient
servant, "E. A. Hitchcock.
"Maj.-Gen. Vols"
The book can Unknown Heroine"
includes chapter on the immediate
illness of Mrs. Van Metre, following
the safe rescue of Lieut.. Bedell, and
depicts her remorse at that time that
she had not let the young officer die.
She was fearful of the opinion of her
sisters in the South, but she kept re-
peating in her delirium that she had
done it for her husbands sake.
The years have washed away most
of the bitterness that arose from the
strife of North and South, the sec
tions have been recemented in the
bond of peace by several subsequent
struggles against common enemy,
and there are many who now con-
done the heroic act of mercy and