Year: 1868

West Tennessee has not few patriotic
and brave woman who deserve mention
as well as brave men who suffered and
fought in defence of the old fag Among
the number who were devoted with all of
woman's passionate ardor to the salvation
of our government, through its four long
years of awful struggle with intestine
foes, and who dared to stand up for its
cause and denounce its enemies in the
very face of death, was Aunt Patsy Cole,
of Dresden, Weakley County. Aunt
Patsy, never known by any other name
is widow. Although now past seventy
years of age, her form is erect and her
eyes as penetrating as years ago-before
her expressive face was furrowed by the
deep lines of care and hardship, or her
hair whitened by years of widowhood or
dependence. Her kind and sympathetic
heart has endeared her to the whole
community around her, and especially the
boys and girls, who are as familiar with
her as with their own parents. The fear
less and straight forward manner with
which she expresses her opinions is one
of her prominent traits. No one ever
questioned her sincerity, and whenever
a scoundrel or any wrong receives her
rebuke, the boldness and directness with
which she always utters it, leaves nc
chance for a misunderstanding. Many
rebel neighbor, and even the late con-
servative candidate for Governor of Ten
nessee, Emerson Ethridge, whose resi-.
dence is in sight of her own house, expe.
rienced the meaning of this statement
within the past eight years.


An incident illustrative of the patriot
ism and dauntless spirit of the noble wo-
man happened soon after Forests cavalry
were camped in Dresden, on their march
from Union City to Trenton. A portion
of his command, located themselves
close around Aunt Patsy's house, and
compelled her to feed some of the num-
ber. She reluctantly complied, but not
without denouncing them as towards and
thieves, to feed on an old, defenceless,
poor woman, who was without child or
husband to assist her. They stayed.
nevertheless, and ate of her -four and
meat till both were nearly exhausted,
and then took up their march.


In a few days afterward, just as she was
sitting down to her supper of some bis
cuit-the last of her four-up rode two
guerrillas to her door, and demanded of
her where her husband was. She at once
replied with earnest emphasis, "He's
dead or he would be in the Union Army"


where are your boys" they next
demanded. They are alive, thank the
Lord, in the Union Army she quickly
answered. This was kind of bravery
and loyalty these ruffians were not accus-
toned to, and instead of its commanding
their respect, as such boldness from a
defenseless woman would have done if
they had not been cowardly dogs, they
became furiously enraged, and swearing
they would shoot her, cooked their revol-
vers to do so. She, without finching
dared them to do the act. But seeing
that they could not intimidatet her by
threats, they took their revenge in an
other way, by shooting her turkey and
favorite dog, and greedily eating her last
morsel of food.


She was driven to many an extremity
during the reign of rebel terrorism, and
the consequent destitution, but she sur
vived them all, and as in the above, so
in every instance, with exalted heroism,
she advocated our glorious banner-the
red, white and blue.