Year: 1861

LeOd.


The two noble heroines Misses Abbie Keer and
Mary Mcleod, of Fairmount, Marion county, who
rode from their homes to Phillippi, a distance of
Thirty odd miles to apprise our forces there Of the
approach of the enemy, arrived IN StauntOn by the
Western train Wednesday night last, and remain
ed till Friday morning, when they went to Rich
m0nd. While here they were the observed of all
Observers and were received with a cordial wei
Great anxiety was manifested by all to hear
a detailed account of their interesting adventures
from their own lips. They left FairmOunt at o.
clock on Sunday morning, and hastened. without
escorts, to Phillippi They had not gone great
distance before they found that shoe of of the
horses needed fixing. They stopped at blacksmith
shop for that purpose, and while there Union man
came up and questioned them very closely as to
who they were, and on what mission they were 60
ing Miss Mcleod replied to his interrOgatories-
telling him that their surname was Fleming, and
that they were going TO Barbour county to their
relations. Their interrogation seemed to be very
hard to satisfy, and it taxed the ingenuity of Miss
Mcleod to improvis a story which would succeed
in imposing upon him. As soon as the horseshoe
had been fixed, they again proceeded their way,
but had not gone far before their evil genius, their


interrogation at the blacksmith shop, dashed by them
on horseback.


They perceived that his suspicious had not been
allayed and that he was going on in advance of
them 10 herald the approach of spies. They allow
ed him to pass out OF sght in advanced, and they
destroyed the letters they had in possession that
the search of their persons, to which they then an
ticipated they would be required to submit. might
not betray them. When they arrived at the village
of Webster, they found it in cOmmOtion, and many
persons were anxiOusly awaiting their arrival in
the eager hope of capturing the spies. They were
there subjected TO rigorous cross~eNamInatIUn.
The heroines were calm and self pOssessed-and ex-
pressed perfect willingness TO have their persons
searched by any lady they might select for that pur
pose. They were allowed to pass on, after being
detained for some time, though there were some
in the crowd who were very much opposed TO it.
soon as they got out of sight of that village they
rode very rapidly, for fear that they might still be
rested by some of those who much opposed to
allowing them to proceed. They arrived at Philippi
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day,
and told Col. Porterfield that the enemy would at
tack his camp that night the next morning.
These ladies then went to the house OF Mr.. HUFF,
about a mile and half from Phillippi, where they
stayed all night The next morning they heard the
report of the firing at Phillipp and. IN disguise
accompanied by q countrywoman, returned to
Philippi on foot to see what had been the result.


They moved aboEt amidst the enemy without be-
ing detected or molested in the least degree. Going
into one of the houses, they found James WIthers,
of the ROckbridge Cavalry, who had concealed
himself there to prevent the enemy from capturing
him. These ladies Immediately told MN thAt lhey
would effect his rescue if he would trust 10 thenl
He very readily consented whereupoa these laoies
disguised him as common countryInah Dy FURNISH
ing him with some old clothes. Ihey lheh gave
him basket of soap, with recipe 1or making IL,
that he might pass pedlar Of that necessary
soan on bis arm and calamity mounted upon 3 mule,
accompanied by his guardian angels he passed !
safely through the crowds of the enemy, and was
hrongbt by them safe and sound into the camp of
his friends at Beverly, after crcuitous and hard


10 over precipitous mountains where persons sell
-, ie ever rode before His fellow-soldiers and
friends rejoiced greatly when he arrived, for they
Thought that he was either killed or taken prisoner
by the enemy-they rejoiced that the supposed
dead was alive, and the lost was found lie is
now known in our camp as the 'pealar Oh soap"
Tho heroic conduct of these ladies will live in his
torv. and they will become the hersines Of many
thrilling story of fiction in years to come-Santoa
SDectdfOT.