Year: 1876

she did not seem to realize that she de-
served any credit for SO doing. or that
every woman would not have done as
much. We loaded her with the rude at
tentions of the camp, and she spent the
night comfortably from military point
of view in vacant tent at General
Getty's headquarters The desired va
I lise was then at Winchester. but she OBJ
tanned 1t on her return.


The next daybreak found US fighting
the Battle of Cedar Greek. Amid the
mounting in hot haste and the throng-
ing confusion of the mornings surprise.
General Getty found time to commit his
terrified guests to the care of an orderly.
who by circuitous route conducted them
safely out of the battle.


While our army was near Berry vile
in September. some of General Getty's
staff-ofheers had called upon Mrs. Van
Metre. and had persuaded her to prepare
for them meal or two from the army
rations, there being magnetism in fe-
male cookery that the blades of the staff
were always craving. In her visit to the
army just mentioned. she learned that
one Of those casual aequaintances had
fallen at the former battle of the 0pe-
quan. and that his body was still lying
somewhere on that wide battlefield.
I Seizing the earliest opportunity after her
return, she personally searched all thro'
the territory between Opequan Creek and
Winchester. amid the carrion and the
graves. until she found at last the rude
board with its almost obliterated inscrip-
ton that fixed the identity of the too
seantily covered corpse. Shocked at the
sight, for the rain had exposed the limbs
and the crows had mangled them, she
\ procured coffin and laborers from Win
/ chester. and had the remains decently
inferred in the cemetery there at her
own expense. Then she addressed let
ter to his friends giving them the infor-
nation which she possessed, and they
subsequently recovered the relics, thank
i ing God and their unknown benefactor.
We heard nothing further from the
Lieutenant for months. We eventually
learned, however, that after long peri
cd of such careful nursing. varied only
By the weekly errand of Mrs. VanMetre
to Harper's Ferry for letters and sup
! plisa. the prndAnt doctor aft last gave his
consent that Bedell should attempt the
journey home Armed now with pair
of Sanitary crutches, he doubted not
that he could make his way. if he once
could reach the Union lines. But the
difficulty of getting to Harper's Ferry
cost him much anxiety. Though at va
rious times forty guerillas together had
been in and about the house where be
lay, the watchful care of his protector
had thus far kept them in ignorance of
his presence. This journey, however,
was likely to prove even more difficult
to manage. At length one of the toddy-
drinking neighbors. while relating his
trials and losses, CHANGED to mention the
seizure by our troops, of a pair of his
mules months before, and the fact that
negro had since seen them in the Mar
tinsburgh corral. A happy thought
struck the Lieutenant he at once as
sured the old gentleman that if be could
only be placed what there was left Of
HIM In safety at the Ferry, the mules
should be returned. Tne promise might
perhaps be considered rash, seeing that
Martlnsburgh was twenty-five miles from
Harper's Ferry, under different CON-
mander, that it was very decidedly unu-
sual to restore property seized from the
enemy for government use, that the chat
tells we're probably long ago far up the
Valley, and especially that Bedell could
not have, in any event, the faintest shad-
ow of authority in the premises. But the
old man jumped at the offer and the bar
gain was struck.


1t was decided that Mrs. fanMetre
should accompany the Lieutenant home,
both for his sake as be was yet months
from recovery. and for her own, as she
had now lived for years in unwOnted
destitution and anxiety. while a quiet.
comfortable home was theneeforth assur-
ed to her by her grateful charge until
the return Of peace and who knew if
she might not in some way regain Der
own husband, as she had restored anoth-
er'sl


So the party was made up and the
journey commenced. The officer was
carefully hidden in a eapacious farm
wagon, under an immense heap Of straw,
and though two marauding parties we're
met during the day. the cheerful smile
Of the wellknoWn jolly farmer disarmed
suspicion. The escape Was successful.
The clumsy vehicle drew up before head
quarters at Harper's Ferry. and BedelL
saluted once more BY q sentinel as be
dOfed bis hat 70 the flag be had suffered
for. headed the procession to the Gener-
ais room


The unique party told its own story.
The tall Lieutenant. ema.iated, stagger-
ing on his unaecustomed erutches, the