The Women of the ConfederacyUnderwood, J. L. (John Levi)
History
The Women of the Confederacy
Underwood, J. L. (John Levi)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Anecdotes; Women -- Confederate States of America
sleep that night; showed her how best to support his head, and
promised to return and see after his condition as soon and as often as
his duties to the other wounded would permit.
All through that anxious night the brave girl sat, sustaining the head
of the wounded youth and carefully guarding him against everything
that could disturb his rest or break the slumber into which he gently
sank, and which was to save his life. She only knew and felt that a
brave Confederate life depended on her care. She had never seen him
before, nor has she ever seen him since. And when at dawn the surgeon
came to her, he found her still watching and faithful, just as he had
left her at dark--as only a true woman, as we love to believe our
Virginia women, can be. The soldier had slept soundly. He awoke only
once during the night, when tired nature forced his nurse to change
her posture; and when after the morning came she was relieved of her
charge, and she fell ill of the exhaustion and exposure of that night.
Her consolation during the weary weeks she lay suffering was that she
had saved a brave soldier for her country.
In the succeeding year, Captain Hancock, of the Louisiana Infantry,
was brought to Winchester, wounded and a prisoner. He lay many weeks
in the hospital, and when nearly recovered of his wounds, was notified
that he would be sent to Fort Delaware. As the time drew near for his
consignment to this hopeless prison, he confided to Miss Lenie
Russell, the same young girl who had saved young Ridgely's life, that
he was engaged to be married to a lady of lower Virginia, and was
resolved to attempt to make his escape. She cordially entered into his
plans, and aided in their successful accomplishment. The citizens of
Winchester were permitted sometimes to send articles of food and
comfort to the sick and wounded Confederates, and Miss Russell availed
herself of this to procure the escape of the gallant captain. She
caused him to don the badge of a hospital attendant, take a market
basket on his arm and accompany her to a house, whence he might, with
least danger of detection and arrest, effect his return to his own
lines. Captain Hancock made good use of his opportunity and safely
rejoined his comrades; survived the war; married his sweetheart, and
to this day omits no occasion for showing his respect and gratitude
for the generous woman to whose courage and address he owes his
freedom and his happiness.
SPOKEN LIKE CORNELIA
[From The Gray Jacket, page 529.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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