Page 242 - Arkansas Confederate Women

Woman's Devotion 213

of him had many others to care for; he felt that quiet sleep was
all important for his young patient, and he placed him under
charge of a young girl who had accompanied these ladies from

Winchester; told her his life depended on his having quiet sleep

that night ; showed her how best to support his head, and prom-
ised to return to 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, sustain-

ing the head of the wounded youth and carefully guarding him

against everything that could disturb his rest or break the slum-
ber 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 felt 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 man}'' weeks in the hospital, and when nearly recovered

of his wounds, was notified that he would be sent to Fort Dela-

ware. As the time drew near for his consignment to this hope-
less 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 young lady of lower Virginia, and was resolved

to make his escape. She cordially entered into his plans, and

aided in their successful accomplishment. The citizens of Win-

chester were permitted sometimes to send articles of food and

comfort to the sick and wounded Confederates, and Miss Rus-

sell availed herself of this to procure the escape of the gallant

captain. She caused him to don the badge of a hospital at-

tendant, take a market basket on his arm and accompany her to