band, who knew her well.
"In one of Sheridan's grand raids, during the latter days of the
rebellion, she, as usual, rode with the troops night and day wearing out
several horses, until they dropped from exhaustion. In a severe cavalry
engagement, in which her regiment took a prominent part, her colonel was
wounded, and her captain killed. She accompanied the former to the rear,
where she ministered to his needs, and when placed in the cars, bound to
City Point Hospitals, she remained with him, giving all the relief in
her power, on that fatiguing journey, although herself almost exhausted,
having been without sleep _four_ days and nights. After seeing her
colonel safely and comfortably lodged in the hospital, she took one
night's rest, and returned to the front. Finding that her captain's body
had not been recovered, it being hazardous to make the attempt, she
resolved to rescue it, as "it never should be left on rebel soil." So,
with her orderly for sole companion, she rode fifteen miles to the scene
of the late conflict, found the body she sought, strapped it upon her
horse, rode back seven miles to an embalmer's, where she waited whilst
the body was embalmed, then again strapping it on her horse, she rode
several miles further to the cars in which, with her precious burden she
proceeded to City Point, there obtained a rough coffin, and forwarded
the whole to Michigan. Without any delay Biddy returned to her Regiment,
told some officials, that wounded men had been left on the field from
which she had rescued her Captain's body. They did not credit her tale,
so she said, "Furnish me some ambulances and I will bring them in." The
conveyances were given her, she retraced her steps to the deserted
battle-field, and soon had some eight or ten poor sufferers in the
wagons, and on their way to camp. The roads were rough, and their moans
and cries gave evidence of intense agony. While still some miles from
their destination, Bridget saw several rebels approaching, she ordered
the drivers to quicken their pace, and endeavoured to urge her horse
forward, but he baulked and refused to move. The drivers becoming
alarmed, deserted their charge and fled to the woods, while the wounded
men begged that they might not be left to the mercy of the enemy, and to
suffer in Southern prisons. The rebels soon came up, Bridget plead with
them to leave the sufferers unmolested, but they laughed at her, took
the horses from the ambulances, and
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