 | LOYAL SOUTHERN WOMEN. Women of the war : |  |
Bravery of Miss Schwartz.
A year later, in the summer of 1863, a party of guerrillas
went in the night to the house of Mr. Schwartz,
twelve miles from Jefferson City, Missouri, and, on demanding
admittance, were refused by Miss Schwartz, a girl
of fifteen years. They answered that they would come in,
and commenced breaking down the door. Five or six
door, taking with them, as they supposed, all the firearms.
In their haste a revolver was left, which the heroic
girl seized, and pointing it at the head of the leader of
the gang, said, "Come on, if you want to; some of
you shall fall, or I will!" They then said they would
kill her if she did not leave the door. She answered,
"The first man of you that takes a step towards this
door dies. This is the home of my parents, my brothers
and sisters, and I am able to, and shall, defend it."
After a brief consultation the ruffians left. Brigadier-General
Brown, commanding the district, in a general
order, after setting forth the facts of this instance of noble
courage, concludes as follows: —
"It is with feelings of no common pride and pleasure
that the commanding general announces this occurrence to
the citizens and soldiers of his district. On the other hand,
those miserable cowards who deserted this brave girl in the
hour of danger, flying from the house and leaving her to
her fate, are unworthy the name of men, deserve the scorn
of the community in which they live, and should be
shunned by every man who has a spark of honor or
bravery within him."
| LOYAL SOUTHERN WOMEN. Women of the war : | |