persuasion.
As to that, the sunlight had faded from her golden ringlets, her youthful softness had given way to angularity, but she had not forgotten how to charm a gentleman.
His silvery white hair waved in handsome locks, and as he reached the end of the letter, she suddenly exclaimed, “Dear me, General Winder, my friends told me you were handsome, but their compliments scarcely do you justice. What noble physiognomy! Your hair would better adorn the temple of Janus. It seems out of place in such surroundings.”
The general glanced up from the letter, surprised. “Thank you, Madam,” he said. “You are very kind.”
“Oh, not at all.” Lizzie smiled and waved a hand breezily. “I’m sure you’ve heard it before. You must know how much the ladies of Richmond admire you.”
He smiled, flattered. “From the moment I arrived, the ladies of Richmond have impressed me with their grace and kindness. I’m very pleased to know I’ve made a favorable impression upon them.”
“Indeed you have. In fact, that’s why I was not the least bit nervous approaching you with my little petition, because your reputation for wisdom precedes you.” She gave him her most winning smile. “As an act of Christian charity, I should like to visit the Union prisoners, and nurse them if they are ill or wounded, and bring them little delicacies from my kitchen, and such books as will distract them and keep them from causing any disturbances. I will, of course, bear all expenses myself, as part of my service to the cause.”
Two clerks exchanged a look of surprise as General Winder mulled it over. “I have no objection,” he said. “I would prefer for you not to go alone, however. Soldiers can be a rough breed.”
Lizzie’s smile deepened. “Perhaps, but I have also discovered—quite recently, in fact—that among them one may also find the most charming of gentlemen.”
The general chuckled and his cheeks took on an ever so slightly rosier hue as he asked the clerks for paper and pen. “I am writing you a pass,” he declared as he wrote, “granting you permission to visit the prisoners, and to bring them books, food, whatever you may please.”
“That is most kind, General.”
He stood and reached across the desk to hand her the pass, and she quickly rose and took it. “This should suffice, but if anyone refuses you, send word to me right away and we’ll sort it out.”
She thanked him profusely and swept from the office, throwing him one last smile over her shoulder in parting. Back on the street, she closed her eyes, clutched the precious paper to her bosom, and inhaled deeply, wishing she could shout for joy. At last she could fulfill the sacred duty of caring for the Union prisoners in their distress—and no one, not even the estranged brother-in-law of the president of her beloved United States, could stop her.
Chapter Six
----
JULY-AUGUST 1861
T
he next day, Lizzie instructed Caroline to cook up a pot of rich chicken soup and a simple cornmeal gruel, and to spoon them into covered dishes. Lizzie’s favorite was a clever contrivance with a double bottom into which boiling water could be poured to keep the food warm. At the last moment, she asked Caroline to make a ginger cake, the same delicacy Mr. Botts was so fond of, and to fill a bottle with buttermilk. “We must take a gift for Lieutenant Todd,” she explained to little Annie, who was too small to be useful but insisted upon helping her auntie load the basket.
“He won’t be pleased to learn that I went to his superiors,” she told her mother as they strolled down the hill to the Liggon prison complex, heavy baskets in their arms. In addition to the food, Mother had wisely packed bandages, lint, and a bottle of brandy, mostly full.
“Caroline’s ginger cake will sweeten him,” said Mother confidently, puffing a bit from exertion. “And even if it doesn’t, Lieutenant Todd dare not ignore General Winder’s command.”
Lizzie certainly
As to that, the sunlight had faded from her golden ringlets, her youthful softness had given way to angularity, but she had not forgotten how to charm a gentleman.
His silvery white hair waved in handsome locks, and as he reached the end of the letter, she suddenly exclaimed, “Dear me, General Winder, my friends told me you were handsome, but their compliments scarcely do you justice. What noble physiognomy! Your hair would better adorn the temple of Janus. It seems out of place in such surroundings.”
The general glanced up from the letter, surprised. “Thank you, Madam,” he said. “You are very kind.”
“Oh, not at all.” Lizzie smiled and waved a hand breezily. “I’m sure you’ve heard it before. You must know how much the ladies of Richmond admire you.”
He smiled, flattered. “From the moment I arrived, the ladies of Richmond have impressed me with their grace and kindness. I’m very pleased to know I’ve made a favorable impression upon them.”
“Indeed you have. In fact, that’s why I was not the least bit nervous approaching you with my little petition, because your reputation for wisdom precedes you.” She gave him her most winning smile. “As an act of Christian charity, I should like to visit the Union prisoners, and nurse them if they are ill or wounded, and bring them little delicacies from my kitchen, and such books as will distract them and keep them from causing any disturbances. I will, of course, bear all expenses myself, as part of my service to the cause.”
Two clerks exchanged a look of surprise as General Winder mulled it over. “I have no objection,” he said. “I would prefer for you not to go alone, however. Soldiers can be a rough breed.”
Lizzie’s smile deepened. “Perhaps, but I have also discovered—quite recently, in fact—that among them one may also find the most charming of gentlemen.”
The general chuckled and his cheeks took on an ever so slightly rosier hue as he asked the clerks for paper and pen. “I am writing you a pass,” he declared as he wrote, “granting you permission to visit the prisoners, and to bring them books, food, whatever you may please.”
“That is most kind, General.”
He stood and reached across the desk to hand her the pass, and she quickly rose and took it. “This should suffice, but if anyone refuses you, send word to me right away and we’ll sort it out.”
She thanked him profusely and swept from the office, throwing him one last smile over her shoulder in parting. Back on the street, she closed her eyes, clutched the precious paper to her bosom, and inhaled deeply, wishing she could shout for joy. At last she could fulfill the sacred duty of caring for the Union prisoners in their distress—and no one, not even the estranged brother-in-law of the president of her beloved United States, could stop her.
Chapter Six
----
JULY-AUGUST 1861
T
he next day, Lizzie instructed Caroline to cook up a pot of rich chicken soup and a simple cornmeal gruel, and to spoon them into covered dishes. Lizzie’s favorite was a clever contrivance with a double bottom into which boiling water could be poured to keep the food warm. At the last moment, she asked Caroline to make a ginger cake, the same delicacy Mr. Botts was so fond of, and to fill a bottle with buttermilk. “We must take a gift for Lieutenant Todd,” she explained to little Annie, who was too small to be useful but insisted upon helping her auntie load the basket.
“He won’t be pleased to learn that I went to his superiors,” she told her mother as they strolled down the hill to the Liggon prison complex, heavy baskets in their arms. In addition to the food, Mother had wisely packed bandages, lint, and a bottle of brandy, mostly full.
“Caroline’s ginger cake will sweeten him,” said Mother confidently, puffing a bit from exertion. “And even if it doesn’t, Lieutenant Todd dare not ignore General Winder’s command.”
Lizzie certainly
Similar Books
