Annie Wittenmeyer, She Did What??

JPK Huson 1863 · Mar 10, 2015

I'm not merely trying to hook anyone with a dramatic thread title- ' She did WHAT ? ' is what I thought when re-reading a section of her journal/book. Crazy-intrepid, and not for effect or to prove anything or to pat herself on the back for the reader. You end up re-reading it because she writes that whole section so casually, you have to go back, make sure you did not misinterpret the entire thing. Sure enough, Annie and a general's wife, sidesaddle, have to literally ride the rescue somewhere, horribly wounded soldiers at issue, a battle raging, swimming through revolting water...... like I said crazy. In fact we ' meet ' her on a train where bullets keep crashing through the car. One has missed her head a moment before the action, another makes an appearance but all her attention I focused on a small child's terror. That's Annie. Thanks again to Jno Hartwell who continues to find these treasures for Ladies Tea.

Julia Grant adored her. In fact Grant did also, he just could not bear dealing with suffering through his wife's bringing them to his attention- Annie in stereo was a bit much. She had to be, there was an awful lot of suffering- the point being she got through.

What strikes you about Annie is her optimism- she has the ability to return again and again and again to some singular piece of Light in the midst of Darkness. There's no Pollyanna here, she's making no attempt to mention herself at all. She tells events without pulling a punch but also has an incredible eye for this whole ' Light ' thing. And relishes it. Gives you chills.