Hell hath no fury --- old Local News

by SamCogar Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:46 am

From the book: Sutton, John Davison,
History of Braxton County and central West Virginia
Parsons, W. Va.: McClain Print. Co., 1919, 464 pgs.

Transcribed by Roger Johnson

Milton Frame, a Union man, who lived on the waters of Steer Creek, not far from the little village of Servia, was attacked at his home by some Confederates. There were three or four men at his house and they had some firearms, but the Confederates outnumbered them and they all took shelter in the Frame residence and tried to shield themselves. Mrs. Frame, being armed, bid defiance to the intruders and stood them off with bravery and heroism that would be commendable in the bravest frontiersman of our country. The Confederates tried to shield themselves behind a little out building, but Mrs. Frame kept up with such a fire that they retreated and left her in possession of her home and the battlefield. She received a bad gunshot wound in the hand. Mrs. Frame's maiden name was Amanda Rose. She was oblivious to fear. Whether the Confederates in their defeat or the inmates of the house who sheltered themselves behind Mrs. Frame's gun had the greatest reason for exultation we cannot conjecture.

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A story related to the writer from a very reliable source was to the effect that just before the town of Sutton was burned, Phoebe, a daughter of James Hefner who lived three or four miles south of Sutton, came to town to get a doctor to go to her father's house and see her sister Elizabeth who was very low with typhoid fever. She secured the services of Mrs. Humphreys who practiced medicine in Sutton and surrounding vicinity. The Commander of the post refused to allow Miss Hefner's return, but permitted Mrs. Humphreys to go. The following day, the girl was allowed to return, but her sister had died. This so incensed Miss Hefner that she determined to have revenge, and having heard the night she was kept in Sutton, the roll call of the soldiers, she observed their position and formed a very accurate idea of their strength. She went immediately to Jackson's Camp, not waiting for her sister's burial, and appealed for a force to be sent and capture Sutton which was done, and it's destruction followed. This incident shows the determination of a woman when she is driven to desperation by a wrong.