Show I 1 GIRL DEFIED A WHOLE ARMY feminine tollgate toll tolt gate keeper paid by I 1 government 1 it Is related that the army headed by sheridan and his staff left winchester by the valley pike early in the morning the column moving toward stephens city just as day was breaking estephens the staff reached the tollgate toll gate and was much discomfited to find the toll polo pole down and guarded by a young and beautiful girl charlotte hillman Hlll man famed locally tor for her girlish charms even the war hardened sheridan seems not to have been proof against the persuasion of a pair of black eyes and a pretty face and when toll was demanded straightway produced the tithe setting an example that was followed by his staff but said sheridan as lie he passed through the gate 1 I cannot vouch for my army when the common soldiery came the girl again lowered the toll bar and debi toll this was met by jeers from the soldiers whereupon she wisely raised the guard all day the dusty troopers passed through and all day charlotte hillman stood at her post poat for every ten soldiers who passed tha gate she cut a notch ain in the toll pole early fled beyond the iolue blue ridge with the remnants of his disorganized army in the valley of virginia lee beaten back by grants overwhelming numbers gave up the fight in the southeast joe johnston fired the last burlesque shots and peace came again over the north and south then when relations with washington had been reestablished established re and the administrations administrate ons policy was one of magnanimity charlotte hillman counted the notches in the toll polo pole and sent her bill to washington and the bill was paid metropolitan magazine |