The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-10

A FEMALE SOLDIER.
The Irish Legion Finds Daughter.
From the Chicago Post, SATURDAY.

|
The mOnOtOnOus routine of military life
in Camp Dunno was strangely disturbed q
morning or two since. A curious discov-
cry was made, which was no less than the
astounding revelation that in the ranks of
the Irish Legion soldier was enlisted who
proved not of the masculine, but of the
feminine gender. The exposure Of her
secret was by the merest accident, and she
had already served some fifteen days in
the ranks, performing each day her allotted
duties as a private in the company under
the command Of Capt. Murphy
While Col. O'Meara was making his ac-
customed round on Thursday last, instruct
| ing the officers, supervising regimental al
fairs, and looking after the welfare and
the good behavior Of the men in the Irish
Legion, he observed upon guard duty
sentinel who to the colonel seemed younger
than the regulations admit into the service
OF the United States as soldiers The
colonel stopped and questioned the soldier,
as the latter gave him the accustomed mil
| itaIy salute, desiring to be informed the
age Of the sentinel before him.
''Elghteen, sir" promptly replied the
guard
The tone OF voice in which it was utter
ed, accompanied by The peculiar manner
OF the soldier as the keen eye Of the colo
mel was bent in that direction, caused su>-
| picion to enter the mind OF the latter that
all was not right Advancing toward the
guard ne looked that individual steadily i'll
the eye. and instantly there flashed o 'er his
mind the lnistrtlst that the sex Of the per-
If+,.
ward habilment> would Indicate y co-
ser examination confirmed still more the
suspicion Of Col OMcara, but how to con
| sumlnate the proof perpleXed him. A mo
nent'9 thought and lie adopted Il tritiin4
>ubtertuge.
Sir. said the colonel IL think have
seen you' before, but where or under what
circumstances | cannot now recall to
mind"
Il think not. colonel. " was the reply of
the soldier, in respectful MANNER BE
fore came here never saw You. to my
knowledge, in my life
The colonel turned again With we'll
teigned look of interest on his countenance.
he spoke slowly and mpre>sively: Il had
near and dear friend once, much younger
than myself, and, if you he not he | never
saw more striking resemblance. But if,
AS | suspect, you are the person, though |
cannot divine why you should seek to CON
ceal the fact from me, there is MARIA
red mark-upon your left breast. by which
shall be able to identity you Open your
coat, sir"
The soldier hesitated. '.Colonel," said
he, Il am sure you are mistaken, for. be-
lleve me, sir, | never saw YOU before en-
listed Ill your regiment.
Suspicion now grew to firm conviction in
the cOlOnel's mind, and he was determined
III his purpose Of discovery With a NAH
ner which admitted Of no hesitation, he
said, ''Sir, tell you to unbutton your coat,
and | wish you to obey me-
Slowly the guard unbuttoned the gar
ment. and threw it back from his breast
Beneath it Was Il wlite-ribbed shirt. and
the lappels of the coat were thickly pad
ded with cotton, to hide, when buttoned, q
certain rotundity of form, which was now
plainly visible beneath the folds OF the
shirt. But the colonel was not satisfied.
''lIOw, sir, said he ''can discover wheth-
er the mark is present through the folds of
your shirt ? Intuition it. sir: you are
not ashamed that | should see your breast,
are you 2"
There was brief silence The colonel
was implacable. and in his countenance the
soldier read suspicion of the correct state
OF affairs, and determination to know
the truth There was no help for it, and
slowly and hestating!y these words came
forth
Colonel, rather than expose my person
| will reveal my sex. ! an " ,rOll.nl ~
Shade OF mars, Here it was at last,
and by her own admission. The colonel
Immediately relieved the soldier from guard
duty, and took the feminine in his charge.
with determination to investigate the at
fair yet further, but in different direc-
ton.
The story has been related to us by one
who was a witness of the affair, and at
whose request we withhold the real name
of the young lady and that under which
she enlisted
Subsequent inquiry has led the COM
handing officer to believe that she is a
chaste girl, of pure motives, but who, with
mistaken zeal and patriotism enrolled
herself in the service of her country. How
she expected to eventually escape detec-
ton we know not, but certain it is that
not until she met with Col O'Meara had
a suspicion of her true sex been entertain
ed by her comrades, with whom she ''mes-
sed'' and slept.
Her story is that shejoined the regiment
purely from love of war. She has, ac-
cording to her own statement, long been
accustomed to wearing the apparel of the
male sex, because her father, who was poor,
was unable to furnish herself and sisters
with such clothing as would enable his
daughters to stand among the class in So
ciety in which his proud heart desired to
place them She is well formed and pos
sessed of an excellent share of muscle" ..
and states that she has been Injured to
hardship. Her features are rather comely
but her voice is somewhat masculine.
The sequel of this strange discovery will
probably be her adoption as Daughter of
the Irish Legion.