Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-07

quent events were prolific 10 instances of fe-
male courage and martial bearing During
the campaign of the army of Republican
France, under Dnmonrer, on the Sambre and
the Meuse, in 1898, Thcophile and Felicita
Fernlg, the daughters Of the commandant Of
the National Guard OF Mortagne shared
equally all the dangers and privations of that
campaign at the battles of Jemappes they
fought at the head of PHILIPPE EgaIites (sub-
sequently King of the French), columns: and
had in the previous battles of Volmy braved
all the terrors Of the ceaseless cannonade of
that nosiest battle on record But it has
been in SpGu-the land of love and romance
that female patriotism and courage have
shone the most resplendent in the recent war
fare
During the Spanish war of Independence
In the Peninsula, at the sicgeS of Saragossa,
Corona, Valencia, and Tortosa, the female in
habitants of those cities enrolled themselves
into companies. headed and commanded by
ladies of rank for the purpose of attending the
wounded and aiding aud animating their
| countrymen in their efforts against the enemy
In the performance of those duties, the deli
cate aud fragile fair ones of Saragossa were
seen necessarily and fearessIy exposing them,
| selves 10 imminent danger from the tremen-
dous fire of shot and shell Some took a more
active part and fought side by side with their
husbands, brothers and fathers The name of
one of those heroines acquired impe.ishabe re-
| nOwn
| Augustine Saragossa, handsome young
woman OF humble birth, coming on the third
day Of the siege with provisions to the battery
| that had suffered most terribly from the enc
| my'S fire, found every man belonging to it
killed For moment every one hesitated to
rescue the guns. Augustine, ,uudauuted sprung
over The deao and dying, and snatching match
| from the hand Of dead artileryman, fired off
twenty-pounder; and then jumping upon the
| gun made solemn VOW never TO {quit it alive
during the siege. Her courage struck shame
| into the hearts of the men who had shrunk
| from taking the place Of the slain her gen
erons enthusiasm animated with fresh coura ge
all who beheld it. The battery was instantly
manned, and the fire being renewed with in.
creased vigor, the French were repuIsed at all
| points with great loss.
Neither was this an isolated deed of hero
ism of that brave girl, who is canonized iu the
annals of history 10y the appeI!alion Of The
| Maid Of Saragossa.' Visiting a battery in
serving the artilcrymen discouraged by his
fall that the battery was on the point OF falling
. into the hands of the enemy she addressed the
| troops il animated tones, and by her iuspr-
ing eIoquence so rallied them that they not
only repulsed the enemy, but in successful
Sortie beat them from the walls. 10 the
| rcurSe of the glorious struggle by her country
for national honor and Independence, she was
rewarded us teSti uony OF her countryS ap,
probation of her patriotic devotion, with a
field officers commission.
The countess Burita at Saragossa, and Dons
Lucia johanna de Fitz-raldt. Dona Maria
Mariengela Vivern, and Dona Maria Cent?, of
,hc divisions of ST Narcs, st. Dothy, and ST.
| UlaIia, at Corona have occurred an enduring
celebrity in the execution of their commands,
aud the display of their heroic patriotism in
their efforts to Illustrate the designs Of the foe
of their country, to spoil it of its honor and
nationality. Also during that glorious strug-
gle for Independence women were frequently
seen in the ranks of the guerrilla bands fight
ing among the foremost.