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

Women Warriors.

Among the ancients, the most celebrated
TarIke females of accredited existence were
the Hgvetain ladies'. Cesar, in his commen
tarps on the Gac war, is pro(uSe in his prois-
es Of the military achievements of those fair
danes Iu more than one instance has the in
ynciJle legionS of Rome uugallantly turued
their backs to the hostile wOoing Of the fair
ones Of Switzerland Horace and Lucan also
accuse their couutrymen of q like breach of
good manners towards the wartike wives of
lbe ancient Britous, whose queen, according
TO tie testimony of Tacitus, led their armies
ID hattie. Iuiert.. he Current OF history dis
Prove: the generally received opinion that
women are naturally GearIy and unpatrOtiC.-
Among CUdicss Instances which might be cited
10 prove tnat women are as capable Of high
and heroic feeling as men, may be mentioned
taat of the Lacedaemohian mother when she
presented her son with his shield, enjoyed him
to return with it or upon it and that OF the
luiaa women of the North American tribes
who. when informed OF the death Of their hus.
bands in warfare, inquired " how they died !"
whether bravely fighting the foe, or the less
honorable death of mortality.
BHt warrior women ere not the anomalies
only of ancient times they appear, also in
modern history. The time aud manners, OF
c7TaiFY, 10y bringing the great enterprises and
adventurous herOiSm into fashion and rppute
Inspired the female sex with similar taste
Women were then seen in the midst Of camps
aud armies aud participating in all their dau-
gers and disasters, and hardships and priva-
tons. Durisg the crusade, also, animated, by
o N. .;,i., Of eli o,,l
women often performed the rlost romantic aud
covairOus exploits, and joyousy died, with
arms in their hands, by the side of their lov
erS or hu u;bands
In Europe there has been instances of deli
cae and gente-hearted women attacking and
defending fortfcations commanding armies,
and obtaining victories Such among other
Instances. were the heroic Joan of Arc. 4" the
Maid of Orleaus," the celebrated Joan Of Mon
loFt, and The celebrated Margaret of Anjou.
IN England the instances of female proweSs
ana military exploit have been conspicuous -
Doa1Icea or, as the heroic and illuStriOnS
queen of the Icent is otherwise called Bondu
resisted the legons of Rome in the ficrcest
and most deadly conflicts in which that great
empire was ever engaged. Ethelireda, the
oldest daughter of Alfred the Great, command
ed armies, gained victories, and performed 9th
er warIke exploits England owed its dcliv
erance from the tyranniC yoke Of the Danes,
o' Judith, the stepmother Of Alfred. The
skIII aud prudence displayed in military affairs
oy Phillippa, queen of Edward Third, is cele
oTated in the chronicles and memoirs of the
Tine, which abound, also with numerous in
Stances Of similar qualifications possessed by
females, both Eughs aud foreign. In the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries The heroism
and warlike spirit of the fair sex, when nvok
ed IN the cause of religion and patriotism, were
enmently conspicuous in Hungary, the Islands
OF the Archipelago and the Mediterranean, re-
SiStIng the aggression of the Turks History
a'so furnishes many splendid instances OF fe
uae devotion in the defence of country and
feIJgon in the med 4val ages.
Neither is modern history prolific in the
exhibition of female heroism and martial per.
iormances. In recent times instances have oc-
eQrFed of lady warriors aud female campaign
eFS In the French revolution and PennsuIar
war, these were Of no rare occurrence in the
French armies. In the revolution of 'S9. the
women of Paris were the foremost actors, not
oa'y as The attendants on the wounded, but as
acIual combatants on the attacks Oh the Bas
.e and the Fuileries, and other events aris-
i"g out of the revolutionary movement, they
nad an equal share with the male popuace in
Tue periiS and horrors OF the day Indeed,
s1e crisis of the revolution was preciptated by
,he females who marched on Versailles to bring
PACK the King of France to Paris. Sobse