The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-29

the last summer Lieut.. W was ap-
pointed to position in the 21st Michigan
infantry, then rendezvousing in Ionia
county. The thought of parting from the
gay lieutenant nearly drove her mad, and
she resolved to share his dangers and be
near him. No sooner had she resolved
upon this course than she proceeded to the
act. Purchasing male attire, she isited
Ionia, and enlisted in Captain Cavanagh's
company, 2lst regiment. While in camp
she managed to keep her secret from all
not even the object of her attachment, who
met her every day, was aware of her pres
ence so near him. Annie left with her
regiment for Kentucky, passed through all
the dangers and temptations of camp life,
endured long marches and slept on the cold
ground without murmur. At last, the
night before the battle of Pea Ridge Cor
Prairie Grove), in which her regiment took
part, her sex was discovered by member
of her company; but she enjoined secrecy
upon him, after relating her previous his
tory. On the following day she was un-
der fire, and from a letter she has in her
possession it appears she behaved with
marked gallantry, and by her own hand
shot rebel captain, who was in the act of
firing upon Lieut.. W. But the fear of
revealing her sex continually haunted her.
After the battle she was sent out with 9TH
ers to collect the wounded, and one of the
first cOrpses found by her was the soldier
who had discovered her sex. Days and
weeks passed on, and she became uni
versal tavorite with the regiment, so much
SO that her colonel (Stephens) frequently
detailed her as regimental clerk-a posi-
ton that brought her in close contact with
her lover, who at this time was major or
adjutant of the regiment. A few weeks
subsequently she was out on picket duty
when she received shot in the arm that
disabled her, and Notwithstanding the
efforts of the surgeon her wound continu-
ally grew worse. She was sent to the hos
pital at Louisville, where she has been ever
since until few weeks ago, when she was
discharged by the post surgeon, as her arm
was stiffened and rendered useless for life.
She implored to be permitted to return to
her regiment, but the surgeon was unyield-
ing and discharged her. Annie immedi-
ately hurried towards home, and by the aid
OF benevolent strangers reached this city.
AT Cincinnati she told her secret to be-
nevolent lady, and was supplied with fe-
male attire. The gentleman, after hearing
her story, asked to see her discharge pa
pers, which she produced, and upon which
was the name of Joseph Henderson. How
ever, she stated that that was not the name
she went by in the regiment, as she ex-
changed her papers with another dis
charged soldier, for the purpose of re-en-
listing under the name of Henderson in
her old regiment. Her benefactor kindly
furnished her with money to 60 to Detroit,
and Annie left on the morning train east.
She declares that she will enlist in her old
regiment again if there is recruiting office
for the 21st in Michigan. She still clings
to the lieutenant, and says she must be
near him if he falls, or is taken down sick
that where he goes she will go and when
he dies she will end her life by her own
hand.