The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-05-03
WarIike Wo,ncn.


From the Bdtish Asnya,a Navy 0Assssel
A renarbable ola woman named
Virginia Chesquieres, has just de
parted this Me cld6c 70 Issy, near
Paris. She had Almost attained
her hulndresleth year, and had bS-
haved with remarkable heroism
during the war Of the First EN-
pire. in which period che fought
40 . soldier in the 9th regiment
Size went through the Penin,ular
campaign, and gained, tlie rank Of
Sergeant for gallAntry and good
conduct, and on one occasion she
Carried of the dead body OF her
colonel under fire. While trying
to lift up the corpse Of her com
maEder. two Of the enemy APP
proacned, upon which he made
signs prsteL,iing to be wounded;
thoy hurricd forward to secure
their prisoner. but when they were
near the sergeant shot one Of them
seized his horse, flung the body
over the sadilebow. anil rode back
to the French lines. The other
trooper fed on seeing bic comradc
/ fall, The sesgeEt, however. had
been wounded and blood Was flow-
ing from the breast. The surgeon
insieted on undressing the aergeant,
and then it was discovered that the
gallant non-commissioEed officer
belonged to the fair sex. "a
We do not find the name OF Vir-
GINA Caesluieres among the Mil
itary Women Of France, although
the list is long, and the author has
accepted far more curioas stories.
! Take the tale OF the Countess Of
Saint Baslement, French lsdy,
who married On officer in the SER
vice of the Duke OF Lorraine. She
had hardly espoused the Count
when war broke out, and the lady
Joined the army of Louis XII
while her husband fought on the
opposite side. We are told that
the countess remained faithful TO
her lord and master, and, disguis-
ed as man, disa, med 10 = duel .
young cavilieH who had Emporium
ed her too freely when dressed in
the garb Of her sex. Tbie heroine
is said to have killed more than
four hundred men; and whom Cen
eral Jean Louis Erlach marched
through Champagne, oil alone
she affected three German troop
ers, who we're seizing some farm
horses, and held them till her peo-
pie arrived. She aftcrward enter
ed chateau by IN upper window,
and, though abandoned by her
comrades, pistol IN hand, jumped
into q room where there were ser.
en.ecn men, whom she snanages]
to disarm. These and many 9th
er stories are told about the cosan
tess who was probably q very pref
| ty woman, add acted upon tn,
warriors of the period as . virgin
is said to act on the natural. In
stincts of the lion. Her life hnl
been written by Father Vernon
under 1.-The title Of LAmazon,
ChFetienne.' I3 s M
Talking Of these warlike wome,
:eminds us that at the commence
ment of the French revolution 1
corps of Amasons was raised wht
offered up prayers to Bellona, al
extract Of one of which has beel
handed down to %. It ruus. sAn1
We, also, We know howsto die O
conquer; We know how to wiel
other weapons than the needle an
; the distaff @ Goddess, companio
Of Mars, following thy example
all women ought to march in ran
: with the men. Goddess Of fore
: and courage? thou shalt neve
I have to blush for French women
This corps never saw service. an
) was succeeded by the Tricoteuse
, and then by tho Lecheuses, VIII
> used to lick the blood-stsi IKE
posts Of the guillotine.