Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-01-05
FIGHTING IN MEXICO.
Woman IN Mans Clothes. Suspicious Aroused
bya Game of BaIl---A Love of Adve nture.
3Fro1n the Philade1nhia Tmas

The battles of the valley of Mexico
} had been fought, and the army once
more had !, season of rest. Recruits,
however, cont uued to arrive at Vera
Cruz and Camp Washington, outside
the walls, was formed, under the COM
mand of Major Pitcher an amiable gen.
tleman and good officer. Mr.. Laws,
now postmaster at Savannah, Ga,
whose name, during the late rebellion,
was familiar to Federal soldiers, was as
slstant adjutant general. Our mess was
composed of some wild spirits from the
south and west, and many prank was
played on the moonlight nights beside
the waters of the Gulf. Among other
splendid fellows long gone to their rest
was Lieutenant Mac. We subalterns
were drilled every morning, but poor
Mac, who had defective memory, never
could retain enough tactics in his mind
to give proper command when the &C.
caslon required it. He had good first
sergeant, however, one whose long SER
vice had made him familiar with the ex-
ecution of every order, and Mac habitual-
~ depended upon him to be prompted.
| Upon one occasion, as the companies
were marching out to evening parade
and were forming Z" on the right BY file
into line," Mac suddenly forgot the
command, and, to his discontinue, his
first sergeant was on the sick list. Here
was dilemma, and there was but a mo-
ment or two to spare. But Mac was
equal to the emergency. CHANGING
hastily at the leading files he uttered the
following singular command, which
caused a roar of laughter from all who
heard it: "Do as the rest do, d-n YOU.
march,
This was almost equal to German re-
cruit's reply to the gallant Wynkoop, of
the Second Pennsylvania volunteers.
He was making the grand rounds at mid
night on the march to the City of Mexico,
when he came upon the post of weary
'Ceuton who was anxiously counting the
hours, waiting to be relieved, "Who
comes der?" shouted the stentorian
tones, bringing his musket to a charge.
''The grand rounds" was the reply.
ooh, to hell nit de grand rounts, =" was
the quick and impatient rejoinder. CT
tort it was de relief"
In our mess we had handsome bow.
about 20 years of age, who waited on
table, brushed clothes, etc. His name
was Frank, and his oblging disposition
and general intelligence made him many
friends. One day the men were playing
! ball on the parade ground, and Lieuten-
ant s., of Louisiana, was watching
the sport, when I observed him suddenly
give singular start
"Did you notice." he remarked h11r-
riedly, chow Frank attempted to catch
the ball ?"
"No, [ did not L replied. "Was
there anything peculiar about it?''
Rather, he answered, thoughtfully.
Something very peculiar very. A
man would have involuntarily raised his
hands, but Frank acted as women do
that is, he used the same motion woman
would use to catch thing in her dress
or apron. What if he should turn out
to be woman? Do you know, [ have
been thinking lately that his smooth face,
rich color, and the soft languor of his
eyes are something strange for a man to
possess"
Suspicious?" [ replied. ''I'n ven
ture none but yourself ever got such an
idea. Besides, he's quite young
sThe surgeon thinks pretty much as
l do, replied s., as he walked to
where Captain Campbell, of Georgia was
standing.
A little later the surgeon and few
officers were in the mess tent, and Frank
was ordered to appear and requested by
the surgeon to strip. He, or rather she,
became deadly pale, and pleaded to be
excused. Again the order was repeated,
when, finding it no longer possible to
conceal the truth, Francis confessed her
sex. Her husband was Il soldier in the
command, and she was compelled to as
sumo her proper garb, and, in con-
sideration for her excellent behavior. she
was assigned to the company of her hus-
band as laundress, which enabled her
to draw rations. She pleaded hard to be
allowed to wear soldiers clothes until
we arrived at the end of our march, but
Major Bainbridge, who had assumed
command, was memorable, and Frank
was compelled to dress as woman.
AS we approached Plan del Rio few
shots were heard, and the eagerness of
Frank caused her to rush in advance,
and only peremptory order forced her
to the rear After QUIZ arrival at the
City of Mexico [ lost sight of her for
some time, until singular incident
brought her again to my notice. After
the occupation of the capital fighting on
an extended scale was at an end, but the
roads leading to the coast and interior
cities were constantly swarming with
guerilas, and occasioned much an
noyance to the quartermaster and COM
missary trains that piled between Vera
Cruz and the City of Mexico In con-
sequence of these Interruptions it became
necessary to keep detachments of cavalry
scouting along the highways.
There was company of Tennessee
dragons, commanded by Captain Wheat,
(who, believe, was later in the rebel
lion, that was ordered on scouting duty.
Somewhere in the vicinity of Ell Pinon
they one day came across a guerilla
band, and an active skirmish began.
These affairs were generally of short
duration, but were frequently very
spirited for the time they lasted. Dur
ing the firing Of the one | am relating