The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17
A GENUINE HEROINE.
Oenlle Annie Riheredrc, of Ono Bon MIch.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In reply to
Comrado Kriss, 133d Pa, in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE of March 20. asking for information
as to the presence of women in battle, Will
settle the dispute referred to, il the disputants
will believe me, for ] saw woman on the first
limo of battle in a fights.
On June % 1864, we of the Second Corps
were suddenly attacked on the left flank and
in rear, and as the saying is, were =" hanked
and driven" We were not driven, but wo ran
back a few rods to small breastwork, where
we turned about, and after an hour or two OF
hot work drove tho Johnnios. We ran back
not because we were driven" but for the pur-
pose of not allowing tho enemy to surround US.
just the same as a man when suddenly attacked
by au enemy from the rear may have to run
few steps To get his assailant in his 'front.' well,
we broke aud ran, as say. aud being in tho
thick woods, We became mixed up"
When jumped down behind tho low breast
work, where, rs fast rs we arrived, we halted
and turned about landed right beside
good-lool5ing young woman. Can you imagine
my astonishment2 She stood with her head
aud shoulders above tho works, watching us as
we emerged from tho thcket and came run
ming across n narrow field between tho thicket
and broastwork. A shower of lead and iron
was coming over that breastwork, to which she
paid not the slightest attention, but stood
calmly Watching aud when she saw wound
ed man coming sho lifted up her voice and
called and beckoned to him. IT he heard or
saw her he Camo to her. ! stood close beside
her and watched her. As the wounded men
came to her, they would hold up m arm, or tear
away tho cloth from leg or side. or hold the
head patiently, while sho would bind some
kind of cloth around tho wound, aud they
would then proceed to the roar or take place
in line If not too severely hurt, while she
looked for tho next one.
was afraid she would get hit. got nerv-
Gus and wanted TO make her get down out Of
danger, but did not do so. ! just stood and
watched her and said nothing.
Our line was very thin, and tho Johnuies
were coming with their familiar yell, and
wanted n Second Corps battery TO come to our
assistance Finally one came-four guns, with
four horses to gun. They came on the gal
Top from the rear, went in battery close beside
us, and in short timU silenCed the rebel bat
terry, aud the fight was over
That young woman had on dark coarse
dress n black hat with black feather in it,
aud her face aud hands were tanned as brown
rs were those Of tho veterans around her. As
soon as the battle ended, and not till then, she
started for tho rear
nj once began TO make Inquiries Of the men
around me, none Of whom / knew, as We were
separated from our regiments and all mixed
up." None Of them had ever seen or heard of
her, until / at last found a man who said {:
"She belongs TO the 9Th Mich she's been with
IL from tho first; she's been in more'n thou
sand battles; she's got q horse and tent Of her
own aud follows that regiment all the time. /
tell you, IL don't do for anybody to say any
harm Of her fore one of them 9Th Mich. fol-
lows. They'd have his life in minute. |
don't know what her name is, but they call her
Gentle Annie" ] afterwards learned that
her name was Annie Ethcredgo and that she
was respected aud loved by the 9TH Mich.
There probably are some survivors OF that
splendid regiment who know and saw her in
battle, aud we may hoar from them. She was
tho only woman / Jaw before or afterwards
anywhere near battle. aud she WAS on the
front line, exposed TO bullet and she'll for NJ
least two hours.-F. o. TALBOT Co, X, LIST Ne
III. A., Alma, n. b.