The morning call., 1890-11-28
SHE FOLLOWED
THE FLAG,
And She Never Flinched Before
the Enemy's Fire.
The Brilliant Military Record of an Ohio
Woman-"Tommy" Is What They Called
Her and She Was Cava!ryman.

! The beginning of the war found Mrs.
Lindley happy bride of but a few months.
Her honeymoon had scarcely waned when
her husband, William Lindley, was called
| to serve his country and enlisted as a men,
Der of Company D, Sixth Ohio Cavalry.
| The young couple were poor and depen-
| dent upon their own eXertions for lveli-
| hood. They had no home of their own, and
the enlistment, which must separate them,
fell like a crushing blow upon their happi-
ness. Learning that each company was
| permitted to employ two women as cooks
while in camp and before actually taking
| the field, Mrs. Lindley accompanied her hus-
band to Washington where the regiment
went into camp in September, 1861.
Here she could be near her husband, at
least, and this, she insisted. was better than
being left among strangers in Ohio.
| Camp life came to close very uneXpect-
eddy on March 10, 1862, when the regiment
was ordered into active service in Virginia.
| The young wife, who had become recon-
ciled to soldier life in camp, now learned
| that her military career must end, as she
| could not follow her husband into active
| service.
| But where then should she go? She had
no home or friends to welcome her return.
| Perhaps the regiment would soon 90 into
camp again, or peace might be declared.
Reasoning thus, and having no time for re-
! Election, she in desperation determined to
| follow her husband rs long as possible.
| Secreting herself in wagon she was car
| ried to Centerville, where the wagon train
| halted, and the regiment moving across
| Bull Run to Manassas Plains, went to
| Weayersyile where it had its first engage
ment wi tn the enemy.
Private Lindiey, who had been placed in
| aquandary by the unexpected appearance
| of his wife, now found himself in still
| greater trouble when the regiment was Or
| dered to Alexandria to take passage for
| campaign.
Mrs. Lindley positively refused to leave
| her husband. She had been near enough to
actual war to experience something of it.
| and declared that she would rather go on
| with the regiment than be lett To shit Tor
herself among strangers.
Military orders had no terrorS for her,
and when her husband pointed out that it
was utterly impossible for her to go further
| she proved that it was utterly impossible for
her to remain behind.
| TRANSFORMED TO "ToSIIY."
If she were only a man, now! Why not
be man? Ii she had soldiers uniform
she would attract less attention ana thus be
safer. Besides, she could then carry arms
and defend herself il necessary, and, as the
| regiment was in active service and her hus-
band could not be with her because of his
duties, this became an important considera-
| ton.
After much pleading on his wife's part
Mr.. Lindley procured for her regulation
uniform throughout, including sidearms and
Colts revolver. Then clipping off her
tresses close to the head, he completed the
uniform with fatigue cap.
That night "Lindley's wife" disappeared,
and bright but diffident youngster named
Tommy" joined the company.
Just before embarking for Fortress Mon
roe guard, noticing something peculiar in
young cavalryman whom he had not seen
before, halted him. "Tommy's" heart was
beating the long roll as the command was
sharply spoken, but the lad scarcely slack
ened his pace as he carelessly waved his
hand toward body of soldiers and said,
why, there's my horse right over there
and this is my company" and passed the
guard in safety. while he was still audibly
commenting on the youngsters freshness u
TOMMY" UNDER FIRE.
At Yorktown Tommy" was under fire
for the first time with her company, and
never flinched or betrayed her sex.
After the engagement temporary hos
pital was improviSed and she was detailed
to care for the wounded. From hospital
duty she was again called into active serv-
ice with her regiment at the terrible fight at
Fort Magruier Oh May 9TH, when the en-
envy was beaten and driven back to Rich
mond with heavy loss.
This was severe engagement, but there
was no Drawer heart took part in it than
that of the little woman, who in the very
thickest Of the fight faced the enemy's
leaden hail, happy in the thought that even
thus she could be near her husband.
From this time forward there was sharp
fighting almost constantly, and in every bat
tie in which her company was engaged
"Tommy took part. The only rest she
had was while she was again detailed for
hospital duty at Johnson's farm. This was
of brief duration, however, and she was
soon with her regiment again in the field.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM CAPTURE.
At Hanover Courthouse Tommy "
narrowly escaped capture. While caring
for the wounded the enemy made a sudden
dash, cutting off retreat and capturing her
horse. Jumping into fleeing ambulance,
she was carried beyond the danger point,
when she was left to take care Of herself on
foot.
Then commenced long forced march in a
drenching rain, which continued long into
the night. The next morning the young
cavalryman. unused to marching, was found
to be dangerously i'll. and as he could not go
on with his company he was left behind.
Several hours later trooper, gallopng
after the forces, came upon boy stretched
upon the ground and raging with fever.
| TluclUR pOOC 1OUlluy III tuC Sduulc iC
himself walked for several miles until he
found an opportunity to stow away the
little fellow in an ammunition wagon
which carried her along with the regiment.
But the q little fellow" soon rallied and
rejoined her company, and lived to do
under fire of the hottest sort.
After the battle of Antietam the wounded
were taken to BOonesboro, and " Tommy"
having had experience as purse, was de-
tailed for hospital duty again. while her
regiment was ordered to HarperS Ferry
and thence further SOUTH
MRS. LINDLEY AGAIN.
At Boonsboro Tommy" grew tired of
masqueiading aud determined to assume her
| proper attire. She had lost heart completely.
She had commenced soldier-bOy life with the
sole object in view of keeping close to her
husband, believing that her masculine cloth
ing would be required merely as a temporary
| expedient.
Instead of this she had been in active
| service Tor many months, she was tired out
and disc0nsolate, and her weary months Of
campaigning found her still separated from
her husband.
With Mr.. Lindley in the field with his
regiment, and herself detailed for hospital
duty, she was as much alone as she would
have been back in Ohio.
But there was still stronger reason for
laying aside the cayalryman's uniform.
"Tommy's" sex had become known to
several, and this knowledge could not DO
held within its present limits.
Some of tile loyal women Of B0onsb0ro
were visited, and, having secured a suit of
clothing BETTING her sex, Mrs. Lindiey re-
| sumed her hospital duties as nurse her
campaigning being at an end.
While acting as hospital nurse at Boons-
bor0 word was received that Mr.. Lindley
was lying very sick at point in Virginia,