Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-05
FOLLOWED THE FLAG
Aud She Never Fnnched Before the
Enemy's Fire.
Rosfa. C.fobs

The beginning Of the war found Mrs.
Lindley q happy bride of but a few
months. Her honeymoon had scarcely
waned when her husband, William Lind
ley, was called To serve his country, and
enlisted rs member of Company ID.
9TH Ohio Cavalry.
Ths young couple were poor, and de-
pendent upon their own exertionS for a
livelihood. They had no home Of their
own, and the enlistment, which must
separate them, fell like crushing blow
upon their happiness. 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 husband 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 bet
ter than being left among strangers in
Ohio.
Camp life came to 4 close very uneX-
pectedly on March 10, 1862, when the
regiment was ordered into active Serv-
ice IN Virginia. The young wife, who
had become recOnciled to soldier life in
camp, now learned that her military ca
reer must end, as she could not follow
her husband into active service.
But where then should she 20? She
had no home or friends to welcome her
return. Perhaps the regiment would
soon go into camp again, or peace might
be declared. Reasoning thus, and hav-
ing no time for reflection, she in deSper-
alton determined to follow her husband
Is long rs possible.
Secreting herself in wagon she was
carried TO Centreyille, where the wagon
train halted. and the regiment, moving
across Bull Run to Manassas plains,
went to WeaverSville, where it had its
first engagement with the enemy.
Private Lindley, who had been placed
in a Quandry by the unexpected appear
ance OF his wife, now found himself in
still greater trouble when the regiment
was ordered TO Alexandria to take pass
age for Fortress Monroe, to assist in the
Peninsula campaign.
Mrs. Lindley positively refused to
leave her husband. She had been near
enough to actual war TO experience
something OF il, and declared that she
would rather go on with the regiment
than TO be left to shift for herself
among strangers.
Military orders had no terrorS for
her, and when her husband pointed out
that il was utterly impossible for her to
20 further she proved that IL was equal
IL impossible for her TO remain behind.
II she were only man, now. Why
not be a man? II she had soldiers
uniform she would attract less attention
and thus be safer. Besides, she could
then carry arms and defend herself if
necessary, and, as the regiment was in
active service and her husband could
not be with her because OF his duties,
this became an important consideration.
After much pleading on his wife'S
part Mr.. Lindley procured for her regu-
lat.On uniform throughout, including
SidearmS and Colts revolver. Then
clipping of her trcSSeS close to the head
she completed the uniform with u fatigue
/ cap.
That night "Lindley's wife" disap-
peared, and bright but diilident young
ster named Tommy joined the com
pany.
/ Just before embarking for Fortress
Monroe a guard, noticing something pc
culiar in young cayalryman, whom he
/ had not seen before, halted him.
''Tommy'S" heart was beating the long
roll rs the command was sharply Spok-
en-, but the lad scarcely Slackened his
pace as he careleSsly waved his hand
toward a body OF soldiers and said,
] III
there and this is my company, and
passed the guard in safety, while he
was still audibly commenting on the
/ youngsters FRESHNESS.
At Yorktown Tommy" was under fire
for the first time with her company, and
never fiinched or betrayed her sex.
After the engagement temporary
hospital was imprOviSed, aud she was
detailed TO care for the wounded. From
hospital duty she was again called into
active service with her regiment at the
terrible fight at Fort Magruder on May
g. when the enemy was beaten and
driven back to Richmond with heavy
loss.
This was q severe engagement, but
there was no Drawer heart took part in
il 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 battle 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 du-
ration, however, and she was soon with
her regiment again in the field.
At Hanover Court House Tommy
narrowly escaped capture. While car
ing for the wounded the enemy made n
sudden dash, cutting of retreat and
capturing her horse. Jumping into a
fleeing ambulance she was carried be-
yOnd the danger point, when she was
left TO take care of herself on foot.
Then commenced long forced march
In Il drenching rain which continued
long into the night. The next morning
the young cavalryman, unused to march
ing, was found to be dangerously i'll,
and as he could not 90 on with his CON-
pany he was left behind.
Several hours later a trooper, gallop-
ing after the forces, came upon boy
stretched upon the ground and raging
with fever. Placing poor Tommy" in
the saddle he himself walked for several
miles until he found an opportunity to
''st0w away the little fellow in an
ammunition wagon which carried her
along with the regiment.
But the "lttle fellow" soon rallied
and rejOned her company, and lived to
do valiant service at Bull Run, where
she was under fire of the hottest sort.
After the battle OF Antietam the
wounded were taken to BoOneSboro, and
Tommy having had experience as a
nurse, was detailed for hospital duty
again, while her regiment was ordered
to Harper'S Ferry and further south.
At BooneSboro,,' Tommy" grew tired OF
disappearing and determined to assume
her proper attire. She had commenced
soldier-boy life with the sole object In
view OF keeping close to her husband,
believing that her masculine clothing
would be required merely as tempo
rary expedient.
Instead Of this she had been in active
service for many months, she was tired
out and diScOnsOlate, and her weary