The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-04
A FEMALE SOLDER.

! GOSHEN, Ind, April 3-Mrs. Mary E.
! Hooker, of Elkhart, Ind, has applied for
| a pension on the grounds that she served
throughout the war disguised as man
and under an alias, and that at the battle
| of Antietam she received a wound in the
| left leg from mimic ball which has since
resulted in her disablement. She appeared
before the pension board here, ,and tells the
following story:
"At the time entered the service" said
Mrs. Hooker, II was 20 years old. and liv
ing with my widowed mother at Tiffin, o.,
where l am yet quite well acquainted.
was slight girl, but yet of sturdy frame
for I was a great 'Tomboy.' and much
given to going off on larks with my broth
ers. For two years previous to the break
| ing out of the war Benjamin b. Brown
and myself had been going together were
engaged and shortly to be married. When
the war broke out my lover seemed de-
termined to go. l pleaded with him to
stay with me, but he said be was ashamed
to stay at home while so many men not as
good as be were going to the front and
finally enlisted in Company F., Sixth regi-
meut, Ohio volunteers
Il endured the separation for awhile,
but hearing that Charles T. Drury, who
had enlisted in the same company and
regiment, desired a substitute, | offered
myself. first assuming male attire. My
offer was readily accepted, he agreeing to
pay me 5000, 500 of which never received.
/ joined the regiment and was soon serving
alongside my lover. | had assumed the
name OF Charles Drury, and was so
known to the close of the war. My sex
was undiscovered all the while was in
the service, except by Brown, who, of
course recognized me as soon a he saw
me. | had no trouble IN learning the
tactics for my younger brother had
belonged to a militia company and | had
always taken even more interest n the
drilling, etc, than he
Our regiment left Camp Denison short
ly after Joined 1t for Washington, and
from there we went to the battle of Bull
Run. / remained with the regiment till /
was wounded in the LETT leg by mimic
ball at the battle OF Antietam, when / WAS
transferred 10 an ambulance, the same
which Brown had occupied couple OF
weeks before, and 10 which he had died.
After Browns death / was left without
friend IN the regiment who knew the cir
cUmstances of nay enlistment As soon a.
/ was again able 10 march, however. |
determined 10 stick 10 the service. I was
wounded on the breast bone by the burst
ing of she'll at Mission Ridge, where I
was captured alu taken along with a lo1
other prisoners TO LIBBY prison. This was
during the worst condition OF its manage
ment, and what, WITH tue poor Cd aud
my wound, despalred Of ever coming on.
alive. After three weeks, though. an eX-
change OF prisoners was made and I re-
turned 10 my home Ia Elfila, a shadow OF
my former self.
"A few years after the close of the war
was married TO Richard Ireland veteran
OF the war. He died within year. and up
TO my marriage 70 Mr.. Hooker, which oc-
CURED about i've years ago. / received \
pension a. Mr.. Irelands widow
Il enjoyed soldier lie, all tut the tire
some marches, ana was hardly ever
frightened during an engagement
think / could carry a musAeJ pow, and
drill 100. II necessary. bus at tae time
when / served in the war / WAS slender
and had no trouble II passing as a man: in
fact 10 one ever detected nle 10 nv
knowledge, aud no one knew | was wo-
maa with the exception OF my lover
had some barrow escapes, though once
when lot OF the boys OF our company
were determined that should &C bathing