The morning call., 1891-04-17
SHE SERVED WITH VALOR.

A Woman Who Fought in the War and
Braved the Horrors of Libby Prison.
One of the finest bits of romance ever
brought to light is the story OF Mrs. Mary
L. Hooker of Elkhart, who has applied for
a pension on the grounds that she has
served throughout the war disguised as a
man and under an alias, and that while in
an engagement she received a gunshot
wound in the leg from which she has since
been disabled, says the Cincinnati En-
quirer. She appeared before the Pension
Board here, and when approached by an
Enquirer correspondent seemed at first up-
willing to make public any facts relating to
her case, but she finally told the following
story: "At the time | entered the SERVICE"
said Mrs. Hooker, 81 was 20 years old and
living at Titiin, Ohio. where / am yet well
known. | was slight girl, but quite TOM
boy, and possessed of great amount of en-
durance. For two years previous to the
breaking out of the war | had been going
with Benjamin b. Brown, and was engaged
to marry him. When the war broke out,
my lover seemed determined to go. l
pleaded with him to Stay with me, but he
said he was ashamed to skuk at home
while many not so good as he were going to
tie front. and finally he enlisted in Conn
pany +, Sixth ONO Volunteers. l endured
the separation for a while, but hearing that
Charles Dewey, who had enlisted in the
same company and regiment, desired a sub
stitute, l offered myself, first assuming male
attire. My offer was readily accepted.
he agreeing 10 pay me $500, $500 of
which | have never received, he having
died While was in the service. joined the
regiment and was soon serving alongside
my lover. | had assumed the name of
Charles Dewey and was so known until the
close OF the war. My sex was undi scOvered
all the while was in the army, except By
Benjamin Brown, who, of course recOg-
niZed me as soOu as he saw me. / had no
trouble learning the infantry tactics, for an
elder brother had belonged to a militia COM
pany, ana had always taken more interest
in the drilling. etc, than he. Our regiment
left Camp Dennison shortly after | joined it
for Washington and from there we went to
the first battle of Bull Run. There | was
in the thickest of the fight, but came out
unscathed. l remained with the regiment
until | was wounded in the left leg by
MIME ball at the battle OF Antletam, when |
was transferred to an ambulance, the
same which my lover had occupied but TWO
weeks before, and in which he had died
from the effects of wounds received in a
previous skirmish. After his death | was
left In the regiment without a friend who
knew of the peculiar circumstances of my
enlistment. As soon. however, as l was
able TO march, determined to stick in the
service. | was wounded iE the breast by
the bursting OF shell at Mission Ridge and
was shortly alter CAPTURED and sent to Libby
Prison. What with the awful prison fare,
my wound. and the brutal treatment given
to the prisoners, l despared of ever getting
out alive; but in three weeks an exchange
of prisoners was made, and L left for my
home in Tiffin, a shadow of my former self.
A few years after the close of the war | was
married to Richard Ireland. He died within
year. Up TO my marriage with Mr. Hooker,
which occurred about five years ago, l re-
ceived pension as Mr.. Ireland's widow. l
enjoyed soldier life, all but the tiresome
marching. and was scarcely ever frightened
during all engagement.