The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-27
WOMEN AS SOLDIERS.
Some Examples Where Petticoats Were ID
carded for an Army Uniform.

Some Examples where etticoats Were Dis
carded for an Army Uniform.
New York Press.
The Hungarian newspapers report the
death, OF the age OF eixty.twO, of Fran
Marie Hoche. who had been q Lieutenant in
the Hungarian war for independence and
gained q medal for bravery on the field OF
battle. In 1s4s Marie was eighteen years
a corps of volunteers without the
slightest suspicion arising as to
her sex. For her courage In an
engagement. where she was badly wounded
In one foot. she was rewarded with a lieu
tenants commission and decorated with q
medal. Marie was afterward transferred
to q regiment of hussars. with the rank
of first lieutenant. She might have
gone further in the line of promotion
bat for the chance discovery of her sex,
whereupon q major, who had long had a
liking for the brave young officer. married
her, the wedding ceremony being performed
by the regimental chaplain. After her
husbands death she suffered from poverty,
but fortunately she attracted the notice OF
the Magyar poet, Maurice JOkai, who
pleaded her cause IN verse with such effect
that a sum OF money was raised to ease her
declining years.
The case of Marie Hoche has called atten.
ton to the stories OF other amaZons. more
or less notable. Perhaps the most remark
able case on record was the Irish woman,
Christian Davies. about the close of the
Seventeenth century. Christian was mar
ried and had two sons. Heg husband was
pressed into the army, and she was left
without means OF support for herself or
her children. She placed the little ones
with a nurse, put on II suit of her husbands
cloths and enlisted by the name of Christie
pher Welsh. She evidently had a taste for
wars alarms, and, besides conducting her
self bravely in battle, she actually fought
a duel with q sergeant, who, of course, ig:
nOrant of her sex. regarded her as a rival
for the affections OF a young woman. She
served throughout Marlborough's cam
paigns In a regiment OF cavalry, and was
in the ~tiercest OF ths fray st the famous
battle of Blenheim. Being wounded at
Families her sex was discovered and she
was dismissed from the service, but per-
United to remain in the army in the capac-
ity OF suffer. At the conclusion OF the
war she presented q petition to Queen
Anne recIting her services. and received O
considerable gratuity, besides q pension OF
q shilling q day.
There have been in the United States
Observation-Disclosures instances of women
entering the ranks as soldiers. although
this must have been impossible wherever
the rules relating to enlistment were OBJ.
served. 1t has not been necessary, how
ever, Tor American women to unscX them
selves In order to display their heroisn.
In the early days, as moro recently on the
distant frontier, the wIIe u mother was
as ready as the husband and father to de-
fend the home against the treacber ous
savage, and in the late war for the Union
women were conspicuous. not only for de
voted self-sacrifice. but, when occasion of
Tered, tor physical courage as welt In
highest typ of courage is not always, ol
perhaps generally, associated with a TASTE
for the brutalizing scenes of the battlefield
and In possession of hat highest ty pe
women are not inferior to men. There nav
been fortunately few women like Marie
HOche and Christian Davies; but there IL
abundant violence that the spirit which
actuated the wives and mothers of Ameri
ca in the dark days now happily past
would be found to be as potent as evel
should occasion again arise.