The morning times., 1895-12-15
YANKEE JEANNE D.ARc.
Deborah Sampson Fought In the Rev
OlutiOn as Robert Shurtieff.

Deborah Sampson Fought In the Rev
Olution as Robert Shurtieff.
Boston Transcript.
Not u Score OF miles from boston stands
a fine, ciu-gline mouse, as We pass along
some of those woodland roads, which lead
on to historic Concord. In this house my
friend and hostess was born and reared
and married.
AS we returned from the grove for
leisure sitting in the parlor uf tise dear o,d
home. my eye was attracted by il book
which lay upon the center table-a record
OF the Sampson family. As 1t concerned
The history of the friends whom 1 was
visiting, l naturally became interested in
its genealogical contents. One picture alone
graced the volume, and that midway be-
tween its leaves II was the picture OF
| tall, stately, broad -siluuldered female,
with erect bearing. and in the description
her height was given as five feet seven
inches. Underneath was written the name
of Debprah Sampson, and this was the
heroine WIN served in the Continental
army and went through three campaigns
of the revolutionary war under the maine
or Robert Shurtleff without suspicion. Her
patriotism was aroused by the booming OF
cannon firm Bunker Hi!l. although i'm
PEELED by mixed motives to enter upon this
hazardous experiment
Her history is an interesting one. At the
age of five years her father having been
shjpwrecked or persheI al sea, ber mother,
through pressure of poverty upon the fam
lily. was compelled Ia part with her little
daughter. and she was given to a maiden
lady by the name OF Fuller, and then after
some years had a hume in the family of
Deacon Jeremiah Thninas, where she re-
manned until the age of twenty, when she
stole away secretly tn enlist in the army,
being tired of-thc huindruIn life uf feed
t.s.
tense desire for a broader life and ia see
more of the world.
Her love ~ books bad been frowned upon.
Yet she was ambitious To- acquire knowledge,
and bad 50 used Der limited oppori unities as
to enable her for short time to teach
a public school in Niddleboro, where the
curriculum was comprised in the. New
England Primer" spelling book. the
'.Psalter,' and few testaIuents- Sheets
of paper were occasionally allowed the
boys to draw upon, and the girls learned to
knit and sew. But Deborah Sampson pined
for larger scope for her talents, and, sym
pathiziDs in the country's struggle fer
liberty, and listening with deep emotion to
tue uoouIing oI the distant caunon on Bunker
Hill, she resolved To start forth and have
share in the glories and the hardships OF
ber country,s conflict.
She spun and wOye material for her
suit Of masculine apparel. and bespoke
them of a tailor Us for a relative of bers
who contemplated going into the army.
She made sber escape in the night, and
after many Eanderi1gs. enlisted in the
town of Uxbrtige as a Continental soldier.
witn-tbe assdmed name which she had
chosen.
she was Mustered into the service at
Worcester. ami, in company with a large
number offrf<ruits. marched TO join the
army at West Point. There she was
placed IN Capt. Webb's company of light
infa ntry. ip Col. Shepbard's regiment, and
Gen. Pauersun's brigade. Here her
civilian suit was changed for the Conti
mental uDf4crm.
The story OF her first experience when
the a attackoftbe enemy was
furious, and n man at her side was shot
dead. is tkrillinE. But she admitted that
she suffered less from fear than from
fatigue. ihirst.-snd the heat OF the day.
Her transfer TO another regiment. to join
the Frencbz rmy under Count Rocham-
beau, is all told by her I'm vivid terms. and
the ma rcb of The whole allied army. under
Washington. to protect New York from
the enemy, is described fresulting In the
siege of Yorktown with the carnage and
death she witnessed. and also the digging
OF trenches. in which she participated.
These exposures brought on severe cold.
together with exhaustion and blistered
hands. Gen. Lincoln. noticing the smooth
faced laddies exhausted appearance after
the nights labor upon the trenches, said:
You have too great share of fatigue upon
you. my fine laddie. Retire to your tent
and pleasantly dream an hour or two"
Her delicate appearance and having no
beard was often noticed and she was called
the '.snlooth-faced boy" but her sex was
never suspected
She was brave and fea rless and valiant in
time or conflict She went through three
campaigns, sharing in all the hardships
and glories and twice was wounded.
At last. being overiaken by malignant
fever and being brought to the verge
OF death, the attending physician dis
covered that the brave soldier Iaddie"
was woman: but such was his benevolence
and generosity he secretly guarded the
secret. save to the matron, who had her
removed to her own apartments and nursed
with the greatest care.
On her departure for camp after this H.
ness. for the purpose OF being discharged,
the doctor wrote letter to Gen. Patterson
disclosing the secret. and although greatly
astonished. the general treated her with
utmost kindness, giving her an honora BILE dis
charge. as she had been well known, aud
acted in the third year as his aid-de-camp.
q nd had lived in bis family. She was granted
a pension, which was continued during the
remainder of her life. On returning home
She did notimmediately make herself known
among her relatives but at length resumed
female apparel and employmeDts. In a
few mouths She was married and became
the wife OF Benjamin Gannett of Sharon,
and lived to rear family OF three children
two daughters aud one son, Capt. Earl
b. Gannett.
at the age of axty-seven she died at her
horne In Sharon, where she had sustained
the character of au exemplary wife and
mother, aud kind friend and neigbbor.
+ The record of Deborah Sampson in all
its parts is without parallel. Jeanne
dare, as leader, was less exposed than
the private soldier. Deborah Sampson.