The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-11-27

dren. She can tell at glance the weak
spot in troop formations and tho proper
tactics to be observed in turning the en-
emy's right" or left.
When all this is taken into considera-
ton, it can be readily seen why the posi-
ton Of Major Reynolds both in tho femi-
nine and army world is unique and unlike
that Of any other woman in the country
Her rank as major is doubly honora-
BILE ono from the fact that the commission
was given for meritorious and valorous
conduct on the field
Unprecedented and astonishing as 1t
may seem, tho fact remains that Major
Arabella Macomber Reynolds was made o
commissioned officer by the governor Of
Illinois on April 10, 1869, when she was
only 10 years old.
Arabella Macomber was horn in Shell
bourne Falls, Mass, in 1S43. Although
of New England origin, she is more close
ly identified with the great west, as at the
ago of ii she moved with her parents to
the state of Iowa, which was then little
more than n wilderness After several
years of roughing it she was sent to the
east TO complete her interrupted educa-
ton, and upon her return to her western
home she successfully taught school in the
first schoolhouse-a log one-built in Cass
county, Ia.
On the 10th day of April, 1860, she was
married to q Mr.. Reynolds of Peoria, Ills
just one year to u day before Fort Sumter
was fired upon, inaugurating the civil war.
Her husband, who had enlisted with the
Seventeenth Illincis-three months men
was ordered to tho front Three months
later, while in camp at Birds Point, Mo-,
his wife joined him. For several months
Major Reynolds bore the rigors of camp
life like true soldier. Her only boast
when speaking of her career in the army
is, ~ never made any trouble"
Mrs. Reynolds first experience Of real
war was at the battle of Fredericktown.
The battle of Fort Henry closely followed
During both these engagements Mrs.
Reynolds found alienation for her sicken-
ing anxiety for her husbands fate in min
istering to tho wounded and dying.
Three weeks before the battle of Shiloh
found the Army of the Southwest massed
ut that place. No soldier of the army bore
the harlships of that campaign with more
unllinching cheerfulness than Mrs. Eey
n0lis. InroughouU those chill March
days she shared the common lot, through
storm and stress, wind and rain, sleeping
on the ground. On Sunday, the 9th OF
Aprll, DrOh0 UUo DduUlo VI MIS-
Reynolds was stationed on the quarter
masters boat, temporarily turned into
hospital In the darkness of Sunday night
the boat, already OVERLOOKING with the
wounded, became the Mecca of unhurt
stragglers. To prevent them overrunning
the place, it was necessary to mount guard,
which Mrs. Reynolds did, armed with
revolver. Three times the boat conveyed
its cargo of wounded and dead to Savan-
nah, only to return for O new load, during
which time Mrs. Reynolds was tireless and
interchangeable On Monday night came the
first news of the battle and to the anxious
woman tidings of her husbands safety.
Finding that the messenger and his COM
mand were in famished condition, Mrs.
Reynolds committed her first and only
theft, breaking q locker in the commissary
department for supplies for tho starving
men.
The next day Mrs. Reynolds was detail
cd to the hospital which had been estab-
lished at the little log church of Shiloh.
Finding the men in agony for lack of
water and supplies, Mrs. Reynolds called
for volunteers, and, herself heading the Is
soldiers who responded, made the trip back
to the quartermaster's boat Tho follow
ing Sunday, one week after tho battle,
Governor Yates arrived on the scene, at
tended by n corps of physicians Yielding
to their solicitations, the devoted woman,
who for seven nights and days had been
able to obtain but snatches of food and
rest, consented to return with the guber-
Material party in the steamer to Black
hawk for q much needed rest
1t was during this journey that the gov
ernor, hearing of her untiring service and
thoroughly soldierlike conduct generally,
gave her the commission. of which she Is
reasonably proud.