The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-22
AMAWNS.
Wonsn Who Have Won RenoWA
on the Battlefield
History Repeats Itself-Ths Female vei-
unteer Corps Not the only Exanpls
Of Feni.ins Seldierang-MAsQus-
raae - Men.

rsas - Men.
During the recent campaign in NADIA
kascar we heard = good deal about the
| Dahomey Amazons and their proves
In war; and few months ago daily
paper asserted that q female volunteer
corps was in the process CT being
formed, TO be Offered, of course, by some
extreme disciples of the New Woman"
cult. In the latter instance the idea OF
woman usurping mans place on the
battlefield was looked upon as being
something quite original; whereas it
would simply be a case Of history re-
peating itself, for that there have been
many such heroines the following par
ticulars will prove: Mrs. Christine
Davies, commonly called Mother Ross, -
Is well-known example, she having
served as foot soldier and dragon in
several campaigns under William Ill.
and the duke of Marlborough, acting as
o squadron leader of the Scots greys at
Blenheim and Families. She died July
3, 1889. Hannah Smell was another fe-
male worthy, who, having been deserted
by her husband, adopted male attire,
and travelled to Coventry in search OF the
runaway. She there enlisted in Col.
Guise's regiment of foot, and marched
with them to Carlisle at The time of the
Scotch rebellion of 1745. She afterward
enlisted in Fraser's regiment of ma
rines, and proceeded to Portsmouth,
whence she sailed in Admiral Bosca-
wen's squadron for the East Indies.
There she assisted at the siege Of
Pondicherry, when she received IL
wounds. Through all her adventures,
including e couple of foggings, she
managed to preserve the secret of her
sex, and concerning the application of
The "cat" it was said:
Hannah in breeks behav'd so well.
That none her softer sex could tell"
At the close of her military life, how
.ver, she revealed her secret, and was
awarded a pension of Els IS. per an
lum. Later on she started a public
house under the sign of "The Widow
In Masquerade" and did such q roaring
rade that a comfortable old age was
assured to her.
There is Mary Anne Talbot, q fine,
lonely young woman, to judge by an
.xtant portrait, who served four years
as soldier and sailor in the name of
John Taylor. and took part in Lord
Howe's glorious victory on June L; She
died February 4, 1903, aged 30 years.
One print represents her holding cut
lass in one hand, and Frenchman's
head in the other; another in which she
is representing a press gang. Coupled
with the memory of Fontenoy, 1745,
there is that of Phobe Hesssl, whose
monument in Brighton churchyard
states that she was born at Chelsea in
i713; that she served for many years az
private soldier in the Fifth regiment
of foot in different parts of Europe, and
received bayonet wound in the arm at
the above engagement. Living at
Brighton, her case became known to
George w., then prince regent, who
sent to ask her what sum of money
would render her comfortable. ''Hali
4 guinea a week." replied old Phoebe
will make me as happy as princess
This. therefore, by his majesty's com.
mand was regularly paid her till the
day of her death. which took place De-
cember 10, 1921, when she attained the
age Of los years.
Again, there is Mary Dixon. who was
nearly 16 years iIs the army, and fought
of Waterloo Che xroe ctiIl l;rI,r N taEE
when she was described as "a strong,
powerful old woman" Above all. there
is the remarkable, if not unique case OF
DR.. Barry, who died at Corfu in July,
1868. This lady, said to have been the legit
innate granddaughter of Scotch earl
is surmised to have adopted male attire
and the medical profession from attach
ment to an army surgeon. Never in her
lifetime had anyone the slightest sus-
picion Of her sex. While staff surgeon
TO the cape garrison, she most succ-
treated the governor. Lord
Charles Somerset, fought a duel and
was considered TO be Of most quarrel
some disposition. The doctor was fire.
quently guilty of fragrant breaches OF
discipline. and on more than one occa.
sion was sent home under arrest, but
somehow or other, the offenses were al
ways condoned at headquarters The
late earl of Albemarle relates in his
"reminiscences, that on sitting next &c
her Mt mess, he noticed "a certain ei.
femiaacy in his manner, which he
seemed to be always striving to over
come, while his style OF conversation
was greatly superior TO that one usually
heard at mess-table in the days of non.
examinations" In Harris
Army List for 1865. tbs RaIre Of James
Berry, Il. D.. stands at the head of the
list of inspectors general of hospitals
In the July of the same year, her death
was announced. and the next day it was
reported to the horse guard.
that the doctor was woman 1t is
singular that neither the landlady Of
her lodging. nor the black valet. who
bad lived with her for years. had the
vaguest notion OF her secret-Admirsl. |
ty and Eorse Guards Gazette.