New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-10
"UAJOR BELLE"
THE ONLY WOMAN COMMISSIONED OFFICER
IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Santa Barbara (Cal) correspondence OF The Bostos


IN THE UNITED STATES AkM1
Santa Barbara (Ca) correspondence Of The Boston
Advertiser.
regularly in the United States Army is Major Ara:
bella Macomber REYNOLDS. She Is distinct ana
conspicuous figure In the annals OF the war. Her
services are mentioned twice In General Sherman's
Of MAJOR R Rey are to be found in the CONCEAL
Record Of the Armies Of Illinois in the Civil Con-
Major Reynolds is better known in military circles
In the West Major Belle Reynolds She lives
good local medical practice. No one on the Pacific
coast has much attention at Grand Army OF the
v t' to attend ali Grand Army Of the Republic
encampments and veteran reunions held west OF the
Santa Barbara in 1891 he paid more attention to
Major Belle Reynolds than to any Of the hundreds
OF political leaders and rich men OF California wno'
Major Reynolds maiden name was Arsbells
Macomber She was born In Shelburne Falls Mass.
in 1873 When she was fourteen years old ,bs she
S an Srn County Two she
went East to complete her education and upon hsr
Iowa. In April. 1850 she was married to Mr.. Rey-
nolds. and. with him. she moved to Peoria, ~
first anniversary Of her wedding day the North was
thrilled with the that For, Sumter b nan
men had determined be- the arst enls, II case
oria enlisting among the nth Illinois three months
and ordered to the front ,d In the IN:
husband, who was then in camp at Birds Point:
No. She arrived there . on tine h Tsrs ses aays
Chancellor transported the troops to Herculaneum.
cheerfuIiy accepted a soldiers lot She ate the
M food did the drank from SLEPT Hn and
as did the poorest Pryate and never bs az
ali aTr's day long r WITH WITH her needle and
soldiers, and many nights ss1 fn six ne Snq
Reynolds is doing. snsIe-handsd these days wrote
n"I% n 70 scdisr boys ike Ssys young
Al Cape Girardeau the regiment went into garrison
aT month and Or Ts H
the first time the horrors OF war During the battle
Uncertainty e as to the fate OF her husband Twice
there came news that her husband had been wound:
the report a was false. When the battle was
over she went on the field mnistering 10 the needs
she W worked hourly With the wounded and dying.
She made distinction between the blue and the
ton. might well lay claim to having been the first
to initiate the individual work based on no lofty
Of a tender-hearted woman's instincts. Scarcely
a1 's 5ssk and sa"
strength taxed to the utmost. Then came orders
the leaders knew No tents or camp eeuipages
could be taken on the journey. and Mrs REYNOLDS
was permitted to accompany the troops Tho
next news received was the capture OF Fort Donel-
SON. s...,.. ...
al shiloh Three weeks before the battle Mrs.
Reynolds met her husband there. he having mean
time been made assistant adtutant-g general upon
McClernands STAFF Here. insuffciently fed through
n Cs Mrs ans tns rGs @
When the Sunday came once more Mrs.
Reynolds had not been In bed for seven nights ana
days The little she had caught had been
while sitting with her head resting for a few min
utes on the rail Of boat. when she would be again
reused to for the wounded.
on this day Governor Yates. OF Illinois arrived
accompa MED by "A corps OF physicians. Among the
latter were Drs Guth and Coburn. OF Peoria her
home. men who had known her year before as
blooming bride. They were shocked by her changed
and haggard appearance. and insisted upon her
returning home for rest. Too out and feeble
for resistance. she assented to the plans they made
for her to return the following day with the
Gubernatorial party in the steamer Blackhawk.
Twenty members OF her husbands regiment all
Of them severely wounded and some OF them going
to die. were the steamer Naturally the battle
OF Pittsburg Landing. of which she had been a wit
ness. the chief topic OF conversation. She
called upon to many questions. and gave such
accurate description OF the engagement thas
Governor Yates exclaimed az she concluded
why, this woman Is more deserving OF COM
mission than half the men who have them"
why not give her a commission thenr' asked
DR.. Colburn.
Governor Yates called for a blank commission
and for pen and Ink.
Two weeks later. rested. but far from recruited.
she returned TO the corps. When she showed the
commission to the boys. did they gather about her
buttons of compliment? They did what she appre-
ciated much more. They threw up their mats ana
cried Bully for your.
| She their comrade. their friend and fellow
soldier. and they stood ceremony with her,
| although she was q major