Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-24
WAR WOMAN OF NOTE.
Career of Major Belle Reynolds of
Iowa in the Army.

WAX "oNsN oF NOTE.
career of Major Belle Reynolds of
lowe I'm the Army.
1t would be interesting to note how many
women served as soldiers on both sides in the
civil war. There were many of them, says
a writer In the Chicago Times-Herald,
enough for several companies, no doubt, and
some of them distinguished themselves, won
promotions, though l believe only one re-
ceived a governors commission. Let me tell
about her.
An Iowa gentleman, F. w. Burlington, has
sent me something about Major Belle Rey-
nolds, Of whom and her service much has
been written, that l do not remember to have
seen in print. 1t is that the gallant major
was a school teacher, the very first one in
Cass county, Iowa. Hei father, X. w. Ma
comber, was an early settler in that county,
going there in 1855. The fall of that year
the future woman soldier Of high rank taught
in a house located on ground upon and
around which the city Of Atlantic has been
built. Her father had ancestors in the war
OF the revolution, and her mother, who came
from Connecticut, was a relative of the late
ex-governor, eX-member Of Grants cabinet
and ex-minister to Russia. Marshall Jewell.
The bright, handsome. independent young
lady was a great favorite in the new county
and her work as a teacher highly appreciated.
One of her brothers, j. X. Macomber, is a
prominent lawyer of Des Moines, whose wife
Is a writer and lecturer of note, and has
taken a leading part in advocating the rights
and duties of women.
From 1855 until 1860 pretty and vivacious
Belle Macomber did not have to hunt for
schools; her fame was abroad and school
officials did the hunting. She never had to
take up with a Gull school, where the build
ing was a barn and the salary fit only to
starVe on; she had her pick Of the best, re-
ceived the highest wages paid any teacher in
the county and was always one of the first in
tho new sections 400. Among the young
men who regarded the popular teacher with
a jealous eye was William S. Reynolds, and
In 1860, the year in which the old ship of
state ran upon rocks and might have gone
down If q modest Illinois man hadn't been
called to the captaincy, Belle Macomber be-
came Mrs. Reynolds, ana soon afterward
they made Illinois their home, where they
were living when the war came. Mr.. Rey-
nolds did not wait long after Lincoln's sec
ond call for soldiers, a call which quickly
followed the first one. before finding himself
tho choice OF a company of young stalwarts
for first lieutenant.
When tho new soldier informed his young
wife that he had enlisted, expecting to see
her break down and then brace up and de-
clare that he should not go, he was sur
prised to see her face wreathed in smiles
joy-prompted, glad smiles.
What do you think Of it, Belle?' asked
Soldier Reynolds.
Think Of it-what do l think OF your going
to the war? Why, 1 am delighted. it is
what you ought to do"
Then you will not object to my going?"
mot /. 1t is of all things that which
have most wanted you to do since Mr.. Lin
coins first call"
Don't you think you will miss me and
wish | hadn't gomez"
Not for one moment"
1t was getting serious. The lieutenant
wanted to serve his country, but he didn't
quite like to see his bride so confoundedly
happy at the thought of his going to war for
three years; going, maybe, and quite likely,
not to return. He would have preferred a
few tears and an assortment of chidings for
proposing to leave the woman he had re-
Gently married, to the gladness she mani
tested. Seeing that her husband was in
deep water, was distressed over the turn
of affairs. she threw her arms about his
neck and proceeded to give him a new
shock.
Il will tell you why | will not miss you
and shall not want you to come home. |
am going to the war with you. Now, don't
protest."
But think of it! Think of the long
marches, sleeping on the ground, of dangers
in battle. 1t will not do"
Yes, it will do. I am in perfect health,
as strong as you and as patriotic"
When the Seventeenth Illinois went south
Mrs. Belle Reynolds went with it, taking
the fare of a soldier. At the battle of
eIllOn NE was uuutI i ulll COIIptlItu l
leave. While on her way to the rear she
saw a field hospital. The white faces of the
sufferers and the gToans of those not so
badly injured impelled her to stop. She re-
manned all day and all night, helping to
care for and! cheer the unfortunates of bat
tie. THAT angel of mercy" as the soldiers
called her. spent much of her time in hos
pitfalls, nursing the sick, reading to them
and writing their letters.
The work of this Iowa teacher of a year
before came to the knowledge of Governor
Dick .Yates-Yates of blessed war memory
and he sent her a commission as major. She
was provided with a horse. Her uniform
was navy blue and her shoulder straps the
same as any majors, gold leaves and all.
Officers and men had great respect for her.
Often as the Seventeenth passed other COM
mands the men threw their hats in the air
and gave cheers for Major Belle Reynolds. |
Harper's and Frank Leslie contained pic |
lures OF her riding at the head of the regi-
ment. Everybody in the army, east and
west, was talking about the woman major.
Her war record was in all respects credit
able.
Soon after peace came the major studied
medicine, and for nearly thirty years she
has been a successful physician and surgeon.
She was for some years a resident OF Chi
cago, where she had a large practice, often
being called in consultation to distant cities.
Six years ago she located in Milwaukee.
While there | had several conversations
with her on her war experience. At a re-
ception given by DR.. and Mrs. o. W. Carlson
Major Belle Reynolds was the center of at
traction with the twenty or thirty veterans
among the guests. 1t was while at Milwau-
kee that her health failed somewhat. She
went to California on that account and is
now practicing at Santa Barbara.
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