, 1897-04-28
A WAR WOMAN OF NOTE.

ment of women now that the legislature
has opened the door for them to become
soldiers" said one OF those men who
think there is only one place for wo-
man.
1t would be interesting to know how
many women served as soldiers on both
sides in the civil war. There were many
Df them, enough for several companies,
without doubt, and some OF them dis
tinguished themselves, won promotions,
though l believe only one received a
governors commission. Let me tell
about her.
An Iowa gentleman, +. w. Burning
ton. has sent me something about Maj.
Belle Reynolds, of whom and her SER
vice much has beef written hat I do
moi remember to have seen in print. 1t
teacher, the very first one in Cass
ty, 10. Her father. X. w. MacOmber,
was an early settler in hat county, go
ing there in 1855. The fall of that year
the future woman soldier OF high ran
taught in a house located on ground
upon and around which the City of At
lanta has been built. Her father had
ancestors in the war of the revolution,
and her mother, who came from Con-
necticut. was a relative of the late eX-
governor, eX-member OF Grants cabinet
and ex-minister to Russia. Marshall
Jewell. The bright, handsome, independ-
ent young lady was a great favorite in
the new county and her work as a teach
err highly appreciated. One Of her
brothers, J. X. Macomber. is a promi-
nent 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 viva
cious 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 building was Il barn and the
salary fit only to starve on; she had her
pick OF the best. received the highest
wages paid any teacher in the county
and was always one of the first in the
new sections four hundred. 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 Il
modest Illinois man hadn't been called
to the captaincy. Belle Macomber be-
ward they made Illinois their home,
where they were living when the war
came. Mr.. Reynolds did not wait long
after Lincoln's second call for soldiers, a
call which quickly followed the first one,
before finding himself the choice Of a
company of young stalwarts for first
lieutenant.
When the new soldier Informed his
young wife that he had enlisted, expect
ing to see her break down and then
brace up and declare that he should not
60, he W as surprised to see her face
wreathed in smiles, joy-prompted, glad
smiles.
What do you think of it, BELIEF" ask
ed Soldier Reynolds.
Think OF it-what do l think of your
going to the war? Why! I am delighted.
1t is what you ought to do"
Then you will not object to my 60
ing?"
mot l. 1t is OF all things that which
l have most wanted you to do since MI.
Lincoln's first call"
Don't you think you will miss me
and wish l hadn't gomez"
mot for one moment"
1t was getting serious. The lieuten-
ant wanted to serve his country, but he
didn't quite like to see his bride SO con-
foundedly happy at the thought OF his
going to war for three years; going, may
he was quite likelyl, not to return. He
would have preferred a few tears and
an assortment Of chidings for propos-
ing 10 leave the woman he had recently
married, to the gladness she manifest
ed. 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 l shall not miss
you and shall not want you to come
home. l 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"
Eyes, it will do. l am in perfect
health, as strong as o and as patri-
When the 18th Illinois went South
Mrs. Belle Reynolds went with it, TAX
ing the fare Of a soldier. At the battle
Of Shiloh she was under fire until COM
to leave. While OF her way to
the rear she saw a field hospital. The
white faces of the suffering and the
groans of those not so badly injured i'm
PEELED her to stop. She remainded all
day and all night, helping to care for
md cheer the unfortunates Of battle.
That angel of mercy" as the soldiers
called her, spent much Of her time in
hospitals, nursing the sick, reading to
l. nLl H ~ 80 ~ l