The Meeker herald., 1898-01-08
1.-THE PRETTY SERGEANT"
Deeds oftnlor Performed by a French

Heroine.
The story of Virginia Ghesquiere, the
French heroine, who was decorated
with the Order of the Legion of Honor
for distinguished bravery during one
of the campaigns Of the French army
in Spain, is graphically told by Emile
Cere in his history of Madame Sans
Gene ct Les Femmes Soldats."
In the conscription of ls06 young
man by the name of Ghesquiere was en-
listed among the forced recruits OF the
department of the Haut-Rhin. The
beardiess conscript was frail and deli
cate, utterly unable to bear the fatigues
and hardships OF war. Realizing the
physical incapacity Of her twin brother,
whom she very closely rcscnb.ed, the
brave and unsclfsh sister, Virginia, de-
cided to take his place in the ranks.
With the courage Of high and noble
motive, Virginia Ghesquicrc begged her
parents to allow her to do for France
what her brothers i'll health rendered
it impossible for him to do, and SO ear
nestly did the young patriot plead that
she won their consent.
Dnnning her brothers apparel, the
intrepid girl presented herself at the
department en- the following day, and
was assigned to the Twenty-gevcnth
whose duty it was to enroll the re-
cruits. .,.l.....ss,--s
For six years the brave young woman
preserved her disguise, and during this
period was several times rewarded for
gallant conduct. At Nagram the
pretty sergeant" as the modest, cf-
feminatc-looking young soldier was
geuer rally called, had the honor of say
ing the life of the colonel Of the rcgi-
ment, who had fallen into the Danube,
and would have perished but for her
efforts.
On the cd of May, 1903, after the bat
tie of Lisbon, the pretty sergeant
performed deed of valor that won for
her the decoration of the Legion of
Honor.
The girl soldier, who was ROW SER
gcant Of n company of riflemon, per-
ceiyed at short distance from the field
of battle the figure of the colonel of the
regiment lying under the body of his
dead horse. Turning to two comrades,
She said: THE body of colonel is
flag that belongs to the regiment, and
the TwentyseveEth will rctake it,
AS she spoke she advanced toward
the PROSTATE officer, followed b. two
soldiers. Her comrades. both weak
from loss of blood, were unable to reach
the goal, SO that the burden Of the affair
fell upon her slender shoulders.
On reaching the spot she found it
impossible to lift the heavy body Of the
fallen officer, tug and struggle rs she
might! She was now, moreover. beset
by two struggling English soldiers.
Seized by sort of frenzy at This cow
ardly interruption of n mercfrl deed,
the little sergeant fred at one Of her as
sailants, wouuding him in the shoulder,
and then disabled the other by vigor-
Gus blows from her gunstock.
Both Britons surrendered, and as
sisted her in placing the officer, who
still breathed, upon horse which had
strayed near. Compelling the English
men to allow themselves 10 be attached
to the horses tail. the pretty Sergeant"
made triumpbal entry into camp,
and was soon after made chevalier
of the legion.
One of the NEST singular circuu-
stances of this curious history is that
after the wars were over the woman
who had won renown on the battle field
and public recognition from the er-
pire chose to return 10 her native prov
ince, and resumed there the old, simple,
tranquil domestic life OF her childhood.
Virginia Ghesquiere died in 1855, but
her memory viii always live amcng the
inhabitants of Delemont, who from one
generation to another will tell their
children's children the story of the girl
soldier who served France SO heroica!ly
for her brothers sake.-Youth's Com
panion.