The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-11-17
THE PRETTY SERGEANT"


n oman no served In the pore
onic Armies.
The story of Virginia Ghesqniere. 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 the MADAME
Sans-Gene ct Les Femmcs Soldats.'
In the eonscription of ) a young
man by the name of Ghesquiere was
enlisted among the forced recruits OF
the department of the Haut-lthin. The
beardless conseript was frail and deli
cate, utterly unable To hear the fatigues
and h%ardships of war. Realizing the
physical i%ncapaeity of her twin broth
er. whom she very closely resembled,
the brave and unselfish sister. Virginia,
decided 10 take his place In the ranks.
With the courage of a high and noble
motive, Virginia Ghesquiere begged her
parents TO allow her 10 do for France
what her brothers i'll health rendered
II impossible for him to do, and SO earn
estly did the young patriot plead that
she won their consent.
DOMINIC her brothers apparel. the
intrepid girl presented herself at the
department on the following day, and
was assigned 10 the Twenty seventh
Regiment by the nnsuspecting officer
whose duty IL vas 10 enroll the re
crults.
For six years the brave young wom-
an preserved her disguise, and during
this period was several times rewarded
for gallant conduct. At Hagram the
pretty sergeant as the modest, eff
Misunderstanding young soldier was
generally called, had the honor Of say
ing the life of the colonel of the regi-
ment. who had fallen into the Danube,
and would have persisted bur for her
efforts.
On the second day Of May, 1S0s, after
the Battle OF Lisbon. the pretty SER
geant" performed a deed Of yalor that
won for her the decoration OF the lie
gion of Honor.
The girl soldier, who was now ser
geant of a company Of riiemen. per
ANAN " a. "a ohoAA hi7tohAN " thf ~
OF battle the figure of the colonel of the
regiment lying under the body of his
lead horse. Turning 10 two comrades.
she said. The body of Il colonel is a
flag that belongs 10 the regiment, and
the Twenty-seyenth Will retake H."
As she spoke she advanced toward
the PROSTATE officer, followed by two
soldiers. Her comrades. both weak
from loss OF blood. were unable TO
reach the goal. so hat the burden of
the affair fell upon her slender shout
derS.
On reaching the spot. she found II
impossible To lift the heavy body OF
the fallen officer. tug and struggle as
she might. She was now, moreover,
beset by two struggling English sol
diers. Seized by a sort of frenzy
at this cowardly interruption Of a mer-
ciful deed, the little sergeant fired at
one of her a%ssallants, wounded him In
the shoulder. and then disabled the
other by vigorous blows from her gun
stock.
Both Brltons surrendered. and assist
ed her in placing the officer. who still
breathed, upon a horse which had still
strayed near. Compelling the English
men to allow themselves to be attached
TO the horses tail. the pretty ser
geant' made Il triumphal entry into
camp. aud soon after made a Chey-
alier Of the Legion.
One of the most singular clrcum-
stances OF this curious history is that
after the wars were over. the woman
who had won renown on the battlefield
and public recognition from the En-
plre chose TO return to her native prov
ince, and resumed there the old, simple.
tranquil domestic life of her childhood.
Virginia Ghesqulere died in 1855, but
her memory Will always live among
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 heroi-
cally for her brothers sake.