The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-29
MANY WOMEN FIGHTERS.
T ne Heroism OF Women both North
and South During the War.

I 1e Heroism OF Women both North
and South During the War;.
Many and thrilling are the tales told
of the heroism of women both of tn,
north and south during the war CT the
rebellion. The women of the war may
be divided int three classes. The
first class included the women who
served as nurses in hospitals and on
the field of battle. OF these much has
already been written. The second class
was that very useful body of scouts and
spies whose dress and actions were &C
cording to circumstances. They APP
peared as stylish danes surrounded by
admirers in the morning, M in the
evening as dissipated youths, dropping
into billiard rooms and ILL resorts, to
detect plots of the enemy.
Those who, fired by burning zeal to
serve their country, actually donned a
uniform and shouldered a musket to
serve the cause formed the third class
Of women of the war. OF these there
were many more than is generally
supposed. AS far back as 1863 the Mem.
phis Argus published a paragraph of
news headed Death Of a Cavalry Sol
der Who Proved to Be a Woman" 1t
read:
"a short time since a soldier belong
ing to a Missouri cavalry regiment was
entered at 'Overton hospital for treat
ment for fever contracted in camp. The
soldier died, but not before it had been
revealed that the supposed young man
was a oman She had followed her
lover into the army, and to be near
him had willingly braved the dangers of
battle field and borne the hardships and
exposures of campaign life. Her years
could not nave been more than 90"
An intensely interesting story is that
of another who became a soldier "all
for love" Her name vas Annie Lilly
bridge of Detroit, Mich. In the spring
of 1862 she was employed in a dry
goods store in Detroit, where she made
the acquaintance of a lieutenant of the
Twenty-first Michigan infantry, and an
intimacy sprang up between them.
They correspondent for some time and
became warmly attached.
The thought of being parted from her
lover made her so unhappy that she
resolved to share his danger and be
near him. Purchasing male attire she
enlisted in Captain Kavanagh's COM
pany of the Twenty-frst regiment. and
managed to keep her secret from all,
not ever h object of her affections,
who met her daily, being aware of her
presence. Annie left with her regi.
ment for Kentucky and passed through
all the dangers and trials of camp
life, endured long marches and slept on
the ground without a murmur.
Before the battle of Pea Ridge, in
which her regiment took part, her se~
was discovered by a member of her
company, but he promised to keep her
secret. After the battle she was sent,
among others, to bury the dead, and the
first corpse was that Of the soldier who
had discovered her sex. She became
a favorite of the regiment and Colonel
Stephens frequently detailed her as regi-
mental clerk. When on picket duty she
received a evere wound in the arm,
and was sent to the hospital at Louis
vile. After several months h was
discharged and sent home as her arm
was stiffened and rendered useless.
WAS REGIMENTAL BUGLER.
In the spring of 1863 a captain ar.
rived at Louisville, KY, accompanied
by a young soldier apparently about
the age of II, who Immediately at
tracted the attention Of Colonel Mundy
as being exceedingly sprightly and in
telligent, and he detailed him for duty
at the barracks. A few days later the
startling fact was discovered that the
supposed young man was a woman, the
fact being establishel by a soldier who
was raised in her town. Her story is
one of interest.
Frank Martin cher assumed name)
was born in Bristol, Pa, and vas edu-
Gated at the convent in Wheeling, W
Va, where she acquired an excellent
education and many accomplishments.
After leaving the convent and bidding
farewell to her parents she enlisted in
the Second East Tennessee cavalry, and
accompanied the army of the Cumber-
land to Nashville. She was IN the heat
Of battle at Murfreesboro, and was
severely wounded in the shoulder, but
fought g%allantly, and waded Stone
River into Murfreesboro on the men,
orable Sunday on which the union
forces were driven back. In having her
wounds dressed her sex was discovered
and the fact made known to General
Rosecrans. The general was favorably
impressed with her bravery, but would
not allow her to remain in the SER
vice, and personally superintended the
arrangements for her safe transmission
to her parents.
Frank was only IS years old, quite
small, efin of name and had a
beautiful figure. She was an excellent
horsewoman, and was IGNORED with the
position Of bugler to the regiment.
I fine only one recorded instance Of
a woman who donned the gray-Sue
Mondey, or Lieutenant Flowers, who
served in Kentucky on Captain Berry's
staff. She wore a full confederate uni
form, with a jaunty plumed hat, from
beneath which escaped a wealth of
dark brown hair, a dark, piercing eye,
and soft musical voice, was a bold
rider and daring leader. Prior to her
command with Berry she had been as
ISOLATED with Captain Alexander, and
was present at his tragic death in
Southern Kentucky.