Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-10-18
American Women In Battle.


Some of the women who followed
| the armies Of the Union during the
/ civil war, says veteran, did more
| than wait on the wounded In field and
Hospital. In one case that came under
my observation a woman, Annie Eth
eridge, actually rallied the men of the
regiment to which she was attached
and helped to win a battle. Annie
Etheridge was born in Michigan, but
spent most of her childhood in Wis
consin. When the war broke out she
was visiting in Detroit, and at once
volunteered to go to the front with
the Second Michigan as regimental
nurse. Soon she was transferred to
the Third Michigan. and when its
three years term OF enlistment was
over she, with the re-enlisted veterans,
Joined the Fifth Michigan. Between
her and the soldiers there sprang up
degree Of affection which was touch
ing. II was her custom to follow "her
boys into battle and on the field be-
fore the fighting was over to admin
dster to the more severely wounded.
At Charlottesville she was riding
over the field and found In one corner
. regiment that was beginning to re-
treat. She appealed to them not to go
back. and finally shamed them into
obedience by actually selling the flag
and leading them into action.
The most sensational part played by
woman In the civil war was that Of
Nine Velasquez, pretty young south
@n woman of Spanish descent. who
disguised herself as a man and for
many months served as q lieutenant
In the Confederate army under the
name of Lieut.. Harry Buford. In this
capacity she took part In several bat
tles, leading her men with great fear
iessness and skill and winning the
compliments Of ,her superior officers
ior gallantry on the field of battle. In
the latter part OF the war she was
made An agent Of the Confederate Sc
cret service, and in various disguises
spent months In the north, travelling
repeatedly from New York to Chicago,
rhiiadelphia and other cities. At one
ume she even succeeded in getting en-
Woyment under the head of the Unit
e. states secret service in New York
iolty, ana In that position was able to
secure information of great value to
tae Confederacy. At the battle of
snalfs Bluff she was In command of
= regiment, and the men under her
.aarge captured more than a hundred
reueral prisoners. 1t was the scene of
poousned OF which she was forced to
~ witness here that finally led her
" give UP active service in the army,
aaa go into the secret service.
winch, while quite as dangerous, did
MOI lead her constantly into the pres
snce OF wounded and dying men. Dur
aug the whole Of her service she was
ns'er wounded, though it is said that
Ane often took greater chances than
were necessary.
:, Inc famous nurse Of the war was
Mo.ner Bickerdyke. who devoted her
ssn 10 the care Of the private soldiers,
Always declaring that the officers had
Slenty of friends to look after them
% among the rank and file in the
avspitais she became known as moth
- bickerdyke, and she was more
.uah mother to hundreds. When the
w mal broke out she was widow, 40
lars ssa,s old. but strong and robust in
n, as she needed to- be for the
s s before her. When Sumter was
~ On she was working as house,
c1sp eper In the family Of gentleman in
s.n, seiand' o. Almost Immediately she
Nnr up her place and began her work
49,. 'ue soldiers. There were two
~ - 70 her character. On one side
Am. AN was the sternest and most implac-
= -. o. women; on the other she was
= ger gentle and tender as a child, Ey-
!, ng sa she did was for the interest
a. -. ner boys" n the hospital surgeons
sss, ~ mot 90 their work properly, or
to slight the private soldiers