Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-06-08

played in the Revolution Of 1776. In the
preceding and subsequent troubles with
the Indians the American pioneer woman
bore herself with fortitude which
should challenge the admiration of the
world.
Coming down to later times, there are
more definite records of women's valor.
when the causes they held dear were SUBJ
mitted to the arbitrament of the sword.
=. u. Leland, writing in The United
States Service Magazine in 1855 on the
topic Of women in the civil war, says:
Since l began to make inquiries relat-
Ing to woman soldiers in our Federal ar.
my ] have been amazed at finding their
number SO much greater than I should
ever have supposed. In fact, within a
few hours of the time at which I write [
have heard OF several perfectly authen-
ticated instances of the kind, which dc
not, however, consider myself authorized
to publish, and / have read, through the
courtesy of young lady who had served
in the army herself and had been pro-
NOTED for gallantry, letter from al
young girl to my lady acquaintance. de-
failing her own adventures in the Army
of the Potomac. Having contrived to
evade the usual examination, she enlisted
in a company in which her brother was
already serving and by persuasion in
duced him not to betray her secret. She
fought in five or six first class battles
ending with that of Gettysburg, main
tanning a reputation for bravery and new
er betraying her secret. The letter from
which CLEAN these facts is we'll written
and indicates not only an intense desire
to return to soldier life, but also much
natural eloquencc and an education"
The correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Times, writing to his paper from Camp
Dickinson in 1868, devotes considerable
space to the case Of young woman NAM
ed Sarah Taylor, a stepdaughter of Cap
tain Dowden, of an east Tennessee regi-
ment. Miss Taylor had left her home
and friends and cast her lot with the
boys in blue. Here is the correspondents
description of her:
'Having determined to share with her
male friends and relatives the dangers Of
military campaign, Miss Taylor has
donned neat blue chapeau, beneath
which her long hair is cor1pactly yet
gracefully arranged, and bears at her
side highly finished regulation sword,
with silver mounted pistols in her belt.
She is quite the idol of the Tennessee
boys, who look upon her as second Joan
Of Arc. And Miss Taylor is indeed full
Of courage and skilled in many manly &C.
complishments. Having become an adept
in the sword exercise and a sure shot
with the pistol. she is determined to aid
in the great cause Of restoring, to their
homes her exiled and oppressed country
| VRpSsS oVof3% 70 of md to hon 20
If need be in the cause"
Another instance of woman disguised
in a soldiers uniform is told by commu-
nication to the Washington Chronicle in
October, 1864. Private James Wise Of
Company l, Thirty-fourth Indiana volun-
teers, proved to be Miss Mary Wise, and
after her identity was discovered she mar
ried Sergeant +. Forehand Of the Veter-
ar Reserve corps.
Here is another item from the Ohio
Statesman of June 20, 1862, which
throws considerable light on the martial
spirit exhibited by the women during that
stirring period. 1t says: "A female mill
tary company, named the Union Capt.
vators. has been formed at Falmouth,
near Covington, Ky, and over 80 Of the
most interesting young ladies of the
place have joined the organization. The
uniform is an apron of an old fashioned
pattern and made Of red, white and blue
material, that part covering the bosom
| representing the blue field with the stars
and the lower part the stripes. One who
saw the company at drill declares he
! never saw more interesting sight, the
youth, beauty and patriotic enthusiasm
Of the ladies and their graceful drilling
novel and
highly pleasing spectacle"