The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-12-20
MASQUERADE AS MEN
Women Who Don Masculine Carb
and Live Accordingly.
Notable Instances That Have Come
Down to Us from the Past-The
jean d. Arc of the Ameri-
can Revolution.

It seems hardly possible that wom-
an disguised in the uniform of United
States soldier could masquerade a S a
trooper for three months at Fort Sher-
idan. The fact would not be credited
were it not we'll authenticated, says
the Chicago Chronicle.
Similar occurrences have taken
place in times past, but they were few
and far between. ST. Petersburg is
soon to unveil a statue to woman.
Nadeyda Dourovna, who entered the
Russian army in 1906, Disgusting her.
self as a man. Although her identity
was soon discovered she was allowed to
remain in the army for seven years be-
cause of the pressing need of soldiers.
Gar Alexander !. became inter-
ested in her and conferred upon her a
commission in the regiment of hus-
sars. She won distinction and final
ly received the decoration of the
cross of ST. George. Her last years
were passed quietly at home and she
died at the age of SO. She was hon
ored with a military funeral and was
buried in the uniform of the Litovish
dragons.
A case nearer home is that of Deb
orah Sampson, who was the Amer
lean Jean dare in the revolutionary
war. She was a descendant of Miles
Standish and also of Gov. Bradford
and inherited the fearlessness and
military instinct of her ancestors.
Losing her father when young, she
was brought up by strangers on a
farm in Middleboro, Mass. Farm
work was distasteful to her. She
was fond of reading and had an in
satiable desire to travel and see the
world During leisure hours she
went to the woods and there made
for herself Il masculine suit from
cloth which she herself had woven.
Leaving home it took her some time
to familiarize herself with her
clothes and the new part she intend
ed to play. For some days she kept
by herself in the woods. She soon
enlisted at Worcester, became a men,
Der of the Fourth Massachusetts, in
fantry and was ordered to West
Point. This was in 1882.
She is described IS five feet seven
inches in height, having ga blooming
complexion and somewhat masculine
air" Her peculiar appearance was
observed in camp and she was known
as "Molly" and as "the smockfaced
boy" but she became a favorite and
gained the reputation of being ga
good fellow" Miss Sampson was in
several engagements. AS sergeant
with a squad of 80 men she made an
attack on a gang of mounted guerril-
las and received a saber slash on the
head and bullet in the thigh. A
surgeon dressed the saber cut. At
her own request she secured permits
sion to remain at farmhouse for
ten days to nurse dying companion.
Her object was to care for the bullet
wound. While there the tory farmer
prosecuted her and his daughter fell
in love with her. Either way the sit
uation was embarrassing.
For time Miss Sampson was the
personal attendant of Gen. Patter-
son. Later she was sent on a spe-
cial expedition to Philadelphia, was
seized with a malignant fever and
taken to the hospital. Alexander
and reported the facts of Miss Samp-
sons life, says that while here
rich Baltimore heiress made her an
offer of her hand and fortune, but
finding her love for the soldier boy
indifferently requited, parted with
him after giving him an outfit of
haberdashery made with her own
hands and watch as souvenir.
On her recovery Miss Sampson was
sent with a letter from the hospital
physician to Gen. Patterson. 1t re-
vealed her secret. With the utmost
kindness the general assured her
she should have nothing to fear. She
received her discharge, but with
many honors and testimonials to her
bravery.
Miss Sampson became the wife of
Benjamin Gannett, brother of the
great-grandfather of Rev. William
Gannett and of Mrs. Kate Gannett
Wells. She never received cent of
pay until 1902, when the Massachu-
sets legislature gave her $179. The
nation granted her a pension in 1905.
After her death in 1927 her husband
was allowed to draw her pension of
eight dollars month
The Gannett home still stands in
the little town of Sharan, Mass, and
contains relics of it's former illustri-
Gus occupant. In the little graveyard
is a tombstone marking the burial
site of Deborah Gannett and each
Memorial day the members of the
Brockton chapter. ID. A. r., named
IN her honor, place flowers on her
grave and renew the American flag
which waves there perpetually.