The Washington herald., 1906-11-18
BRIDE WENT TO WAR
Unique Experience of Ohio
Woman in Sixties.
WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED
Entered Service as Man ana
Fought side by side with Her Hus-
band In Many BatfIes-Escapsd
without "A Wound, and Voted for
LincOIn-wOrse Soldiers Than Fer.

Mrs. Martha Lindley, Of Mortified
Ohio little town near Akron. served
through the civil war as a member Of an
Ohio cavalry troop with her husband, and
the hundreds Of comrades with whom she
was daily thrown into contact never knew
that the blue-eyed. fair-haired chap
whom everybody liked so well, was not
a handsome boy, but brave and deter
mined woman who loved her husband so
well that she refused 10 be separated
from him, says the Cleveland Leader.
When the war broke out Mrs. Lindley
was a bride OF few months, and lived
with her husband in their newiy-fur-
nished home IN the northern end Of sum
init County. Lincolns first cali for troops
caused her husband to enlist, and she
watched him march away with a SAD
heart A few weeks later she disappeared
frcm home and friends. and was seen by
them no more until the end Of the war
Putting on a suit Of her husbands clothes
she went to an adjoining county where
recruiting officer was at work, and en-
listed. stipulating that she should be as
signed TO the cavalry troop to which her
husband belonged. This was agreed TO-
and young Trooper Smith. fitted out with
uniform and arms. was sent % Virginia.
where the troop was located.
Secrecy and Chums.
She swore her husband to secrecy, and
throughout the long struggle they ap-
peared 10 their comrades as chums, the
husband shielding his yOuthful-looking
comrade whenever possible. born
horsewcman, Mrs. Lindley soon became
one OF the most dashing members Of the
troop, and engaged In many a daredevil
escapade with her comrades. She was
good soldier, too, and never shirked any
Of the unpleasant duties Of the men at
the front She took part IN a number Of
the heaviest engagements during the
three years service. and escaped without
a scratch or a moments sickness
4 was frightened half 10 death said
Mrs LindIey, in recounting her expert
ences: but / was so anxious TO be with
my husband that I resolved to see the
thing through if il killed me. ] had little
hope that 1 would be able to carry out my
masquerading during the war, although
at that time We imagined we would whip
L
termined % go. and II I was discovered, /
| knew / could get a place as nurse, and j
would have been willing 20 have been
camp cook in order TO be near my hus-
band ! was sent 10 Cincinnati IN com
pany with a number Of enlisted men, and
/ from there we crossed 10 the Kentucky
/ side Of the river and went on into Nir-
/ ginia. where my husbands cavalry troop
was stationed You see. I had stipulated
when / enlisted that l should be assigned
/ 10 my husbands troop, and / was prom
/ ised that ! would be.
Fun with Raw Recruit.
When we reached camp ! began 10 look
out for my husband but It was not until
/ the second day after my arrival that l
had an opportunity Of communicating with
/ him. as he was away from camp foTaging
when l arrived. When he came into camp
/ he was speedily apprised OF my presence,
although he had no idea who / was. The
soldiers. most Of them straDDing big fel-
| lows. were disposed 70 make fun OF me he
cause / was small and slender and looked
/ like a boy who would have been better off
attached 20 his mothers apron string. Il
was considered a great joke among them
| that I had been taken as a soldier and
one who would be compelled 70 ride a
horse and take care Of ii, too. So it wasn't
J long after my husband and his comrades
returned 20 camp until they looked me up
TO have a little fun with the green sol
der. although they were almost as green
as /. having been in the service but few
| weeks
When they found me- was half sick,