Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-30
ROMANCE OF THE CIVIL WAR.
An Ohio Woman Who Fought Beside
Her Husband for Three Years as a
Cavalry Man.


Her Husband for Three Years as a
Cavalry Man.
Mrs. Martha Lindley of Northheld, o..
a little town near Akron, served through
the civil war a member of 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-faced
chap whom everybody liked so well
was not a handsome boy but a brave
and determined woman who loved her
husband so well that she refused to be
separated from him.
When the war broke out Mrs. Lindley
was bride OF a few months and lived
with her husband in their newly fur
nished home in the northern end of
Summit county. Lincolns first call for
troops caused her husband to- enlist,
and she watched him march away with
a sad heart. a few weeks later she dis
appeared from acme and friends and was
seen no more by them until the end OF the
war, Putting on a suit OF her husbands
clothes, she went to an adjoining coun-
~, where a recruiting officer was at
work, and enlisted, stipulating that she
should be assigned TO the cavalry
troop to which her husband belonged.
This was agreed to, and young Trooper
Smith, fitted out with uniform and arms
was located.
she swore her husband to secrecy and
throughout the long struggle they APP
peared TO their comrades as chums, the
husband shielding his youthful-looking
comrade whenever possible a born
horsewoman, Mrs. Linuley soon became
one OF the most dashing members of the
troop, ana engaged in many a daredevil
escapade with her comrades. She was a
good soldier, too, and never shir1ed any
OF the unpleasant duties of the men at
the front She took part in a number of
I the heaviest engagements during the
three-years service and escaped with
out scratch or a moments sickness
Il was frightened half to death Z"
said Mrs. Lindley, in recounting her ex-
periences, but l was so anxious to be
with my husband that l resolved to see
the thing through if 1t killed me l had
little hope that would be able to carry
out my masquerading during the war al
though at that time we imagined we
would whip the rebs in a few DAYS
However. l determined to go, and If l
was discovered l knew l could get a
place as a nurse. and l would have
been willing to have been a camp cook
in order to be near my husband 1
was sent to Cincinnati in company with
a number OF enlisted men, and from
there we crossed to the Kentucky side
of the river and went on into Virginia
where my husbands cavalry troop was
stationed. You see, 1 had stipulated
when l enlisted that l should be assign
ed TO my husbands troop and l was
/ promised that l would be-
when We reached camp l began to
look Tor my husband, but it was not
until the second day after my arrival
that l had an opportunity of communi
eating with him, as he was away from
| camp foraging when / arrived. When
| ne came into camp he was speedily APP
| prised OF my presence. although he had
/ no Idea who l was. The soldiers most
! OF them Swapping big fellows, were
] disposed to make fun Of me because /
was small and slender. and looked like
! a boy who would have been better of
attached TO his mothers apron string
! II was considered a great joke among
| them that l had been taken as a SOL
/ der and one who would be compelled
! 10 ride horse and take care OF 1t, too
! SO II wasn't long after my husband and
! his comrades returned to camp until they
/ looked me up to have little fun with
the green soldier. although they We're
almost as green as l, having been in the
| service but a few weeks.
when they found me 1 was half sick.
the hard work of the past few days hav-
ing been a little more than l was accus-
| toned to, and felt more like falling into
my husbands arms and having a good
cry that acting like a real soldier But
] pAuShVu up my courage ana met them
with as much Of a soldiery bearing as l
could. My husband recognized me in
stantly and as soon as he could get an
! opportunity TO have a few words with
me In private, scolded me for coming,
and tried to make me leave the service.
But wouldn't, and during the long
struggle between the North and South /
did the best l could in the service OF
my country. Although 1 am only a
woman think l can say without ego
in the service.
Il took part with my troop in a great
many battles, and narrowly escaped cap
ture several times. My horse was shot
from under me once, and that was the
only time ] was really afraid during the
| war.
Il received an honorable discharge