Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-01
SOLDIER WOMEN.
Some who Carried n MusSet ON One
Side or Other in the Civil Wnr.

StUc OF N1NtI NUr.
The only woman who Is enrolled as a
veteran is Miss Mary A. Hall, Vivandiere
Of Camp No. 49,, United Confederate Vet
Grams. This active female soldier Of the
confederacy Is one Of the most popular
and Interesting figures of the reunion
She wears the fun confederate uniform
except that the trousers are replaced by
a skirt OF confederate gray. Her head is
covered by the regulation hat worn by
the soldiers Of the Georgia camps, and
around her waist Is a belt of gold but
tons claspcd with the buckle worn by
brother who was killed In battle at Muir
freesboro. being a member OF Cox's
battalion of sharpshooters. Miss Hairs
confederate coat is covered with badges
and In her hair she wears the confeder-
ate colorS
This much beloved woman is the only
one Of her sex who is full member Of
camp or confederate veterans. and Is
always one OF the most important per
sonages at reunions. a place of honor
being given her on all occasions. She has
attended every reunion since the first one,
and says so long as she can walk or
crawl she will never miss one. Although
getting advanced in years and not in the
best physical health the brave little wo-
man takes part in all parades. marching
for miles with her camp. being cheerod
as she passes. dignined and serene in her
uniform OF gray.
In her home city Of Augusta. Ga, Miss
Hal, is loved bv all and is recognized as
ono Of Gods noble women. She is ever
ready to 1o,d a helpinr hand n the
rcodv and distressed. let them no within
or p.itho,,t her camp Sho is tho recop-
nizcd custodian Of the flag. and has per
sonallv placed more than 7co si1ken en-.
blen,s on the graves of confederatcs
Miss Hall has never taken tho oath Of
allegiance and declares that she never
will. The buttons in her belt are those
of each State and appear in the order in
which they seeded from the Union. She
| is receiving every attention at the hands
Of the veterans and the people OF Rich
mond all of whom have given her a
warm and enthusiastic welcome TO the
| reunion and the city
A greater number Of women than one
would suppose hid their sex by donning
mans attire and going to the war 10
| fight for tho Confederate and Union
sides.
A record was kept at the war depart
| ment during the civil war of these
women soldiers" and the data are both
peculiar and interesting. Physical exam
nations for enlistment at that time did
not amount to much-iust the recruitins
officers eye measurement Of the apli-
cant's inches. II the applicant approxi.
mated feet IN height and was not OBJ
| Viously blind, halt lame. or deaf and
dumb admission TO the ranks was given
and this was particularly the case when
the war lad heen IN progress couple OF
years. The wonder does not therefore
seem 50 great tAat considerable mum
Der or women actually soldiered as uni
formed men during the civil war.
A majority Of these adventurou:
women enlisted on the Union side ant
their sex in mos, cases was only reveal
ed when they were wounded in action
There were doubtless many more womer
enlisted in the armies Of both sides a.
men than the records show-women who
having escaped wounds and detection
were mustered out at the close Of thei
enlistsnents. or at the conclusion of th'
war. without their actual sex becomin,
known to their ofIlcers or comrades. |
seems almost incredible that some o
these women, whose cases are well All
thenticated. should have carried on
their receptions with such success unde
difflcult circumstances. but the fact re
mains that very few of them were dis
covered to be women through their poo
acting OF their soldierly roles
Perhaps no woman who tool, nort t.
the conflict has been tho rec,nient q
moro notore.v through +he nress tha,
DIR. Mary Walker who did not make a,
effort 70 hide her soy wore .hrirches
and all other garments worn nv uer
and was a commissioned assistant sur
geon. tho only woman who ovcr hor
such distinction Tho records At ~
war dena rtment show that Dr Mar
Walker rendered va,uabIa servicas 70 IN
Union army and IN an in+arviev sbe ca,
IA the writer. ~ went to the war IN IN
. interest OF humanltv-to relieve surferin
wherever ! found it-and / spent a CON
Portable fortune in this effort, knew n
North no South when It came to minis
tering to the sick and distressed. and
have no cause to regret that | did so
found many warm hearts among the me
t and women Of the South"
: One of the females who started in to r
s a soldier had a brief but entirely salts
= factory career. This young girl enliste
r at Blue Lick. Ky. and was sworn int
o service. Although logged on. in boy
= clothes. there was something about m
r new recruit which convinced the surgeo
e that "he" was a deucen good lookin
= female. The surgeon soon found his SUI!