The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-06-05
THE WOMAN'S
BRIGADE
A Story of A. D. 1916
By SUSAN YOUNG PORTER

During the first and second decades
Of the twentieth century the women
of England and America determined to
wrest the vote for themselves from self
fish man. The principal argument used
against them was: IF you are citizens
In one respect you must be citizens in
all respects. If you are voters you
must be soldiers"
The women triumphed. But their
securing the vote brought about that
which in the beginning they had not
intended Having proved their cour-
age and endurance, they were forced
to do military service The more deli
cate women could not be induced to go
to the polls This gave the men ma
jority, and an act was passed by con
gress requiring military service from
women as we'll as men.
To the surprise of every one, they
sprang forward with alacrity. That
aggressive spirit which had led many
of them to smash windows led them to
enlist. and the woman's brigade of the
United States army was organized and
placed under the command of women
officers The corps had hardly been
completed when the anarchic condition
Of Mexico rendered interv ention neces-
sary, and the Mexican war OF 1S46
was repeated The woman's brigade
was sent with other troops by sea to
Vera Cruz and began rapid march
toward the capital.
Almost on the exact ground on which
was fought a century before the battle
of Buena Vista another fight occurred
between the Mexicans and Americans.
in which the women took q consp1cu-
GUS part But, unfortunately for Cen
eral Pollywottle, the American com
mander, it was his first fight with such
an auxiliary, and he was utterly igno-
rant of certain provisions he should
have made to guard against contingen
cies to which they were liable.
In this respect the Mexican COM
mander, Antonio Rodriguez Busta-
mento. proved greatly the Americans
superior. The Mexicans were drawn
up in line of battle to resist the ad
vance OF the Americans, who hurled
themselves against their enemy with
great vigor The woman's brigade, be-
ing a part of the reserve, stood under
arms, impatiently waiting to be led
forward Colonel Amanda Patterson
of the First regiment sat her horse su
perbly. Respondent in uniform cut
and decorated in a fashion that excited
the admiration and envy of the whole
corps. Major Mildred Fortescue rode
over to Colonel Patterson to ask her
who was her tailor Colonel Patterson
refused to give the information. This
led to hot words between the two. In
which many of their subordinates join
ed. and before long their shrill words
could be heard above the singing bull
lets and shrieking shells.
"For heavens sake" roared the
American commander to an aid, send
those women INTO the ig6tI Our men
can't hear the orders for the din they
make, and there'll be panic. Order
their general to lead them against the
enemy's left flank and turn it If pos
sible. Should they succeed the battle
is won"
General Angelina De Lancy. young
commander of whom much was ex
pected. as soon as she received the or
der, drawing her sword, swung 1t over
her head Unfortunately she severed
two ostrich feathers worth hundred
=
that valuable time was lost. When
she recovered from the loss Of her
treasures she directed her bugler to
sound the advance.
Now, General Bustamento, as l have
said, had great experience with wo-
men, having been married seven times.
which is once more than King Henry
VIII, and had prepared an expedient
for them which, on seeing their line
move forward, he put into operation.
what is that the enemy are firing
from those mortars?' asked the Ameri-
can commander, raising his glass.
'They look like paper Shells" re
marked his chief Of staff.
Great wads of paper rose in the air
and, breaking apart, were scattered on
the ground over which the woman's
brigade was passing. Here and there
a soldier in the ranks picked up one
and became absorbed in reading some
thing printed and looking at pictures
on 1t.
"Great heavensr cried General Pol
lywottle. "they are stopping to pick up
the papers. The advance is delayed
Precious time is being lost"
Presently an officer from the wo-
mans brigade was seen riding full gal
lop toward the commander in chief
When she came up she saluted and
said:
General De Lancy directs me to re
port that the enemy have fired volley
Of fashion plates with descriptive arti
cles among the troops. This has check
ed the advance and she is unable to
induce them to advance farther. They
are porting over the papers and are
insensible even to danger. General
De Lancy respectfully suggests thai
you send another force to turn the
epemy's flank"
Words that sounded like a volley
from a gatiing gun left the generals
lips There were no other troops to
send In place of the woman's brigade.
and General Bustamento. seeing his ad
vantage, sounded general advance
The battle was lost. Within ten min
utes the American army was in full
retreat, The Mexicans passed the wo
mans brigade, still intent on the fash
ion plates and cut them of.
The corps became disorganized, many
Of the soldiers marrying Mexicans.