The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-02-07
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
ish 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
iority, and an act was passed by con
gress requiring military service from
women as well 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
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officers The corps had hardly been
completed when the anarchic condition
of Mexico rendered intervention neces-
sary. and the Mexican war OF lS46
was repeated The woman's brigade
was sent with other troops by sea to
Vera Cruz and began a rapid march
toward the capital.
49, nm"
was fought Il century before the battle
of Buena Vista another fight occurred
between the Mezicans and Americans.
in which the women took conSplcu-
GUS part But. unfortunately for Gen
eral Pollywottle. the American com
mander, it was his first fight with Sucn
an auxiliary, and he was utterly lgno'
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 American
superior. The MeXicans were drawn
ND in line of battle to resist the al
vance Of the Americans, who hurled
| themselves aSuluSL llClI CLCLAS 'AN-
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 SUI
perbly. respondent in a uniform cut
and decorated in a fashion that excited
the admiration and envy of the whole
| NTiIHpod EnrtnSn1n rode
over to Colonel Patterson to ask her
who was her tailor. Colonel Patterson
refused to give the information rms
led to hot words between the two, III
which many of their subordinates Join-
ed. and before long their shrlll words
could be heard above the singing bul-
let's and shrieking shells.
For heavens sake" roared the
American commander to an aid. "send
those women into the fight! Our men
7 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 II 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 it over
her head. Unfortunately she severed
two ostrich feathers worth d hundred
} dollars each, and so unnerved was she
that valuable time was lost. When
abe recovered from the loss OF her
treasures she directed her bugier to
sound the advance
Il Now. General BuStamento, as l nave
said, had great experience with Wo-
men. having been married seven times,
) which is once more than King Henry
VIII, and had prepared an exped1ent
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 heavensv' cried General Pol
Iywottle. "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 arh-
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 that
you send another force to turn the
enemy's flank"
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