Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-29
presented herself to the nearest recruit
ing sergeant Of the Continental army.

presented herself to the nearest recruit
ing sergeant Of the Continental army.
Although not beautiful as a woman,
she is said to have made a remarkably
handsome boy. for her features were ami
mated and pleasing: her figure. tall for
a woman, was finely proportoned, ana
her whole appearance was extremely pr--
possessing The recruiting sergeant ac-
cepted her on sight. and she signed up
for the war under the name OF Robert
Shirtliffe."
This was in October. ITS when for
months previously things had been going
from bad to worse with the patriots.
Robert Shirtliffe'' was one OF the first
volunteers to a company being formed by
Capt. Nathan Thayer out of Midway,
Mass. and, he had no friends nor
means. the captain gave him a nome m
his house till the complement of his force
should be made up. This walt extended
over seven weeks Robert Shirtliffe
killed time by flirting with the neighbor-
hood bellies, and made such a hit with
one young girl who was visiting at the
Thayer house that Mrs. Ihayer asked
him his intentions.
In active service no man was Drawer
than Robert Shirtliffe." He served In
score of battles. the most notable OF
which were at White Plains and before
Il IL,
for extra hazardous duty half dozen
times. In 1888 his bravery and exemplary
conduct were rewarded when he was
made personal attendant to Gen. Patter-
son.
Young "Shirtlfffe'' was twice wounded.
The first wound was sword cut on the
side Of the head. over which he did little
worrying. The second wound, however,
was bullet in the thigh. and, alarmed
that he would be discovered 'Shirtliffe"
dug the bullet out with a penknife, made
a homemade bandage for the injury and
absolutely refused to go to the hospital.
However. the secret came out when
..Shirtliffe" was seized with brain fe-
yer. which was then prevalent among the
soldiers. AS his case was regarded
hopeless. he" received little attention
from the nurses, who therefore learned
nothing Indeed, ..Shirtline'' might have
been buried under his assumed name,
with nobody the wiser. If it had not been
for DIR. Binney of Philadelphia, the hos
pitai physician.
One morning DR.. Binney stopped by
ask the attending nurse "How's this
MANI
1.-The poor fellows dead" said the
nurse.
DR.. Binney. however. detected feeble
futter of the pulse, and began a more
thorough examination of the patient. At
tempting to place his hand on the dying
mans" heart. he perceived that the
breast was tightly SWathed with band
age. When this had been removed he was
astounded to find that the sick soldier
was a woman.
DR.. Binney kept his discovery to HIM
self. had the girl taken to his own house.
and nursed her back to health. While
''Shirtliffe" was convalescing he made
the acquaintance of a niece of the doc
tors. young and very beautiful girl
who was heiress to considerable property
She promptly fell head over heels in love
with the young soldier. much to the
doctors secret amusement. Finally, fig
uring that he would never propose to
her. owing to the disparity of their posi-
tons. she herself popped the question, at
the same time offering to educate him
before marriage.
Deborah afterward declared that the
moment when she learned that unknown
ingly she had gained the poor girls love
was one of the most poignant anguish
she had ever suffered
AS soon as her health was restored, DIR.
Binney sent her with letter to Gen.
Washington. She delivered the letter
with the utmost agitation. which the gen.
eral, assuming that IL arose from diff
dence, kindly endeavored to dispel. Then
he sent her into another room while he
read the Communication.
Soon afterward she was recalled into
the presence of the commander-in-chief.
In silence he handed her a discharge