The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-05


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 he 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 20
to the polls This gave the men ma
jority. and an act was passed by con
greSs requiring military service from
women us 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 ana
placed under the command OF women
officers The corps had hardly. been
completed when the anarchic condition
of Mexico rendered Intervention neces-
sary, and the Mexican var OF lS46
was repeated The wOnlan's brigade
wus sent with other troops by sea to
Vera Cruz and began a rapid march
toward the capital.
Almost OH the exact ground on when
was fought Il century before the battle
of Ruena Vista another fight occurred
between the Mexitans and Americans
In which the women took cOnSpicu-
GUS part But. unfortunately for Gen
eraI PoIlywuttIe, the American COM
mandpr. Ii was his first fight with such
an auxiliary. and he was utterly 1gn0'
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 III line of battle to resist the nd
vance of the Americans. who hurled
themselves against their enemy with
great vigor The woman's brigade, he
ing Il part of the reserve. stood under
arms. impatiently waiting to be led
forward Colonel Amanda Patterson
OF the First regiment sat her horse sll
perbly. Respondent in uniform cut
and decorated III Il 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
I refused to give the information. Thi.
led to hot words between the two. IL
which many Of their subordinates join
ed. and before long their shrill words
could be heard above the singing bul
lets and shrieking shells.
"For heavens sake" roared the
American commander to an aid. "senC
those women into the fight! Our mel
! can't hear the orders for the din they
! make. and there'll be Il panic. Order
their general to lead them against the
enemy's left flank and turn 1t If pos
sible. Should they succeed the battle
Is won"
General Angelina De Lancy. young
commander of whom much was ex
Dected. as soon as she received the or
der, drawing her sword. swung 1t over
her head. Unfortunately she severed
two ostrich feathers worth hundred
dollars each. and so unnerved was she
that valuable time was lost. When
she recovered from the loss of hel
treasures she directed her bugler te
sound the advance.
| Now. General Rustamento. as l have
said. had great experience with wo
men. having been married seven times
which IL once more than King Henry
WILL. and had prepared an expedieni
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
q soldier in the ranks picked up one
and became absorbed In reading some
thing printed and looking Mt pictures
on 1t.
"(ireat heavensw cried General Pol
lywottle. "they are stopping to pick up
| thu humane Tho v,nfo Ia 6pf1 ya6
Precious time IL 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 I.ancy directs me to re
port that the enemy have fired Il 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. The!
are porting over the papers and are
insenSible even to danger. Genera
De I.ancy respectfully suggests thai
you send another force to turn thu
enemy's flank"
Words that sounded like a volleN
from n gatling gun left the general>
lips. There were no other troops t,
send In place Of the woman's brigade
and General Rustamento. seeing his al
vantage. sounded general advance
The battle was lost. Within ten min
utes the American army was In fui
retreat The MeXicans passed the wo
mans brigade. still intent on the fash
Ion plates and cut them off.
The corps became disorganiZed. many
Of the soldiers marrying Mexicans.