Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-23
WOMAN AS A SOLDIER
Deborah Sampson Was Brave
Heroine Who Saw Service
in Revolutionary War.
REWARDED WITH PENSION

REWARDED WITH PENSION
II is not such a very uncommon
thing for women to serve in the dis
guise Of soldiers. The history of our
war OF the Revolution makes mention
of several. Their services, however,
could not have come up to the mark
nor the disguise perfect enough to
detection, for discharged" is the
brief record Of nearly all.
In the war Of the Revolution two
or three instances of heroic action
were gratefully acknowledged by the
government and suitable rewards con-
ferred.
But no adventures of the kind at
tracted so much attention as the won
derful romance OF the Massachusetts
girl who actually served in the Revo-
lutionary army through long term,
and rendered services valuable
enough to be rewarded by pension
during life.
Deborah Sampson was born in 1850.
AS child she had often fancied her
self future defender of her country.
Her ancestry must have beeh, in q
measure at least, responsible for this
heroic thought Of becoming hero
inc OF the American Revolution, for
she was the granddaughter Of Elisha
of Plymouth. .....
Her father, Jonathan Sampson,
seems to have been an unlucky man,
for soon after his marriage to Miss
Bradford he failed in business. Later
he sailed for Europe and was never
heard of again.
His absence left his family In poor
compelling the mother
to part with little Deborah when the
child was scarcely FIVE years old.
Influence Of 4 Vision.
In April, l775, she declared that
she had had one of the most remark
able visions ever given mortal,
which she described in glowing Ian
guagc and which no doubt had as
marked an influence on her future
career as that OF the vision and voices
Of Joan of Arc, the Maid Of Orleans.
She seemed to stand on the summit
Of a hill commanding the view of the
sea in a terrific storm, the waves
swelling like mountainss ships dis
and sinking, farmers fleeing
from the sweep Of waters over the
land. A serpent that appeared to rise
from the ocean pursued her as she
fed through the streets flowing with
blood, its eyes OF fire burning into her
very soul. ..
Then voice seemed to say:
ARISE, stand up; gird yourself and
prepare to encounter the enemyP
With bludgeon she fought the SER
pent, which soon changed in form to
fish, having capital letters
On his tail. When she beat him back
he became an OK and rushed at her,
but finally backed away before her
weapon.
This dream she interpreted as mean
ng that she must obey the command
% the letter the voice had given her.
Naturally her imagination was power
fully impressed. After that vision, at
III events, the secret resolve she after
ward carried out began to be formed.
Her patriotic enthusiasm arose to
he stars. She made up her mind to
visit in disguise the world she so
onred to see, She made herself a
,uit after the pattern Of one belong
ng to a member OF her masters fam
~. Her share of profits from the
sheep, cows and hens enabled her to
buy a hat and shoes. She herself had
spun and woven the cloth she needed
ior her outfit.
The only thought that marred her
happiness was the grief she knew she
would feel'at leaving her mother. Al
though she had been but little with
her, it was all she could do to keep
the tears back when the crucial mo-
ment came. Tears, however, are not
Tor soldiers to shed, not even for
maiden soldiers. She stuck bravely to
her guns and made the parting as
brief as possible.
Testing Her Disguise.
She set out on the road to Taunton
On the way to Bedford. There she
had the courage to speak to several
men as test OF the sex she was
assuming, and was advised by some OF
hem to offer her services as waiter
On board a ship going to sea.
Her heart gave a jump. The test
lad been successful SO far. OF course,
,he did not take their advice, as she
lad no intention Of following the sea,
wen for the sake of the adventure.
Her one idea was to fight for her
country.
In May, 1881, she was accepted as a
soldier in the army at Worcester url-
Ter the name Of Robert Shurtlitfe."
She was sent TO West Point with fifty |
,ther soldiers. There her country
iuit was exchanged for blue coat,
,aving white wings on the shoulders
md cord on the sleeve, blue trousers,
cap with variegated
.ockade and a plume tipped with red.
Altogether most fetching and SOL
lierly-looking soldier, for she was
more than common tall Give feet
.ight) and we'll proportioned, and had
'egular features.
Her first experience in action was As
scout round about Iarrytown, N. Y,
when she was wounded. There were |
wo shots in her coat and one through !
Ter cap. Then she was with the ad-
,ance guards under the command of
General Marquis de Lafayette.
When the army halted two miles
rom Yorktown, the soldiers were or
Tered to lie on their arms all night.
The severe service, the fatigues and
he terrible privations she was obliged
o undergo were felt to the marrow
Il her bones, but her indomitable
pirit never deserted her.
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