Cupid in the Leading-Strings of Mars—Some days ago a young woman arrived in Chicago from Louisville, Ky., whose history is thus recorded in the Post of that city:
“She gave her name as Annie Lillybridge of Detroit, and stated that her parents reside in Hamilton, Canada. Last spring she was employed in a dry goods store in Detroit, where she became acquainted with a Lieut. W—— of one of the Michigan regiments, and an intimacy immediately sprang up between them. They corresponded for some time, and became much attached to each other. Some time during last summer Lieut. W—— was appointed to a position in the 21st Michigan infantry, then rendezvouing in lonia county. The thought of parting from the gay lieutenant nearly drove her mad, and she resolved to share his dangers and be near him. No sooner had she resolved upon this course than she proceeded to the act. Purchasing male attire she visited lonia, enlisted in Capt. Kavanagh’s company, 21st regiment. While in camp she managed to keep her secret from all. Not even the object of her attachment, who met her every day, was aware of her presence so near him.
“Annie left with her regiment for Kentucky, passed through all the dangers and temptations of a camp life, endured long marches and sleeping on the cold ground, without a murmur. At last, the night before the battle of Pea Ridge (or Prairie Grove), in which her regiment took part, her sex was discovered by a member of her company but she enjoined secrecy upon him, after relating her previous history. On the following day she was under fire, and from a letter she has in her possession it appears she behaved with marked gallantry, and by her own hand shot a rebel captain who was in the act of firing upon Lieut. W——. But the fear of revealing her sex continually haunted her. After the battle she was sent out with others to collect the wounded, and one of the first corpses found by her was the soldier who had discovered her sex.
“Days and weeks passed on, and she became a universal favorite with the regiment, so much so that her colonel (Stephens) frequently detailed her as regimental clerk—a position that brought her in close contact with her lover, who at this time was major or adjutant of the regiment. A few weeks subsequently she was out on picket duty when she received a shot in the arm that disabled her, and, notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeon, her wound continually grew worse. She was sent to the hospital at Louisville, where she has been ever since until a few weeks ago, when she was discharged by the post surgeon, as her arm was stiffened and rendered useless for life. She implored to be permitted to return to her regiment, but the surgeon was unyielding and discharged her. Annie immediately hurried towards home, and by the aid of benevolent strangers reached this city. At Cincinnati she told her secret to a benevolent lady and was supplied with female attire. declares that she will enlist in her old regiment again if there is a recruiting office for the 21st in Michigan. She still clings to the lieutenant, and says she must he near him if he falls or is taken down sick, that where he goes she will go; and when he dies she will end her life by her own hands.”
Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, MA