The following is an extract from the letter of the French general, Custine,
to the National Convention, June 14, 1793:
"My morality is attacked; it is found out that I have a _woman_ for my
aide-de-camp. Without pretending to be a Joseph, I know too well how to
respect myself, and the laws of public decency, ever to render myself
guilty of such an absurdity. I found in the army a woman under the
uniform of a volunteer bombardier, who, in fulfilling that duty at the
siege of Liege, had received a musket-ball in the leg. She presented
herself to the National Convention, desired to continue her military
service, and was admitted to the honours of the sitting. She was
afterwards sent by you, Representatives, to the Minister of War, who
gave her the rank of aide-major to the army. On my arrival here, the
representatives of the people, commissioners with this army, had
dismissed her. Her grief was extreme; and the phrenzy of her
imagination, and her love for glory, would have carried her to the last
extremity. I solicited the representatives of the people to leave her
that rank which her merit and wounds had procured her; and they
consented to it. This is the truth. She is not my aide-de-camp, but
_attached to the staff as aide-major_. Since that time I have never had
any public or private conversation with her."--From the _Political
State of Europe_, 1793, p. 164.
Can any of your readers furnish me with the name and history of this French
heroine?