Born: 1738, Germany
Died: 1776
Country most active: Germany
Also known as: Unknown male alias
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
During the Seven Years’ War, a nineteen year old girl with a thirst for the glory of achievement, came to Colberg and enlisted in Prince Frederick’s regiment of cuirassiers. She was disguised as a man. Her girlish features were changed by a thin grey paint which simulated a freshly shaven beard, and her stately carriage and love of manly exercise gave credence to her disguise. Moreover, she talked only when it was necessary, a trait which, combined with her daring, led to her being sent on many secret missions. Under an assumed name, she remained two years with the cuirassiers; she engaged in several actions in one of which she received a sabre wound in her left arm. In the battle of Kunnersdorf she was wounded again, and sent to the hospital at Meissen. When she recovered she found her regiment had gone to Saxony, She enlisted with the Grenadiers and at the battle of Torgau was severely wounded and captured by the Austrians who sent her to the hospital at Dresden.
Though a prisoner of war she managed to escape and in 1761, enlisted with Colonel Colignon in the regiment of volunteers. At the end of two months one of her comrades, jealous of her finer qualities, her neatness of person, her strict adherence to duty, her merciful and frugal care of the camp and its followers, accused her of robbing his purse. There was no proof, but nevertheless, a subaltern placed her under arrest. Enraged, she sent for her lieutenant. She pointed out to him that in her four years of military service, there was not one charge against her. She recalled the menial chores she had performed, the privations and pain she had been called on to endure, the orders, no matter how strict, which she had obeyed though, often, her life had been endangered through them, and also her efforts in sustaining the morale of the soldiers.
She concluded by handing in her resignation in which she declared her sex. Touched by this recital the lieutenant went to the major of the regiment and she received an honorable discharge.
The following is excerpted from “Female Warriors: Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism, from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era,” by Ellen C. Clayton (Mrs. Needham), published in 1879 and shared online by Project Gutenberg.
Anne Sophia Detzliffin, who served four years in the Prussian army, was born in 1738 at Treptow on the Rega. In 1757, during the Seven Years’ War, she was excited by a thirst for glory to quit her father’s house and go to Colberg, where she enlisted in Prince Frederic’s regiment of cuirassiers. She remained in this corps for two years, and fought in several actions; in one of which, near Bamberg, she received a sabre-wound in her left arm.
She next fought in the battle of Kunnersdorff. Her regiment returned some days later to Saxony, where Anne fell dangerously ill, and was sent to the hospital of Meissen. She soon recovered, but having no opportunity for rejoining her regiment, she enlisted in a battalion of Grenadiers, which was decimated shortly after in the actions of Strechlin and Torgau, in 1760. In the latter, fought on Nov. 3rd, Sophia Detzliffin received two severe wounds on the head, and was captured by the Austrians, who took her to the hospital at Dresden.
When she had almost recovered, the heroine found means to escape from the hospital. Passing through the Austrian outposts without being discovered, she enlisted (in 1761) with Colonel Colignon, who sent her to a regiment of Le Noble’s Volunteers.
After serving in this corps for two months, she was accused on the 14th of July by one of her comrades of robbing him of fourteen-pence. There was not the slightest foundation for the accusation; but a subaltern immediately placed her under arrest. Anne was determined not to submit to such an indignity. Sending for her lieutenant, she told that she was a female, and declared that during four years’ service in various regiments she had never once been ordered under arrest, nor even received a blow for neglect of duty. She concluded by telling the officer that after this insult she would no longer remain in the army—which was, however, a needless remark, as she would not have been permitted to stop after her sex was known.
This heroine, when she quitted the army, was twenty-three years old, with strongly-marked features, and a brown complexion.