A Mexican Joan D'aro.
--Among the Mexican prisoners taken to France, is a young Indian woman, only twenty years of age, who was Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment of Zacatecas, and who in the course of seven years, rose step by step from the ranks by her courage and talents.--She followed her husband to the army, and was soon promoted to the rank of 2d Lieutenant for her distinguished bravery. The death of her husband, killed in action, afford her an opportunity of avenging him and of rising another step. The French defeat at Guadeloupe, on the 5th May, 1862, obtained for her the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, second in command of a regiment, in which position she again greatly distinguished herself during the siege of Paebia. This singular woman handles the sword like a first-class fencing master, and she made herself rot only respected but feared by her soldiers, who looked upon her as a supernatural being. After Ortega surrendered at discretion at Puebla, she was brought to Vera Cruz, and lodged on board the Rhine until that vessel satied for France. Her order of embarkat on mentioned her rank, and gives her a right to sit at the field officers' table. She is said to be of agreeable personal appearance, although, as might be expected, rather more masculine in her ways than altogether becomes her sex.
