Agnes Reston facts for kids
Agnes Reston (born Harkness in 1771) was a brave Scottish nurse. She helped soldiers during a big war called the Peninsular War. People remember her as the Heroine of Matagorda because of her amazing courage. This happened during an early part of the Siege of Cádiz in Spain.
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Agnes Reston's Bravery in Battle
Agnes Reston was married to James Reston, a sergeant in the 94th Regiment of Foot. In 1810, she went with her husband and their four-year-old son to Spain. They were stationed at a small fort called Matagorda, near the city of Cadiz.
When French forces attacked the fort, Agnes moved her son to a safe, bomb-proof area. Then, she quickly began helping the surgeon. She cared for the many wounded soldiers. She even tore up her family's own linen to make bandages.
Getting Water Under Fire
A young drummer boy was told to get water for the surgeon. But he was too scared to go. Mrs. Reston saw this and said, "The poor thing's frightened, and no wonder. Give it to me and I'll go for it."
Even with loud cannons firing, Mrs. Reston went to the well. She lowered the bucket, but a cannonball cut the rope! This did not stop her. She asked a sailor to help her get the bucket back. She successfully filled it with water. Then she took it back to the safe area to keep helping the wounded.
Helping in Many Ways
Her care for the injured soldiers was truly amazing. Besides nursing, she also carried sandbags to fix the fort's walls. She helped move ammunition and gave the gunners wine and water.
Other women in the fort were moved to safety, but Agnes refused to leave. She stayed with the soldiers in the damaged fort. They had very little ammunition left. The next day, the French forces left. This allowed the British to get more supplies. Later, the remaining British soldiers moved to the fleet.
After her husband left the army, some officers suggested Mrs. Reston ask for help. The Commander-in-Chief supported her case. However, the Secretary of War said he had no money for such a purpose.
Later Life and Recognition
By 1844, Mrs. Reston was a widow and very poor. She was living in the Town's Hospital in Glasgow. She was 72 years old and worked as a sick nurse.
A group of officers started an appeal to help her. They called her "this truly valiant and deserving, though sadly neglected woman." Many people donated, including Queen Victoria and the dowager Queen Adelaide. Most of the money came from military members.
The money collected gave Mrs. Reston £30 a year for the rest of her life. She was now independent. But since she no longer had her own home, she chose to stay at the hospital. She paid for her board there. She saved enough money for her funeral. Anything left over, she gave to charity.
Mrs. Reston passed away on Christmas Eve, 1856. She was 85 years old. She was buried in Glasgow's Southern Necropolis. Her gravestone is in the north-eastern part of the cemetery. It reads:
"In memory of James Reston, late serjeant 94th Regiment, who died on the 24th day of October, 1834, aged 63 years, and of Agnes Harkness, his wife, "The Heroine of Matagorda", who died 24 December 1856, aged 85 years."
The famous Scottish poet William McGonagall wrote a poem about her. It is called A Humble Heroine.
