Known as the Great Western, six-foot-tall Sarah Bowman was a force of nature. In 1834 she signed on as laundress and cook with General Zachery Taylor's army. In the war with Mexico Sarah became a familiar figure riding through the haze of exploding gunpowder and flames to retrieve the wounded. After she took over for a wounded artilleryman at the siege of Ft. Texas, she was made an honorary member of the Second Artillery. She went on to become what would be, if anyone else were concerned, a tall tale.