WOMEN
SOLDIERS, SPIES AND VIVANDIERES:
Articles from Civil War Newspapers
CHARLESTON MERCURY, May
14, 1861, p. 4, c. 3
Thirty women were discovered in Ellsworth's zouaves after the regiment
arrived in Washington. They were
sent home. The Zouaves, we fear,
are not all of the highest moral character.
CHARLESTON MERCURY, May
23, 1861, p. 1, c. 7
The Vivandiere of the Monroe Rifles.--A noble spirited young lady--Miss
Leona Neville--has volunteered her aid and services as nurse to the ranks of the
Monroe Rifles, attached to Col. Hunt's Regiment.
The ceremony of her formal reception to this sturdy band of soldiers took
place at their headquarters on Julia street last evening, and was witnessed by a
large number of ladies and gentlemen. She
was presented to Lieut. Hinckly, of the Rifles, by their commander, Capt.
Benjamin, in a very excellent and impressive speech, and the Lieutenant formally
presented her to the soldiers, who welcomed her with all the deference and
respect which careful, soldierly training can instill into the military man. The young lady had of her own free will chosen to brave the
dangers of the battle-field, and must indeed be nerved by the fortitude of a--we
like to have said, "hero"--well, "hero" be it, for she
looked the hero, with her nicely-fitting black alapaca [sic] uniform.--N. O.
Delta, 16th.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, May 28, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Two-Hundred Colt's Revolvers Under a Pretty Woman's Hoop.—A
correspondent writes from Kentucky to a Cincinnati paper:
Over two hundred of the finest Colt revolvers I ever saw have been
purchased in Cincinnati, at various times and places, within the last two weeks
(no thanks to the Eggleston vigilance mob) and conveyed out of the city under
the hoops of one of the fairest and most distinguished of Kentucky's daughters,
and sent by trusty agents to her friends in the interior of the State.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, June 5, 1861, p. 1, c. 3
An Amazon.—Mary W. Dennis, six feet two inches high, is 1st
Lieutenant of the Stillwater company, Minnesota regiment.
She baffled even the inspection of the surgeon of the regiment in
discovering her sex, but was recognized by a St. Paul printer, who became
shockingly frightened at her threats of vengeance upon him if he exposed her,
and he decamped.
CAIRO
[IL] CITY WEEKLY NEWS, June 13, 1861, p. 1, c. 5
An Incident of the War.--The following incident occurring, as related, at
Camp Dennison, Ohio, probably has its parallel, at many other camps, even if not
yet discovered:
"At Camp Dennison, the other day, a remarkably soft voiced young
soldier begged the Colonel of his regiment to exchange him from a company in one
letter of the alphabet to another. His
associations were not pleasant.
Something in the demeanor of this young soldier interested the
Colonel.--For a moment he scanned him with the eyes of the American eagle--and
this, since the secession dust is no longer thrown in his eyes, is a very
sharp-sighted bird--and thus said:
"Young man, you are a woman!"
The young woman burst into tears, and confessed that she was not what she
seemed to be. It is not a strange
story to be true! [sic?] She
volunteered that she might follow her lover to the wars.
She had been in camp three weeks, performing all the duties of a soldier.
She had passed surgical inspection, and was regularly sworn into the
service."
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
June 15, 1861, p. 4, c. 1
NEW USE FOR HOOPS.--A correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes the
following:
Women,
Pistols and Strategy!--Abolition Republicans are frightened at the shadow of a
ghost, as was Lieutenant Jones at Harper's Ferry, and Commodore Pendergrast at
Norfolk, the proof of which is now historic record. Let such men know that a fierce and bloody rencounter [sic]
awaits them, when, I tell you that over two hundred of the finest Colt's
revolvers I ever saw have been purchased in Cincinnati, at various times and
places, within the last two weeks, (no thanks to the Eggleston vigilance mob)
and conveyed out of the city under the hoops of one of the fairest and most
distinguished of Kentucky's daughters, and sent by trusty agents to her friends
in the interior of the State. Oh,
crinoline, thou art a jewel!
A Kentucky Subscriber.
SOUTHERN
CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], June 25, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
This evening I had the pleasure of seeing two young ladies from
Northwestern Virginia, who are worthy to be the sisters of these heroes.
They are Miss Mary McLeod and Miss Addie Kerr, of Fairmount, in Marion
county. Hearing that the enemy had
reached Fairmount, en route to Philippa, they informed themselves of the number
of his forces and the hour of his departure, and then mounted their horses and
rode day and night, unattended, until they reached the doomed town.
They were frequently stopped on the road, and various difficulties were
thrown in their way, but brave and resolute as Nancy Hart, they surmounted every
obstacle, and at last arrived at Philippa, having ridden a distance of
thirty-five miles without once stopping for food or rest.
Had their timely warning been heeded, Philippa might have been saved.
But disastrous as the affair at that place was, it might have been much
worse; for it has been ascertained, that but for the heroic conduct of these
brave girls--not yet out of their teens--the whole Confederate force at Philippa
would have been captured.
All honor to Mary McLeod and Addie Kerr!
A.
DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], August
4, 1861, p.3, c. 2
Female Hessian and Her Companion.--Capt. Fremaux and Wm. S. Read, of the 8th
Louisiana Regiment, arrived on Wednesday evening, with the first female
prisoner, a Mrs. Curtis, who was captured at Fall's Church on Sunday last,
dressed in military clothes. She
belongs, it appears, to the 2d N. Y. Regiment.
The woman was on horseback at the time.--Richmond Dispatch, 2d.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, August 6, 1861, p. 1, c. 3
The Yankee "Spy."—The female prisoner, brought to this city
Wednesday, proves to be a Mrs. Curtis, of Rochester, N. Y., sister of a member
of the Rochester Regiment. She is
quite young, but by no means prepossessing.—The sleeves of her dress are
ornamented with yellow tape chevrons, and the jocky [sic] hat which she wears is
tucked upon one side with a brass bugle, indicating military associations. She is quite talkative, and does not disguise her animosity
against the South. Lodgings have
been provided for her in a private house.
[Richmond Whig.
DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], August
7, 1861, p. 1, c. 1
A Female Spy.--A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, writing from
Western Virginia, says: "A female spy has been discovered in the first Kentucky
regiment. She is from Georgia, and
enlisted at Cincinnati. She was
detected by writing information in regard to the movements of our troops to the
enemy. She is a member of the
Knights of the Golden Circle, says she knows the punishment of a spy is death,
and is ready for her fate. She is
to be sent to Columbus.
SOUTHERN
CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], August 7, 1861, p. 3, c. 3
A Female Spy.--The correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, writing
from Western Virginia, says a female spy has been discovered in the First
Kentucky Regiment. She is from Georgia, and enlisted at Cincinnati.
She was detected by writing information in regard to the movements of our
troops to the enemy. She is a member of the Knights of Golden Circle, says she
knows the punishment of a spy is death, and is ready for her fate.
She is to be sent to Columbus.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, August 8, 1861, p. 1, c. 1
Don't Hurt That Woman.—The papers speak of a
Georgia woman who has been detected in what is known as the "First
Kentucky Regiment," (Lincoln,) in Western Virginia, and arrested as a spy.
When interrogated as to her object, she boldly avowed that she was in the
service of her native and beloved South, and desired the vengeance of its
invaders; she knew her fate, and as a patriot she was ready to meet it.
She was sent to Columbus, Ohio.
We hope our Government will see to it that this patriotic woman does not
suffer the penalty of death, whatever may be the ransom.
Spare two spies on our side, or exchange five hundred prisoners of war,
before a hair of her head shall be touched.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, September 2, 1861, p. 2, c. 1
Among the ladies recently arrested and now in Lincoln's dungeons at
Washington, is Miss Mary J. Windle, a lady of cultivated literary tastes and a
well known contributor to the newspaper and periodical literature.
DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], October
10, 1861, p. 1, c. 1
A Vivandiere.--A really beautiful and exquisitely formed lady, a
vivandiere, of the 14th Louisiana regiment, was in the city this morning and
created considerable curiosity on the streets.
She is in company with several officers of the regiment.
She is dressed in full costume--short dress, &c.,--and is very
beautiful. She is en route for
Virginia.--Mont. Mail, 7th.
DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], October 26, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Col. Simkins and the Vivandiere.
Col. Arthur Simkins, Editor of the Edgefield Advertiser, has a very
pleasant and noticeable feature in his sprightly paper.
He prepared each week a column or so of lively gossip for the soldiers
who are at the wars, written in an [illegible] and racy style, which, from the
local news it gives, must prove as valuable to many of them as a letter from
home. We read this column with a
real relish. The extract which
follows is the Colonel's latest. The
Vivandiere referred to is the same
lady whom we mentioned recently as being in Augusta. It seems she has committed matrimony during her sojourn in
Edgefield:
But while we are in a joking way, suffer us to tell you the upshot of the
Vivandiere exhibition, of which we forewarned our readers last week, and which
came of in due time. And a pretty
"come off" it was. Having
two excitable boys in charge we went early--Hall lightey--old friend Sherry at
the door--"nobody come yet?"--"not yet"--"where is the
Vivandiere?"--"behind the scenes"--waited and waited--a goodly
number of boys gradually congregated and three or four seniors--but where was
the music?--it had entirely failed--never do to give it up so--"come in,
boys, the curtain's about to rise"--chink, chink sounded the quarters in
Sherry's open palm--"how much in hand?"--"about six and a
half"--"good, she must go it on that"--"rap away boys,"
and out she came--flung around the stage in high style without
music--tremendous applause--sung a song insisting that some special member
of the swine family should persistently continue to upturn the earth with his
proboscis or perish in the effort--uproarious shouts of approbation--flung
around the stage again without music,
bringing up in the centre [sic] with one of the fastest shuffles you never
didn't see--bang, bang, slap, dash, over went a table amid screams of
delight--came on again--threw a knife at a plant three times--hit it of course
and retired amid the most deafening and diversified demonstrations from Young
Edgefield--the whole performance having occupied the space of eleven
minutes and two seconds.
Have you ever laughed until it hurt you?
Such was our predicament that night.
But this was not all. Just
as we had climbed into our wagon and were clucking to arouse old grey, up rushed
our good friend, E. M. P., earnestly exclaiming "hold on there--its not all
over yet--make haste here--quick." Thinking
that at the least a monkey was to be choked or a kangaroo harnessed, we
half-fell out of the wagon, hurried after our file-leader and soon found ourself
entering the Planter's Hotel with a small and shady party.
In the mean time our guide had whispered "hush, you'll see it
directly--that's the Squire ahead--come along."
The fire was burning low in the bar-room of the Planter's as we entered,
with slow and softened tread;--the proprietor seemed to be dozing in his chair
and somebody in another chair was nodding as well as we could see by the dying
embers.
Through the bar room into the dining hall, and all was pitch dark.
"Which way?" "Here,
come on, follow me." So
we did, very cautiously. At length
a door-hinge squeals, the lights from a chamber breaks forth upon us, we enter,
and there they stood in bridal array. "Would
you believe it? the Vivandiere,
Miss Lavinia Williams, still in costume, and her charge, Mr. Silas Washington,
late of Brooks, ready and a-waiting to commit matrimony!
We hereby take pleasure in entering upon the record that the knot was
duly tied by Squire J. Abney, who accompanied the ceremony with some appropriate
remarks. He [illegible] we help
exclaiming with Turnus in the Aeneid, "Livinia est tua conjux."
But here ends the joke, for "marriage is honorable in all," and
it was with respect and a certain degree of esteem that we severally wished them
well and quietly took our leave.
CHARLESTON MERCURY,
January 16, 1862, p. 4, c. 1
A young widow woman named McDonald, was discharged from Col. Boone's
Regiment, at Paraquet Springs, Kentucky last week, where she had been serving as
a private, dressed in regimentals, for some time.
This was her second offence, she having once before been discharged from
a regiment.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, January 16, 1862, p. 1, c. 1
A Female Spy on Horseback.—The Washington correspondent of the New York
Post relates the following incidents:
A horseman, clad in a sort of cavalry costume with a heavy overcoat and
slouched hat, had been noticed for some time dashing about the city in rather a
conspicuous manner. At last the
authorities felt themselves warranted in arresting him, and accordingly, one
morning, when trotting down Pennsylvania avenue, he found himself suddenly
surrounded by a file of soldiers, and was carried off to prison.
But the funniest part was to come. The
investigation that followed resulted not only in the discovery of certain
papers, but also of the fact that the cavalier was a woman.
How long she had been at the game it is impossible to guess.
CHARLESTON MERCURY,
January 17, 1862, p. 1, c. 4
A
Female Spy on Horseback
The Washington correspondent of the New York Post relates the following
incident:
A horseman, clad in a sort of cavalry costume, with a heavy overcoat and
slouched hat, had been noticed for some time dashing about the city in rather a
suspicious manner. At last the
authorities felt themselves warranted in arresting him, and accordingly, one
morning, when trotting down Pennsylvania avenue, he found himself suddenly
surrounded by a file of soldiers, and was carried off to prison.
But the funniest part was to come. The
investigation that followed resulted not only in the discovery of certain
papers, but also of the fact that the cavalier was a woman.
WEEKLY COLUMBUS
[GA] ENQUIRER, January 21, 1862, p. 2, c. 4
A Female Spy on Horseback.—The Washington correspondent of the New York
Post relates the following incident:
A horseman, clad in a sort of cavalry costume, with a heavy overcoat and
slouched hat, had been noticed for some time dashing about the city in rather a
suspicious manner. At last the
authorities felt themselves warranted in arresting him, and accordingly one
morning, when trotting down Pennsylvania Avenue, he found himself suddenly
surrounded by a file of soldiers, and was carried off to prison.
But the funniest part was yet to come.
The investigation resulted not only in the discovery of certain papers,
but also of the fact that the cavalier was a woman.
How long she had been at the game it is impossible to guess.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
February 22, 1862, p. 4, c. 3
The distress among the poor at the North is so great that their papers give
account of women, dressed in men's clothes, enlisting as privates in the army.
A widow McDonald has been detected in several regiments and discharged as
many times--Arkansas True Democrat.
SOUTHERN
CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], March 6, 1862, p. 2, c. 4
Railroad Accident--A Sad Romance.--An accident occurred on Wednesday
evening, on the E. T. & Ga. Railroad,
by which several persons were injured, one fatally.
The train which was bringing the 23d Alabama Regiment to this city, ran
off the track, a few miles this side of Cleveland, wrecking the train badly.
A girl, in uniform, who was with the rest of the soldiers without
revealing her sex, but who did not belong to this regiment, was sitting on the
platform of one of the cars, and had her legs so badly crushed that amputation
was necessary, and both were taken off, but without avail; and death put an end
to her sufferings last night. She
gave her name as Lilly White, and told a sad story of woman's wrongs.
She had disguised herself in male attire, and joined this regiment with
the expectation of finding her deceiver, who is in the army, and avenging her
shame. A few of the soldiers were
slightly wounded but none others seriously.
This poor girl's fate is another warning against the danger of sitting on
the platforms of railroad cars in traveling.--Knox. Reg. Feb. 28th.
DUBUQUE
HERALD, April 13, 1862, p. 2, c. 3
A Female Acting as Lieutenant on the Potomac.--The Troy Budget learns from a
private correspondence that one of the companies on the Potomac has been for a
short time in command of a good-looking Lieutenant, who turns out to be a lady
from that city. Being a woman she
could not well put away womanish ways, and she was arraigned before a military
tribunal, where she plead guilty to the charge of belonging to what is generally
denominated the softer sex. It
would seem that she was engaged to the Captain of the company and adopted what
she considered the best, if not the most proper way of manifesting her
attachment to him. We presume that she was tendered leave of absence as a result
of the investigation.
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, April 18, 1862, p. 4, c. 2
A Romantic Female.
On Sunday evening as an officer of the North Division was patrolling his
beat at a late hour of the night, his attention was called to a woman found
standing at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Clark streets, having a small
bundle in her arms. He accosted
her, learned that she had no place to stay and kindly took her to the station
house, where she was transferred to the Police Court, told her story, and was
discharged, there being no testimony adduced that she was other than a poor but
honest girl. Yesterday forenoon the
same policeman, as he was passing along Rush street, near the bridge, had his
curiosity considerably excited by something peculiar in the appearance of a man
dressed in soldier's uniform, walking ahead of him.
He followed the person into a saloon and there recognized the quasi
soldier as the girl he had taken to the station on Sunday night. Of course he arrested here, charging that she was a woman in
man's attire, which was at first stoutly denied, but afterwards confessed.
Yesterday afternoon she was again brought to the Armory and upon being
questioned, gave her name as Mary Fitzallan, said she was eighteen years of ate,
unmarried, a native of Kentucky, and had under the title of Harry Fitzallan worn
male habiliments for the past seven months, four of which she had passed as a
Union volunteer in the 23d Kentucky regiment, and previously working as a hired
hand on a farm near Newport, Kentucky. When
asked as to her former history and what made her dress in clothes unbecoming her
sex, she refused to be communicative, but answered that she had her peculiar
reasons, and that her history would be of no avail to the Court.
She is a girl of medium size, rather embonpoint, with heavy and not
wholly unhandsome face, her features being more masculine than otherwise, and
hair black, cut short in the present style, and parted on one side.
Her eyes are blue. Her hands
betray evidences of manual labor. She
stood in the presence of the Magistrate with not a bold but confident air,
answered the few questions she wished to respond to deliberately, and apparently
truthfully, betraying but little of the modesty and shrinking nature we have
been the habit of attributing to the share of the gentler sex.
Justice Akin, after giving the young woman some sound advice, fined her
$20, under the ordinance, but suspended execution to allow her to get of the
city, and she made her exit from the court room in her male attire, and
deliberately walked down into the street. Whether
she will take her departure for Canada, or remain here, hunting up a friend--or
lover--and again get arrested, remains for the future to solve.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, April 19, 1862, p. 1, c. 5
A
Scene among the Female State Pris-
oners at Washington.
A Washington correspondent of the Baltimore News Sheet,
communicates the following, which is rich enough:
While I think of it, I must mention a remarkable ride which occurred in
the prison yard the day before yesterday. The
lady prisoners are allowed a half hour's exercise in the narrow yard surrounding
the prison every day. Mrs. Greenhow,
who is remarkable for her cool courage and self possession, proposed to seize
and appropriate the horse and market wagon of the Superintendent, which stood in
one corner of the enclosure, and enjoy the novelty of a ride.
The suggestion was instantly adopted, and the ladies, unmindful of the
remonstrances of the sentinels, jumped into the wagon and whipped up.
Mrs. Morris had been making a large and beautiful Confederate flag, and
she stood now in the front of the wagon, waving it over the heads of the enraged
sentinels, who followed the flying party around the enclosure, shouting and
cursing, and making lunges at the horse with their bayonets, which only
increased the mirth of the gay riders, and frightened the horse to his utmost
speed. The uproar became terrible.
First came the captain of the guard, shouting, at the top of his lungs,
"stop that vehicle; it's contrary to the rules."
All in vain. Mrs. Greenhow whipped up the harder, and cried out,
"it's the Southern wagon—clear the way."
Then the officer of the day rushed in, shouting, "What's all
this?" followed by the soldiers from the neighboring guard house, who
rushed madly forward to stop the flying animal. It was a scene altogether ludicrous and indescribable in the
extreme and has made more comment in Washington than a little.
The evacuation of Manassas is nothing to be compared to it.
DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], April
30, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
Female Soldier.--Yesterday a female, dressed in soldier's clothes,
surrendered herself to the mayor, and was sent before the provost-marshal.
She gave Arnold as her name.
We had not the pleasure of an introduction to this female patriot, but
learn from those who were fortunate, that she appears to be a woman of
intelligence and gentle breeding. She
gave the names of respectable houses here in the city who knew her in her proper
sphere, when she resided in Arkansas, where she says she owns a plantation.
Her story is quite a romantic one.
She asserts that she was arrested at Richmond on suspicion of being
unfriendly to the South, but was treated very civilly while held as a prisoner.
She claims to have been in the battles of Manassas and Belmont, and to
have been with the army in Kentucky.
She says she left here in response to the call of Gen. Beauregard for
ninety days' volunteers, and that she was in the battles of the 6th and 7th, in
which she was wounded in the foot and hand.
She came back to the city with the wounded.
Her reason for the course she has adopted is, that she is collecting
material for a history of the war, and that she adopted male attire as the plan
best calculated to enable her to carry out her design.
She has no desire to abandon her project if permitted to prosecute it in
her own way. There are others
engaged with her, but their names she deems proper to withhold.
That she is an extraordinary woman there is no question, and our
curiosity is excited to know more of her history and her adventures in male
attire.
DUBUQUE HERALD, May 1, 1862, p. 2, c. 3
A Woman Appointed Major.
From the Peoria Transcript.
Governor Yates has paid a rather unusual but well merited compliment to
Mrs. Reynolds, wife of Lieut. Reynolds, of Co. A, 17th Illinois, and a resident
of this city. Mrs. Reynolds has
accompanied her husband through the greater part of the campaign through which
the 17th has passed, sharing with him the dangers of a soldier's life.
She was present at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and like a
ministering angel, attended to the wants of as many of the wounded and dying
soldiers as she could, thus winning the gratitude and esteem of the brave
fellows by whom she was surrounded.
Gov. Yates, hearing of her heroic and praiseworthy conduct, presented her
with a commission as Major in the army, the document conferring the well-merited
honor being made out with all due formality, and having attached the great seal
of the State. Probably no lady in
America will ever again have such a distinguished military honor conferred upon
her. Mrs. Reynolds is now in this
city, and leaves to join her regiment in a day or two.
CHICAGO
DAILY TRIBUNE, May 6, 1862, p. 2, c. 5
A Woman in Soldier's Clothes--Very Natural Surprise of a Reporter. [From the
Detroit Advertiser, Saturday.]
Yesterday morning one of our vigilant police officers arrested a soldier dressed
in the uniform of the Federal army, on Atwater street, in a state of blissful
intoxication. He was conveyed to
the lock-up, and placed in one of the cells.
Our reporter happened to be present, and observing that the soldier
appeared to be in an unconscious state, he feared that life had become extinct,
and, opening the bosom of the apparently inanimate form to see if there was any
appearance of life, the reader can judge of his astonishment on finding that it
was--a woman. A few hours after she
awoke from her deep sleep, and gave the following romantic account of her
wanderings. She is a native of
Scotland, but for many years lived with her family at London, C. W., where they
now reside. About five years ago
she left home and went to Kentucky, where, on the breaking out of the war, she
became enamored with the military display and enlisted in a Kentucky regiment.
She served in the army three months, she was present and took part in the
battle of Somerset, and saw Gen. Zollicoffer fall.
During her term of service she was often ordered to do extra service, and
used frequently to steal out of camp at nights and fight on her own hook.
At last she became tired of the drudgery she was called upon to perform,
and made known her sex. She was
immediately discharged, and arrived in our city on Thursday night.
SOUTHERN
WATCHMAN [ATHENS, GA], May 14, 1862, p. 1, c. 6
FEMALE SOLDIER.--Yesterday a female dressed in soldier's clothes surrendered
herself to the Mayor and was sent before the provost-marshal. She gave Arnold as her name.
We had
not the pleasure of an introduction to this female patriot, but learn from those
who were more fortunate, that she appears to be a woman of intelligence and
gentle breeding. She gave the names
of respectable houses here in the city who knew her in her proper sphere, when
she resided in Arkansas, where she says she owns a plantation.
Her story is quite a romantic one.
She
asserts that she was arrested at Richmond on suspicion of being unfriendly to
the South, but was treated very civilly while held a prisoner.
She claims to have been in the battles of Manassas and Belmont, and to
have been with the army in Kentucky.
She
says she left here in response to the call of Gen. Beauregard for ninety-days
volunteers, and that she was in the battle of the 6th, and 7th, in which she was
wounded in the foot and hand. She
came back to the city with the wounded.
Her
reason for making known her [sex] at this time was the fear of detection, and
consequent trouble. She was before
the provost-marshal yesterday, and is to have another interview with that
functionary to-day.
Her
reason the cause she has adopted is that she is collecting material for a
history of the war, and that she adopted male attire as the plan best calculated
to enable her to carry our her design.
She has
no desire to abandon her project if permitted to prosecute it in her own way.
There are others engaged with her, but their names she deems proper to
withhold. That she is an ordinary
woman there is no question, and our curiosity is excited to know more of her
history and her adventures in male attire.--New Orleans True Delta.
DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], May 15,
1862, p. 2, c. 2
A North Carolina Amazon.--The Charlotte Democrat has been informed by a
soldier from Kinston, of rather a novel incident which occurred there recently.
A short time ago some recruits were brought into camp for a company from
Caldwell county, among whom was a man named Blaylow, who was drafted in
Caldwell. Week before last Blaylow
got a discharge, and immediately another soldier applied for a discharge,
stating that he (or she) was the lawful wife of Blaylow.
It appears that when Blaylow was drafted his wife cut her hair off, put
on men's clothing and went with him into camps and enlisted for the war.
She drilled with the company and was learning fast, when it became
necessary to make her sex known in order to accompany her husband home.
The boys were sorry to part with such a good soldier, but they are unable
to determine which she loved best, Blaylow or the Confederacy; but it was
unanimously voted that Mrs. Blayblow [sic?] was "some
pumpkins."--Richmond Whig.
CHICAGO
TIMES, May 19, 1862, p. 1, c. 5
Mrs.
Major Belle Reynolds, whose portrait we publish above, from a photography by
Cole, of Peoria, Ill., is the wife of Lieutenant Reynolds, of Company A,
Seventeenth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and the daughter of W. K. Macumber,
Esq. Her native place is Shelbourne
Falls, Massachusetts. The Seventeenth, to which her husband belongs, is one of the
most popular regiments in our western army, being one of the earliest in the
field, and during the whole war has been in active service. They met the enemy in a terrible encounter, and vanquished
him, at Frederickstown, Missouri. They
early took possession of Cape Girardeau; they also bore a prominent part, and
were terribly cut up at the battle of Fort Donelson, and were in the thickest of
the fight at the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing. In these last two battles Lieutenant Reynolds was Acting
Adjutant. During the greater part
of the campaign Mrs. Reynolds has shared with her husband a soldier's fare in
camp; many a night, while on long marches, sleeping upon the ground in the open
air, with no covering other than her blanket, and frequently drenched with rain;
and oftimes, to the order "Fall in," she has hurriedly mounted her
horse in the darkness of the night, and made long marches without rest or food
except such as she might have had with her. She has at all times exhibited a degree of heroism that has
endeared her to the brave soldiers of the Seventeenth and other regiments that
have been associated with them and to the officers of the army with whom she is
acquainted.
Gov.
Yates, of Illinois, and his staff were at Pittsburg Landing to look after the
Illinois troops, who suffered so severely in that fearful struggle, and learning
of Mrs. Reynolds' heroic conduct on the field, and untiring efforts in behalf of
the wounded soldiers, he commissioned her Daughter of the Regiment, to take rank
as a Major, "for meritorious conduct on the bloody battle-field of
Pittsburg Landing." Mrs. R.
left Pittsburg Landing a few days after the battle to attend some wounded
soldiers to their homes by the rivers, leaving the last one at Peoria--Capt.
Swain, of Illinois, who died as the boat touched the wharf at Peoria.
She remained at Peoria a few days to recover from her fatigue, and has
left again to rejoin the army.
The
following letter has been addressed to Gov. Yates by citizens of Peoria:
"Peoria, April 27, 1862.
To his Excellency Richard Yates, Governor, etc. Springfield, Illinois.
Dear Sir--Permit us to thank you for the honor conferred upon Peoria by
your voluntary act in commissioning Mrs. Belle Reynolds, of this city, to take
rank as Major of Illinois State Militia, showing your appreciation of valuable
services so nobly rendered by a lady on the bloody battle-field of Pittsburg
Landing.
And we
take pleasure in bearing testimony to the high moral and Christian character of
the Major, believing that in whatever circumstances she may be placed she will
ever honor her commission and the worthy Executive who gave it.
Respectfully yours,
CHICAGO TIMES, May 20, 1862, p. 4, c. 1
The Woman Major--A Row in the Family.
We have appropriately chronicled the fact that Gov. Yates
has commissioned as Major in one of the Illinois regiments with Gen. Halleck the
wife of a Lieutenant, who had shown both courage and devotion to the cause of
humanity among the sick and wounded on the field in and after the battle of
Pittsburg Landing. The
correspondent of the Cincinnati Times tells us something further of her and the
consequence of her appointment:
"I
am sorry to inform you that there is at present some apprehension of a domestic
difficulty, originating out of the late commission of a female to the rank of
Major in the United States army.
"This worthy lady, whose bravery and Samaritan kindness to our wounded
soldiers on the battle-field of Shiloh has won her the love and esteem of an
appreciating public, and who has been promoted to rank by a grateful government
is, I fear, about to fall victim to that most dreaded of delusions--jealousy.
This lady is at present holding her headquarters on board on of the
hospital steamers now lying at Pittsburg Landing, anxiously awaiting for the
expected battle, to again render that comfort and aid known only to exist in the
presence of angels and the attentions of lovely woman.
"But what is mot unhappy in the case of this lady Major is, that her once
adoring and loving husband, who now holds the rank of Lieutenant, insists on
being made a Colonel, and gives as a reason that his wife now commands him, from
the virtue of her rank--being a Major--and that this is directly contrary to the
original understanding existing between them at the day of their nuptials.
From this protest of the Lieutenant I fear that all law abiding wives
will hold up their hands and exclaim, "Oh! the brute."
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, May 23, 1862, p. 1, c. 4
A North Carolina Amazon.—The Charlotte Democrat has been informed by a
soldier from Kinston, of rather a novel incident which occurred there recently.
A short time ago some recruits were brought into camp for a company from
Caldwell county, among whom was a man named Blaylow, who was drafted in
Caldwell. Week before last Blaylow
got a discharge, and immediately another soldier applied for a discharge,
stating that he (or she) was the lawful wife of Blaylow.
It appears that when Blaylow was drafted, his wife cut her hair off, put
on men's clothing and went with him into camps and enlisted for the war.
She drilled with the company and was learning fast, when it became
necessary to make her sex known in order to accompany her husband home.
The boys were sorry to part with such a good soldier, but they were
unable to determine which she loved best, Blaylow or the Confederacy; but it was
unanimously voted that Mrs. Blaylow is "some pumpkins."
SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], May 23, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
Our Special Correspondence from Rome.
Rome, Ga., May 15, 1862.
. . . A female woman arrived in our city a few days since, dressed in the
male uniform of a Confederate soldier, accompanied by a gentleman who
represented himself as an officer in the Confederate army.
Suspicions were excited and the parties arrested and examined, when they
told a plausible tale about being in pursuit of a spy, &c., and were
released. I learn that they have
since been arrested in Chattanooga, Tenn., and are now held in limbo. I am teetotally opposed to women "wearing the
breeches," and hope our city authorities will permit no more feminines to
pass through the city in that sort of disguise. It is an infringement upon the "rights of men" that
ought not for a moment to be tolerated. . . .
What Not.
CHICAGO
TIMES, May 24, 1862, p. 2, c. 4
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Times.
Cairo, May 23.
No news
of importance from Pittsburg. ...
Gov.
Yates and Mrs. Major Reynolds have arrived as passengers on the City of Alton.
DUBUQUE
HERALD, May 25, 1862, p. 2, c. 4
Latest from Halleck's Army.--Gen. Halleck has recently ordered all
newspaper correspondents from his camp. The
reason for this step is not clear, but we will inquire if there is not a family
by the name of Irwin residing at Savannah, Tenn., which has among its members
three sisters who are very beautiful, and whose brothers are in the rebel army? Is not a
correspondent of a certain paper in love with one of these sisters, and has he
not furnished them will full information of General Halleck's movements, to be
given to Beauregard? Who is
this correspondent? Gen.
Halleck has his hand on him.--Chicago Journal.
CHICAGO
TIMES, May 27, 1862, p. 2, c. 5
Cairo, May 26.
Governor Morton, of Indiana, arrived this morning from Pittsburg Landing, and is
stopping at the St. Charles Hotel.
Mrs. Major Reynolds is a guest of the St. Charles Hotel in this city, awaiting
the return of Governor Yates, or the event of a battle near Corinth, it is not
definitely known which.
CHICAGO
TIMES, May 28, 1862, p. 2, c. 4
Cairo, May 28.
Mrs. Major Reynolds made a sudden departure to-day for St. Louis.
Her tarry here, it is said, was the occasion of too much remark to please
her.
CHICAGO
TIMES, May 31, 1862, p. 1, c. 5
From the N.Y. Tribune of Thursday.
It is
now well understood that "unauthorized hangers-on" were excluded from
the Army of Tennessee by Gen. Halleck, because the rebels managed to obtain
intelligence of the disposition of our forces through some one with the army.
The leaky individual, according to the correspondence of the Cincinnati
Times, is a brother of Gov. Yates, of Illinois.
The rebel agents, two fascinating sisters named Irwin, whose father owns
any amount of broad acres and almost countless contrabands, and who have the
enviable reputation of being the "most elegant ladies in Tennessee,"
reside at Savannah, and since the occupation of the lace they have professed
strong Union sentiments, and their parlor has been a general rendezvous for all
the young gallants in the service.
No one
questioned their loyalty, and in course of time they became as familiar with our
position and strength as our own Generals.
The principal portion of this intelligence was imparted by a brother of
Gov. Yates, of Illinois. Immediately
after an introduction to the Misses Irwin, he became fascinated, and from that
moment his attentions to both in general, and one in particular, became
unremitting, and the consideration he received, which he attributed to the high
position of his brother and his own personal charms, led him to an indiscreet,
not to say criminal, revelation of all he knew about the plans of the campaign
and the strength of the army. He is
reported as a vain man, and flattery rendered him loquacious, until the whole
story was known to the sisters.
In the
meantime the "erring brother" found the means of visiting his
"loyal sisters" nightly, and what they learned during a day was known
to Beauregard before a second dawned. Our
authorities soon discovered that there was a leak somewhere, and the result was,
a sort of persecution was instituted against newspaper correspondents, who are
made to shoulder all the fatherless sins floating about the army.
But after a while the whole matter was revealed, and the gallant young
man found it very convenient to omit all further attention to the damsels, and
seek a healthier climate further north.
SOUTHERN
CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], May 31, 1862, p. 2, c. 1
A North Carolina Amazon.--The Charlotte Democrat has been informed by a
soldier from Kinston, of rather a novel incident which occurred there recently.
A short time ago some recruits were brought into camp for a company from
Caldwell county, among whom was a man named Blaylow, who was drafted in
Caldwell. Week before last Blaylow
got a discharge, and immediately another soldier applied for a discharge,
stating that he (or she) was the lawful wife of Blaylow. It appears that when Blaylow was drafted, his wife cut her
hair off, put on men's clothing, and went with him into camps and enlisted for
the war. She drilled with the
company and was learning fast when it became necessary to make her sex known in
order to accompany her husband home. The
boys were sorry to part with such a good soldier, but they were unable to
determine which she loved best, Blaylow or the Confederacy; but it was
unanimously voted that Mrs. Blaylow is "some pumpkins."
CHICAGO
TIMES, June 6, 1862, p. 1, c. 8
Mrs.
Major Reynolds.--Mrs. Major Belle Reynolds, who has been on Gov. Yates' staff,
seems to be having rather a rough time. The
recent reports concerning her and Yates have caused them to part company for the
present, and she was last heard of in Missouri.
The Hannibal Herald says that on Thursday evening, the 29th, two rowdies,
formerly under Price's command, then under the influence of whisky, appeared at
the quarters of Mrs. Major Belle Reynolds, at Hannibal, and demanded "an
unconditional surrender," which was "declined." After taking another drink they proceeded to make "a
regular investment of the Major's entrenchments," and, "having gained
favorable positions," commenced an attack with brickbats and paving stones.
While thus amusing themselves they were set upon by a detachment of
police, captured and placed in limbo. The
next morning the Major appeared against the miscreants, and they were fined
according to their demerits.--Rock Island Argus.
CHICAGO
DAILY TRIBUNE, June 7, 1862, p. 2, c. 6
The Enchantresses--A Times Sensation Knocked in the Head.
[Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune.]
Bloomington, June 5, 1862.
Seeing in your issue of yesterday an article copied from the Cin. Times in regard to Halleck's order excluding all civilians, and the
cause of said order, I take the liberty to give you a few facts.
There is an old saying, "Give the devil his due."
So say I in regard to the Miss Irwins.
They have been the fair damsels who have lured
the true patriot to perform deeds of treason.
Poor man, he is to be pitied! Could
not withstand the fascinating Miss
Irwins.
Any one would think these young ladies to be, not only beautiful beyond
description, but to possess powers seldom given to any, a certain indescribable
something, by the use of which they could convert almost instantaneously, the
purest hearted patriot into the most despicable rebel.
From my knowledge of the young ladies, I think they are slightly
over-estimated. That they are
rebels, every one knows who ever entered their household. There are five sisters, one brother and their mother, these
with two brothers in the rebel army constitute the family. The father who, according to the New York Times, "owns the broad acres," has been dead some years.
The sisters are and always have been, outspoken in their views, telling
everybody that visited them of their strong love for the South and hatred for
the North. The only truth contained in the article, is that the house
was the resort for our officers; to a certain extent this was true.
It was a curiosity, to most, to find anything like civilization on the
Tennessee River. Here was not only
some passably educated feminines, but they were secesh, sang southern songs,
drank Jeff. Davis' coffee, and while entertaining you, told you every night they
prayed for your overthrow. The
novelty of the scene called a good many there, and if they ever obtained any
information it was from those who, like some Chicago correspondent, were ever
ready to show them that they had sympathisers [sic] in the North.
The author of the article either never was in Savannah or wrote what he
knew to be false, for the purpose of injuring one who is dearer to the Illinois
soldiers than any other--Gov. Yates.
M.
CHICAGO
TIMES, June 11, 1862, p. 2, c. 5
Cairo, June 9.
Mrs. Major Reynolds arrived here to-day, en route from the Tennessee River to
St. Louis. The Governor was not
with her.
SAVANNAH [GA]
REPUBLICAN, June 27, 1862, p. 2, c. 3
A Female Prisoner.—Some excitement was created on Thursday by the
arrival of a female prisoner, in the uniform of a Fille du Regiment.
She is said to have been for some months following the Third Regiment of
East Tennessee Renegades in Kentucky. Her
name we learn is Sallie Taylor; she is from Anderson county, where she has
respectable relations. She was
captured somewhere in the neighborhood of Jacksonboro.
An examination before the Provost Marshall, we understand, elicited some
valuable information from this romantic damsel, in regard to the movement of the
enemy.
[Knoxville Register.
CHICAGO
TIMES, August 14, 1862, p. 2, c. 6
One day last week the Washington Provost Marshal had before him two soldiers in
uniform, of a light form, who excited his suspicions.
After being questioned they admitted that they were females, and had been
serving as privates in a regiment now in Pope's army for many months.
They were furnished with proper apparel and sent northward.
WEEKLY COLUMBUS
[GA] ENQUIRER, August 19, 1862, p. 3, c. 6
A Female Volunteer:--In calling the roll of a regiment of conscripts who
had just entered the camp of instruction at Raleigh, N.C., last week, one more
"man" was present than called for by the list.
The Winston Sentinel says:
This, of course, involved an investigation, when it was discovered that
the features of one claimed to be a conscript were quite too fair and fine for
one of the sterner sex. The soldier
was charged of being a female, when she confessed the truth and acknowledged
that she had determined to accompany her friends in the perils of war, and
avenge the death of a brother who fell in the fight near Richmond.
We have heard nothing in any degree to implicate the good character and
standing of this gallant heroine.
AUSTIN STATE GAZETTE,
October 8, 1862, p. 1, c. 6
Another "Dangerous" Woman.—The special correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press at Fort McHenry, gives the following information about Miss
Susan Archer Tally, another of thee female spies:
Among the recent prisoners at this fort, has been until the 28th
of June last, a lady, a Miss Susan Archer Tally, of Norfolk who attempted last
year to take a coffin full of percussion caps through our lines to Richmond,
alleging that the body of her brother was in it.
Suspicion excited, the coffin was opened, and the lady incarcerated.
It was afterwards found that she had acted as a spy between the pickets
of the two armies. She was closely
confined in her room during the day, with the exception of a walk in the balcony
before her window, and a stroll around the ramparts, for an hour daily, with the
officer of the day. She was about
thirty years of age, and a very good amateur artist.
She took from memory a very good crayon portrait of Gen. Morris,
commanding the fort and presented it to him.
Liberty having been given to her, she has gone to her home near Norfolk.
PEORIA (IL) MORNING
MAIL, November 6, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
Treason
in Petticoats.
The New York Times' Washington correspondent telegraphed day
before yesterday the following rather remarkable instance of female strategy:
We are informed that some employee in the War Department has forged a
pass, permitting three men and a loaded wagon and a team to pass our lines.
The wagon is said to be loaded with quinine and other articles of
especial value to the rebels. It is
expected that an effort has been made to capture the party.
LATER.—We have gained additional information in regard to the
circumstances before mentioned of a wagon, with contraband goods, having gone
through our lines, yesterday, towards Richmond.
The precise facts are as follows:
The parties to the speculation are a person named Buck Bailey, who
preached in one of the churches here on Sunday, and Miss Buckner, daughter of
Mrs. Turner, who resides at Rectorville, Va., near Thoroughfare Gap.—These
parties, who are related to one of the highest officers of the government, so
worked upon his confidence as to procure his good offices in securing a pass for
themselves, with which they succeeded in getting through our lines and within
six miles of home before overtaken by the officers put on their track.
On being arrested, which was accomplished about five o'clock this
morning, Miss Buckner was consigned to the charge of some females in a dwelling
near by, and searched. This
proceeding resulted in discovering, in her bustle, of one hundred and seven
ounces of quinine, together with a rebel mail—all intended for Richmond; and a
further search at Fairfax Court-house brought to light a letter in secret
cipher, concealed in her petticoat.
Mr. Bailey and Miss Buckner have been consigned to the old capitol
prison, and Miss Turner, who is believed to be innocent, is permitted to remain
in the family of her relatives.
Altogether, considering the high official character of three or four
parties who have been unsuspectingly drawn into the affair, it is one of the
most astonishing which has occurred during the rebellion.
PEORIA (IL) MORNING
MAIL, November 15, 1862, p. 2, c. 3
Adventures
of a Loyal Maiden Among the Secesh.
Miss Fanny Britten some time since received a communication from the
colonel of an Ohio regiment, then stationed at Lebanon Ky., to visit her brother
there, who was in his command. Fanny
was a resident of Cleveland, and availing herself of an opportunity to embrace a
cherished relative, she made up a small bundle, put what she thought would be
sufficient money in her purse, and started for the "debatable ground."
Arrived at Lebanon she found that the regiment to which he belonged had
changed its location, and uncertain how to proceed, she remained for a couple of
weeks, until her money was almost exhausted, when she made up her mind to return
homeward, and set out on foot for Paris, which, travel worn, she arrived at late
in the evening, to find it in the hands of a large body of the enemy's cavalry. An entire stranger, she was taken into custody, and it being
soon learned that she was an Ohioan, she was arrested as a spy and detained in
the apartment of a house in the second story.
The guard, however, was rather loosely kept, and the next morning Fanny
contrived to explore another room, where she contrived to discover a suit of
masculine apparel, which she appropriated and found a tolerable fit.
Thus disguised she made her way to the roof of the house, from which she
managed to descend by means of a gutter-spout, when she went to an adjoining
stable, and selected one of the best of a fine lot of blooded horses, with which
she made her way undetected out of town.
She did not allow the grass to grow under the feet of her gallant steed,
with which she soon reached Mayville, where she took a packet, and with her
prize arrived safely in this city. Here
she applied to the mayor to whom she related her adventures, and who recommended
her to the Dennison House, where she was taken under the protection of the
ladies, who supplied her with apparel suitable to her sex.
She is a good looking, dashing girl, just such a one as it would be safe
to bet upon coming out of a difficulty with eclat and enacting the role
of a bold and fearless heroine. In
the meantime the mayor, who has charge of the horse, which is a valuable
Bucephalus, is in a muddle. It is a
Bulwerian question, "what will be done with it?" but as we think the
animal was, undoubtedly, at the time she captured him, in the hands of the
secesh, he is Fanny's by all the articles of war.
Let her carry him back to Cleveland as a trophy of her womanhood and
daring.—Cincinnati Enquirer.
PEORIA (IL) MORNING
MAIL, November 21, 1862, p. 2, c. 2
Charleston, Va., Nov. 14,1862.
. . . One of the phenomena of this [fold in paper] the development of an intense
hate towards our troops and government exhibited by the female rebels.
I am led to this statement from the positive evidences of the fact
witnessed by me since my arrival there. These
females have generally descended from the high and dignified spheres of the
social circle and domestic fireside, and metamorphosed themselves into the shape
and status of politicians, columniators and traducers of their country and its
flag. Nor does the picture end
here. It is from these females, who
have played the successful scouts and spies, that the rebel leaders have
gathered their best information. These
women, practising a deception on our own generals, sometimes in the guise of
ladies and again in the disguise of the rustic, have been permitted to pass our
lines, visit our camps, and those of the first named have been feted by
our officers. It is unnecessary to
individualise instances of this kind in passing the subject.
I will only mention the names of Belle Boyd and Mrs. Greenhow as heading
the list of one hundred female rebels who have made for themselves infamous
reputations. I have an instance
fresh to my mind which was related to me recently by an officer of worth, who
told me of a case in which one of our two star generals was deceived most
egregiously by one of these female rebel adepts.
He was enchanted, as it were, by her personal beauty, her volubility of
language and innocent manner. She
was allowed the liberty of the camp for several days; but suddenly she was non
est inventus. She gained the
information she came for, and her departure was as mysterious as her advent.
I will forbear to mention names or localities, as that general soon
discovered his mistake, and has repented sincerely for his fatuity.
In justice to the officers of this department I will say the affair did
not occur in Western Virginia. To
explain the phenomenon I have referred to still further, I will add from my own
experience that I have seen young ladies in this town who at a superficial view,
from their appearance, apparent intellectuality and exterior accomplishments,
seemed an honor to their sex. Presto,
and the scene is changed, the social picture is robbed of its charms, when I
have seen some of them contort and set all sorts of gyrations with their faces,
as an officer would pass along the road, in token of their depreciation of the
defenders of our flag. The grimaces
of these rebel ladies have been followed with scurrilous and low remarks, which
in some stances would disgrace a cyprian. There
is a family in town, the head of which once held a federal position.
This gentleman is known here as a Union man, but his example has not
comported to his professions. This
gentleman has a son in the rebel army who recently resigned his commission and
returned home. He has another
child, a daughter of twenty summers. This
young lady (?) is proverbially known throughout Charleston as a rabid
secessionist.
Last winter, while a portion of our army was in town, her father
frequently gave social parties to Federal officers.
On these occasions she used to make them serve her to give vent to her
secession proclivities, by innuendo and at times by downright insult to her
father's guests. On other
occasions, when Federal officers would visit her father's house, she would hide
herself until they had retired. This
young lady is considered a Virginian of the first water.
She is known here as the mouthpiece of the whole family.
The loyalty of all is very much questioned.
PEORIA (IL) MORNING
MAIL, December 17, 1862, p. 3, c. 2
The
Adventures of a Rebel Female.
The New Orleans Delta tells the following curious story of the
adventures of a rebel woman:
A day or two since an adventurous female named Anne Williams was brought
before the provost court for trial. She
is quite a character. It appears
that she resided in this city several years ago in a house of questionable
character, but managed by some defective arts, which are best known to women, to
win the affections of an Arkansas planter, who married her.
She soon tired of married life, however, left him, and next appeared with
our army at Utah, where she became acquainted with many under the name of Mrs.
Arnold.
The rebellion broke out and Mrs. Arnold, alias Mrs. Williams, was next
found doing the duty of a private soldier in the battle of Manassas as a member
of the 7th Louisiana regiment. She
was brought into public notice again last spring, just after the battle of
Shiloh, having been wounded in the engagement as a member of the 11th
Louisiana. On that occasion she
visited this city, and was arrested for appearing in male attire, but on account
of what was then called her patriotic conduct she was dismissed with honor.
Nothing more was heard of her until about two weeks since, when a
complaint was lodged to the effect that she had robbed a lady in whose house she
had been furnished an asylum, of a gold watch and chain and a gold thimble.
The police at once got on her track, and officer Coner finally succeeded
in arresting her at Camp Lewis, where she was living as the wife of a soldier
named Williams. She is a little passe,
but still quite a handsome woman, with a very masculine nature. She spoke right sharply in her own defence before the
court—said that although she had been to Richmond and in the rebel army, and
participated in several battles, she had never descended to play the spy.
She declared that she was now strong for the Union, and was raising her
children up to revere the old flag. The
police accuse her of having been engaged frequently to run the blockade with
letters by parties in the city, and say that she is a very dangerous character.
The judge, after hearing the evidence in regard to the robbery of which
she stood accused, concluded that she was guilty of the crime charged, and
accordingly sent her to the Parish prison for six months.
This is a rather unromantic termination to a most romantic career.
WASHINGTON [ARK.] TELEGRAPH, December 24, 1862
DIANA SMITH, THE HEROINE OF THE NORTHWEST.
A friend has kindly furnished us with some interesting particulars in the
history of this young heroine.
She was born and raised in the county of Jackson.
Her father is a consistent and pious member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and was leading a quiet, peaceful, and useful life, until his country
was invaded, when he called his country-men to arms, and raised the first
company of guerrillas, which he commanded until his fall, when, by fraud and
treachery he was captured, and ever since has been confined in a loathsome
dungeon at Camp Chase, Ohio, without hope of delivery, unless our Government
should interpose and procure his release.
Diana, his only daughter, is a beautiful girl, and has been tenderly
raised, and well educated. She is
also a member of the M. E. Church, and has always been regarded as very pious
and exemplary. She is descended
from a race of unflinching nerve, and satisfied with nothing less than freedom
as unrestrained as the pure air of their mountain home.
Her devotion to the cause of Southern rights, in which her father had
nobly engaged, has caused her, too, to feel the oppressor's power.
Although a tender and delicate flower, upon whose cheek the bloom of
sixteen summers yet lingers, she has been five times captured by the Yankees,
and marched sometimes on foot, in manacles, a prisoner; once a considerable
distance to Ohio, at which time she made her escape.
She was never released, but in each instance managed to escape from her
guard. She, too, has been in
service; she was in several battles in which her father engaged the enemy.
She has seen blood flow like water.
Her trusty rifle has made more than one of the vile Yankees bite the
dust. She left her home in company
with the Moccasin Rangers, (Captain Kelser,) and came through the enemy's line
in safety, and is now at the Blue Sulphur Springs.
She was accompanied by Miss Duskie, who has earned the proud distinction
of a heroine. On one occasion this fearless girl was surrounded by fifty
Yankees and Union men, when she went rushing through their ranks with a daring
that struck terror to their craven hearts.
With her rifle lashed across her shoulders, she swam the west fork of the
Kanhawa river, and made her way to the Mountain Rangers; preferring to trust her
safety to those brave spirits, well knowing that her sex would entitle her to
protection from those brave mountaineers. These
young ladies have lain in the mountains for months, with no bed but the earth,
and no covering but the canopy of heaven. They
have shared the soldier's rough fare, and his dangers, his hopes, and his joys.
CAIRO [IL] CITY WEEKLY NEWS, December 25, 1862, p. 1, c. 5-6
A Confederate Romance--History of Mrs. Anna Clark.
A Cairo correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes:
Among the prisoners brought here is a young person wearing the uniform of
a private in the Confederate army.--Not above medium height, rather slight in
build, features effeminate but eye full of resolution and spirit, the party is
not disagreeable to look upon. The
descriptive roll calls him Richard Anderson.
A note to Gen. Tuttle, however, from the Provost Marshal at another
point, explained that, for once, "Richard was not himself," but
another personage altogether. In
fact, that Richard Anderson was no less a personage than Mrs. Anna Clark, wife
of the late Walter Clark. When
requested to tell her story, she revealed the following incidents in her
history. They may be true or
untrue, but the relator appeared perfectly truthful and candid in her recital.
Mrs. Clark is a native of Iuka, Tennessee.
Early in the war her husband joined a regiment, and left her at home to
manage as best she could. She did
not manage as a prudent wife should. She
fell in love with a gallant hussar, belonging to a Louisiana regiment.
She determined to follow this love.
She dressed as a trooper, procured a horse, and enlisted in his company.
For four months she remained attached to the cavalry service of the
Confederate army, but the fatigues of that department were more than she could
bear, and after one or two narrow escapes from serious fits of sickness, she
resolved to leave the mounted service and enter the infantry branch, for which,
she argued, she was by nature better fitted.
Her exchange was effected. She
left her trooper's command and joined a company in the Eleventh Tennessee
infantry. In this regiment she
served under the name of Richard Anderson, until the battle of Richmond,
Kentucky, where she with others was made prisoner.
Her husband was killed at Shiloh or Donelson, she never knew which.
At the former battle, Mrs. Clark, according to her own story, performed
prodigies of valor, frequently having to stand upon the dead body of a comrade
to obtain a sight of the enemy, upon whom she continually emptied the contents
of her musket.
Thus, for over ten months, as cavalry, and then as infantryman, then as
prisoner of war, this woman endured the brunt war.
The latter sphere she found irksome enough, and she desired nothing
better than to be sent to Vicksburg, there to be returned to her friends,
promising that she had had enough of this latter life, and would there again
assume her apparel and the condition of her sex.
Some benevolent ladies and gentlemen contributed to her purchase of a
dress and other suitable clothing, and yesterday she was a woman once more.
She was sent to the department of the Provost Marshal, and Gen. Tuttle
will undoubtedly forward her to Vicksburg with the next batch of prisoners. Mrs.
Clark is not yet thirty years of age, and dressed in the costume of a lady is
not by any means an unpresentable woman. She
is well informed upon politics, literature, and other general topics, and has
less of the rowdy in her conversation and air than one would expect from her
late associations.
PEORIA (IL) MORNING
MAIL, January 4, 1863, p. 2, c. 2
A
Female Soldier.
From the St. Paul
Press.
Not long since there appeared a squad of men at Fort Snelling for the
purpose of joining the regiment of Mounted Rangers, for Indian fighting.
The Orderly in charge was very boyish looking, but of singularly neat and
soldier-like appearance. The
morning reports from this squad were neatly and correctly made out, and were
always the first received at the headquarters of the Colonel, the young orderly
taking them up and delivering them without a word, but giving always the proper
salute in the most graceful manner. In
like manner, too, the clothing and provision returns were also made out, and the
necessary amount of food and raiment drawn by this young soldier for the squad
he represented. Of course such
apparently extreme youth and soldierly qualities did not escape the vigilant eye
of the Colonel, who, believing the young soldier under eighteen, on two or three
occasions, remarked to that effect; but the young man assured him that he was
over eighteen, though he admitted, on further questioning to not being
twenty-one. The Colonel made up his
mind that he had run away from his parents, and so told him, but he assured him
he would yet obtain the written consent to the enlistment.
Thus matters passed along for several days.
About this time the highly esteemed daughter of a well to do and highly
respectable farmer in an interior county in this State, suddenly disappeared,
and no traces of her could be found. From
remarks that she had made to her mother, wishing that she was a man, so that she
could volunteer and hunt down the Indians, a suspicion was aroused that she had
undertaken to carry her wishes into effect.
Her father proceeded to Fort Snelling, where, in the person of our hero,
he found his daughter. But how to
bring her away was the next question, as neither of them wished the fact of her
sex publicly proclaimed; so the old gentleman went to the colonel to get his son
discharged on account of being under age; but the colonel told him he would have
to take certain legal steps before she could be discharged.
This would not do, as they would no sooner disclose her sex in court than
in camp. As a last resort, the
young man was introduced to the colonel as the daughter of the old gentleman,
and she was then promptly discharged. The
colonel has, however, kept their secret, and to this day the soldiers forming
her squad don't know the facts about their young Orderly.
DALLAS HERALD, January 7, 1863, p. 1, c. 3
Diana Smith, the Heroine of the Northwest.
A friend has kindly furnished us with some interesting particulars in the
history of this young heroine.
She was born and raised in the county of Jackson.
Her father is a consistent and pious member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and was leading a quiet, peaceful and useful life, until his country was
invaded, when he called his countrymen to arms, and raised the first company of
guerrillas, which he commanded until this fall, when, by fraud and treachery he
was captured, and ever since has been confined in a loathsome dungeon at Camp
Chase, Ohio, without hope of delivery, unless our Government should interpose
and procure his release.
Diana, his only daughter, is a beautiful girl, and has been tenderly
raised, and well educated. She is
also a member of the M. E. Church, and has always been regarded as very pious
and exemplary. She is descended
from a race of unflinching nerve, and satisfied with nothing less than freedom
as unrestrained as the pure air of their mountain home.
Her devotion to the cause of Southern rights, in which her father had
nobly engaged, has caused her, too, to feel the oppressor's power.
Although a tender and delicate flower, upon whose cheek the bloom of
sixteen summers yet lingers, she has been five times captured by the Yankees,
and marched sometimes on foot, in manacles, a prisoner, once a considerable
distance to Ohio, at which time she made her escape.
She was never released, but in each instance managed to escape from her
guard. She, too, has been in service; she was in several battles in
which her father engaged the enemy. She
has seen blood flow like water. Her
trusty rifle has made more than one of the vile Yankees bite the dust.
She left her home in company with the Moccasin Rangers, (Captain Kelser,)
and came through the enemy's line in safety, and is now at the Blue Sulphur
Springs. She was accompanied by Miss Duskie, who has earned the proud
distinction of a heroine. On one
occasion this fearless girl was surrounded by fifty Yankees and Union men, when
she went rushing through their ranks with a daring that struck terror to their
craven hearts. With her rifle
lashed across her shoulders, she swam the west fork of the Kanhawa river, and
made her way to the Mountain Rangers; preferring to trust her safety to those
brave spirits, well knowing that her sex would entitle her to protections from
those brave mountaineers. These
young ladies have lain in the mountains for months, with no bed but the earth,
and no covering but the canopy of heaven. They
have shared the soldier's rough fare, and its dangers, his hopes, and his
joys.—Virginia paper.
CHARLESTON MERCURY,
January 8, 1863, . 1, c. 4
A Female Soldier.--Among the strange, heroic, and self-sacrificing acts
of women in this struggle for our independence, we have heard of none which
exceeds the bravery displayed and hardships endured by the subject of this
notice, Mrs. Amy Clarke. Mrs.
Clarke volunteered with her husband as a private, fought through the battles of
Shiloh, where Mr. Clarke was killed--she performing the rites of burial with her
own hands. She then continued
with Bragg's army in Kentucky, fighting in the ranks as a common soldier, until
she was twice wounded--once in the ankle and then in the breast, when she fell a
prisoner into the hands of the Yankees. Her
sex was discovered by the Federals, and he was regularly paroled as a prisoner
of war, but they did not permit her to return until she had donned female
apparel. Mrs. C. was in our city on
Sunday last, en route for Bragg's command.
Jackson Mississippian.
SOUTHERN
CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], January 11, 1863, p. 3, c. 1
A Female Soldier.--Among the strange, heroic and self sacrificing acts of
woman in this struggle for our independence, we have heard of none which exceeds
the bravery displayed and hardships endured by the subject of this notice, Mrs.
Amy Clarke. Mrs. Clarke volunteered
with her husband as a private, fought through the battles of Shiloh, where Mr.
Clarke was killed--she performing the rites of burial with her own hands.
She then continued with Bragg's army in Kentucky, fighting in the ranks
as a common soldier, until she was twice wounded--once in the ankle and then in
the breast, when she fell a prisoner into the hands of the Yankees.
Her sex was discovered by the Federals, and she was regularly paroled as
a prisoner of war, but they did not permit her to return until she had donned
female apparel. Mrs. C. was in our
city on Sunday last, en route for Bragg's command.--Jackson Mississippian, Dec.
30.
PEORIA (IL) MORNING
MAIL, February 14, 1863, p. 3, c. 2
A girl soldier has been discovered in the camp of the 10th
Ohio cavalry at Cleveland. She gave
her name as Henrietta Spencer, and said that her home was in Oberlin, and that
she enlisted to avenge her father and brother, who fell at Murfreesboro.
WEEKLY COLUMBUS
[GA] ENQUIRER, March 3, 1863, p. 2, c. 3
Letters
from "J. T. G."
Knoxville, Feb. 21st, 1863.
Editor Enquirer: Since the
departure of the important personages that have enlivened "all"
Knoxville for the past ten days, the denizens have lapsed into their usual ways. However, the attractive, "dashing" Belle Boyd, once
an inmate of Fortress Monroe upon the charge of being a Confederate spy,
perambulates Gay Street in all her glory. . . .
J.T.G.
SOUTHERN
CONFEDERACY [ATLANTA, GA], April 2, 1863, p. 2, c. 4
A Female Aid-De-Camp.--The Baltimore Clipper says Antonia J. Ford was the
principal spy and guide for Capt. Mosby in his recent raid on Fairfax Court
House, and aided in planning the arrest of Gen. Slaughter, Wyndham and others.
She was arrested and brought to the Old Capitol Prison, on Sunday last,
with $1,000 Confederate money on her person.
The following is a copy of her commission:
To all whom it may concern: Know
ye that, reposing special confidence in the patriotism, fidelity and ability of
Antonia J. Ford, I, J. E. B. Stuart, by virtue of power vested in me as
Brigadier General, Provisional Army Confederate States, hereby appoint and
commission her my Honorable Aid de Camp, to rank as such from this date.
She will be obeyed, respected and admired
by all lovers of a noble nature.
Given under my hand and seal, Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, at Camp
Beverly, 7th October, 1861, and first year of our Independence.
J. E. B. Stuart.
By the General:
L. T. Bryan, A.A.G.
WEEKLY COLUMBUS
[GA] ENQUIRER, April 7, 1863, p. 3, c. 4
A Female Aid-de-Camp.—The Baltimore Clipper says Antonia J. Ford was
the principal spy and guide for Captain Mosby in his recent raid on Fairfax C.
H., and aided in planning the arrest of Gen. Slaughter, Wyndham and others.
She was arrested and brought to the Old Capitol Prison, on Sunday last,
with $1,000 Confederate money on her person.
The following is a copy of her commission:
To all whom it may concern: Know
ye that, reposing special confidence in patriotism, fidelity and ability of
Antonio J. Ford, I, J. E. B. Stuart, by virtue of power vested in me as
Brigadier General,