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More Confederate Female Soldiers

This newspaper article gave me a tip and I was able to confirm it....

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/civil-war/2012/nov/29/civil-war-two-farm-girls-served-confederate-cavalr/

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Richmond Daily Dispatch

October 31, 1864.

Women in soldiers' apparel.
--The Central cars, on Fridaynight, brought down two girls, named Mary Bell and Mollie Bell, who were dressed in soldier clothes. They claim to be cousins, and state that before the war they lived with their uncle in Southwestern Virginia; but about two years since he left them and went over to the Yankees. They then attired themselves in male apparel, and were admitted into a cavalry company, attached to the Confederate service. A few months after their enlistment they encountered a force of Yankees, were defeated and captured with the rest of the company; but subsequently, General John H. Morgan, with reinforcements, overtook the Yankees who had them in charge, causing such a precipitate retreat that they were compelled to abandon their prisoners.--After three months service in the cavalry they joined the Thirty-sixth Virginia infantry, and have been with it up to the present time. On one occasion Mobilekilled three Yankees while on picket, and on her return to the brigade was promoted for gallantry to a corporally. The corporal has missed but one battle — that of Cedar --she having been sent off on duty at the time. Once she was slightly wounded in the arm by a piece of shell.

From the time these girls entered the service up to the day of the fight which took place between Early and Sheridan on the 19th instant, the secret of their sex was only known to the captain of the company to which they belonged. At this battle he was taken prisoner, and they then, finding it necessary to have some protector, bonded their secret to the commanding the company; but he did not keep it two days before he reported it to General Early himself, who entered them to be taken to Richmond. In the interview with the General, which ensued in consequence of the information imparted to him by said that there were six other females in disguise in the army, but she refused to tell who or where they were.

These girls were known in the army by the names of Tom Parker and Bob Morgan, and were acknowledged by all the soldiers with whom they were associated to be valiant soldiers, having never been known to straggle or shirk duty.

As they appeared in the chief-of-police office on Fridaynight, there was nothing in their appearance to excite suspicion that they were other; than what they appeared to be, Confederate soldiers.--They are modest in demeanor, and were always known as Quiet and orderly members of their command. , Bob Morgan, most of the talking, and displayed evident marks of education and refinement, MaryTom Parker, was taciturn and moody, but yet not altogether uninteresting. Mobile says that "Tom," as she called her cousin, was never to be a soldier; she is too modest and

They were both committed to Castle Thunder to await further arrangements for their welfare.

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David Upton

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