Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Romance of the camp.--The Louisville Journal tells the following singular story: A few weeks since a Captain, accompanied by a young soldier, apparently about seventeen years of age, arrived in this city in charge of some rebel prisoners. During their stay in the city the young soldier alluded to had occasion to visit headquarters, and at once attracted the attention of Colonel Mundy by being exceedingly sprightly and possessed of more than ordinary intelligence. Being in need of such a young man at Barracks No. 1, the Colonel detailed him for service in that institution. He soon won the esteem of his superior officers and became a general favorite with all connected with the Barracks. A few days ago, however, the startling secret was disclosed that the supposed young man was a young lady, and the fact was established beyond doubt by a soldier who was raised in the same town with her and knew her parents. She “acknowledged the corn,” and begged to be retained in the position to which she was assigned; having been in the service ten months, she desired to serve during the war. Her wish was accordingly granted, and she is still at her post.

We learned the facts above stated yesterday, and took occasion to visit the barracks, and was introduced to “Frank Martin,” (her assumed name,) and gleaned the following incidents connected with her extraordinary career during the past ten months:

Frank

was born near Bristol, Pa., and her parents now reside in Alleghany City, Pa., where she was raised. They are highly respectable people, and in very good circumstances. She was sent to the convent in Wheeling, Va., at twelve years of age, where she remained until the breaking out of the war, having acquired a superior education, and all the accomplishments of modern usage. She visited home after leaving the convent, and after taking leave of her parents, [39] proceeded to this city in July last, with the design of enlisting in the Second East-Tennessee cavalry, which she accomplished, and accompanied the army of the Cumberland to Nashville. She was in the thickest of the fight at Murfreesboro, and was severely wounded in the shoulder, but fought gallantly, and waded Stone River into Murfreesboro on the memorable Sunday on which our forces were driven back. She had her wound dressed, and her sex was disclosed, and General Rosecrans made acquainted with the fact. She was accordingly mustered out of service, notwithstanding her earnest entreaty to be allowed to serve the cause she loved so well. The General was very favorably impressed with her daring bravery, and superintended the arrangements for her safe transmission to her parents. She left the army of the Cumberland resolved to enlist again in the first regiment she met. When she arrived at Bowling Green she found the Eighth Michigan there, and enlisted, since which time she has been and is now connected with it.

She is represented as an excellent horseman, and has been honored with the position of regimental bugler in the regiment. She has seen and endured all the privations and hardships incident to the life of the soldier, and gained an enviable reputation as a scout, having made several wonderful expeditions which were attended with signal success. Frank is only eighteen years of age, quite small, and a beautiful figure. She has auburn hair, which she wears quite short, and large blue eyes, beaming with brightness and intelligence. Her complexion is naturally very fair, though slightly bronzed at present from the effects of exposure. She is exceedingly pretty, and very amiable. Her conversation denotes more than ordinary accomplishment, and, what is stranger than all, she appears very refined in her manners, giving no evidence whatever of the rudeness which might naturally be expected from her late associations.

Frank informs us that she has discovered a great many females in the army, and is now intimately acquainted with a young lady who is a lieutenant in the army. She has assisted in burying three female soldiers at different times, whose sex were unknown to any but herself.

Since she has been in the city she formed the acquaintance of a young lady, who has taken quite a fancy to her, supposing her to be a handsome young man. We pressed (we should say urged) her for her real name, but she very respectfully declined giving it. She is very patriotic, and expresses a determination “to see the war out, come what will.”