The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-03-17
A Female Soldier.


ines, and turned up from the lower
walks Of life many rough stones that
have proved to be the genuine dia
monds. But probably no army has
ever opened more doors fo' romance
than has the army Of the United States
during the present rebellion. We al
most daily read accounts Of the valor
ous deeds Of females who have fought
in the ranks for months without their
sex being divulged but IN most cases
there has been connected with their his
tory some love romance that had an
important bearing upon their action.
The case am about to record differs
some what from the generality Of cases.
On Sunday last Colonel Burke, Of the
10Th Ohio, went to Graysville, Georgia
under flag Of truce, with authority from
Gen. Thomas to exchange twenty-seven
prisoners in our hands for an equal num-
Der in the hands Of the enemy, the pre-
liminaries of which had been previous
ly arranged.-Among the number in
the hands of the enemy was member
Of the Goth Illinois, whom we will call
Frank Henderson. Her history, relat.
el to me yesterday in the General Hos.
pital, where she now is, is briefly thus :
On the breaking ont Of the rebellion
she had an only brother, the only rela-
tive, living in Chicago Illinois. The
brother enlisted III the 1lth, Illinois
Infantry. and being left alone in the
world she resolved to enlist in the ser
vice, TO be near her brother. She en-
listed in the ll,h, participated in its
engagements, and on the mastering out
of the regiment for the three months
service she was discharged without
her sex being discovered. She next
enlisted in the 33l Illinois regiment and
served for several months, during which
time she managed TO retain her secret,
and by her s,aid habits won the univer
sal esteem Of her officers. Wounded in
one Of the battles she participated in
she was discharged.-But Franks love
for the service did not permit her long
to pursue the inert life incident to home
and the organization of the Goth Him
ois regiment offered her an opportunity
to crafty her love for military life.
She enlisted as a private in Col. o.
Meara's regiment, and proved to be an
excellent solder. She participated in
all the battles OF that regiment, was
present at the capture Of Holly Springs
by the rebels, which she denounces as
a disgracefnl proceeding on the part Of
our forces, who could have held the
place. In the latter part oflast summer
while the regiment was marching
through Florence, Alabama, she asked
and obtained permission Of her Colo
mel to enter house in search Of some-
thing to eat her regiment moved on,
and while waiting for the supper to be
prepared, two rebels crawled out from
under the bed, and presenting them.
selves before her, ordered her to eurren.
der. She was forced to do 40, and was
taken prisoner TO Atlauta, Georgia,
where she has since been = prisoner.
A few weeks ago Frank made a des-
perate attempt to escape, and when or
dered to halt by the guard, paid no at
tentionto the command, and was fred
upon. The bail taking effac. in her leg
and she still suffers from the wound
Col Burke, vile ont with the flag Of
truce last week, effected her exchange
among others. and she is now IN the
general hospital, recovering from her
wounds. From the time Of her enlist
ment in June, 1851, until some weeks
after her capture, she kept her sex q
secret. She is now wearing clothes
appropriate to her sex, and expresses
her intentention Of renouncing q mil,
tary life for one more becoming her. In
personal appearance she il quite pre-
posing. Chattanooga Correspondence
Of Gin. Com