Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-03-11
The Romance of War.

From the Cleaveand Leader. February l31
The dull, heavy routine Of the Trovos
Marshal's Office here was interrupted and
enlivencd, last Saturday, by an incident
which had several novel and comical fea-
lures and which is based on q mystery
which the authorities have by no means
fathomcd, and may not be able to fathom
for some time to come.
Application was made, Friday, to the
Sanitary Commission, here b, two young
women seemingly not over nineteen years
of age, for transportation to Washington.
In explanation Of the usual request, they
stated that they Id been in the Union
service as privatcs, two years, when their
sex being discovered, they were discharg-
ed.
As their money was al expended, they
derirel transportation from this point to
Washington In the recital of their cx.
perencc to the ladies of the Commi 'sion,
thole was Something either in the manner
or the matter of the statement which ex-
cited their suspicious and the young wo-
men put off until the noxtday. The Pro-
vost Marshal was Immediately notified of
the case, and the parties were arrested
Saturday afternoon, by his order. They
gave their names as Charlotte Anderson
and Emily Wood 1t seems that suspicion
was directed only to the former, but only
one or two of the authorities of the Provost
Marshals Office and Board cf Enrolment
entertained suspicion in her case, the ma
jority being convinced, and claimips that
crinoline, jaunty hat and feather, feminine
voice, figure aud gait, and other palpabIc
female "attribules, could not possibly
wrap "Dout and sustain any illnsion, New
erthelc SIS an examination was ordered, aad
sevoral respectable ladies were delegated
TO ascertain if Cha rlotte was Charlotte
Alas, poor Charlotte For the ''eommis
aoncrs" returned semi -hystcrical report
of strongly reinforced suspicion OF latent
manhood. TO see the seat of absolute
certainty upon what was now in all minds
settled, confident OF inion, the examining
surgeon Of the Board OF Enrolment was
directed TO examine the prisoner as he
was now thought to be a rebel spy-which
feat was finally accomplished, after two
hours parley, which exhausted the re.
sources Of statesmaDship ,palver and threats
ended in the uc Ct sufficient amount Of
force to test the legality of the fair prison
onel' title 10 the name of Charlotte. The
end justified the means, and the examina.
tioh demonstrated that the prisoner was
an irresponsible young man.
1t was ascertained that this twain had
been stopping at the Burnett House. An
officer was sent there, who brought their
baggage. consisting of Two salchels. In
one Of them ives found three suits Of clothes
one citizens suit, another was military,
bearing licutcnant's insignia, and the
third was female apparel. The officers
then Proceeded to divest him Of his water.
proof cloak, with hood, alapaca dress,
jaunty hat and feather, electra CT the ar,
cana Of feminine attire, and invest him in
his military suit and then they lodged him
in Jail.
We may say here that the illusion was
complete, He had the voice, smooth face,
delicate neck and features, form and gait
of female, and counterlctcd the charm
Of presence of maid of sweet seventeen.
His accomplice, who seems still young,
er was taken by Commissioner Fitzpatrick
to his home and put under the eyes Of bis
family. She seems thoroughly innocent,
from first to last, and advised Charlotte
again and again, during her parley, to al
low them to proceed with the examination;
that it was hard to bear but then she
was in tight place, and her virtuo would
come bright out Of the fiery ordeal,
She aiterward stated, in explanation of
her being in company with Lottio Andor.
son, as she persisted in calling him that