Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-20
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.

Among the many thrilling events OF the late war
(says the ST. Louis Republican OF the Ih1 none can
exceed The adventures Of Mrs. Loretta DE Camp the
subject OF this sketch. Mrs De Camp, whose maid
en- name Roach, was born in the west Ind rs
in 1888, aud about twenty -eight years OF age
AT early period her parents moved To tue Ont'eu
States and settled in the iSh Ut ST. James, L"ulsl~
ana The current Of her lite ran smoothly on, unt
the outbreak OF the war tor Southern lhoePeuoence,
when, fred by enthusiasm i'll, MS she thOuRht tue
cause of liberty, she dOuned the male attire, aud
was among the first rush TO arms raising
company OF cavalry; id eqn'ppinH II al her own
expense she proceeded tn Virginia, and there Served
Tor eli yhI months the Peninsula, under III
nand Of the celebrated Z" Onel Dreux, before her
SEX was discovered. When this occurred she was
At once mustered aud ordered home. Instead of
obeyuy tie order, she Proceeded TO COlumbu> Ken
tucky Aad serving with General Polk at The
evacuation OF that place. She proceeded to Island
No 10 tut not being assisted with The manner in
winch affairs were conducted there, she lett aud went
to Fort low, whrre she elected First Lieute-
nant i" Captain Phillips Company Of Inde emdent
Tennessee Cav Ilry. Win her company she uro-
ceeded TO Corlnlh, and reported General A s.
Johnston. II the battle of Shiloh Captain Phillips
fell mor'aily wounded aud the command devUlved
on her While gnantly leading her company ia a
charge, she twice wounded and carried from the
field. After the retreat from CUrinIh she was taken
10 NJ OrleaHs t.r surgical treatment, aud when
the Il tell Ia t. the FEDERAL hands she was amo u
Those taken prisoner. Alter confinement OF sew
ert mouths she was parOled and after exchaug-
ed
Proceeding at once 10 Richmond the disguised
female solder commissioned LIST Lieutenant in
the AdjutHut Generals depnr menI, rud ordered to
report 10 Gen. Marcus J. Wright, commanding the
district vi Atlanta. Z pom REPORTING, she was AS
sEnei I" duty with the Provost Marshall, ~ CHER
OF detectives and military c0nd uc'ur, Serving tor
several months IN this capacity, she Major De
Camp OF the 81 Arkansas cavalry, whom she
was engaged 40 he married previous the war. Tie
ceremony WAS then perOr ned Atlanta aud from
the flashing euueuaut Roach she was transformed
to the sober Mrs Major De Camp. From IhIs time
her services CEASED officer in the field. and she
WAS engaged III SecreI SerVice-SOmrIImeS in The
COnted-rhcy, again in England aud then in Cana. a.
In 1864 she spent several months travelling the
Onl'ed States, and even went far as the Sioux
country IN Minnesota. Her husband, who was
taken prisoner in the fall nt 1863 while serving
win his regiment IN Georgia, was CARRIED 10 Nrw
York. Alter long aHd ArduOus seige she at length
succeeded in gerIing him I,:1rOled in January 1865
but he lived only light days after his release
prison. Subsequent the dea OF Ter husband
[in January. 1861 she proceeded Columbus
Ohio. iowa CHI the in OF the Co tederate
Prs 'ne-s confined Camp Chase.
After the collapse of the G. nfederacv, Mrs. De
Q 'mp remaiEed in che North until January when
~ returned her home i'll Louisiana; tut remain
n here only ecu days. he proceeded to Mems
pms. and puE CHASED a sock of 'UdS hich WERE
SHIPPED on the Ill>tted steamer Miami, which was
blown up "n th- Arkansas in FEBRUARY. She was
one OF The two ladies who were saved, bu with the
sacrihce of all her baggage aud goods By an un-
fortunate oversight on the part her merch .uts
her cords were Insured, and conseq "entIy she
lost her all.
Mrs. De Camp now in this citv and soinurnng
Mt the Southern Hotel. Many who served in the
Confederate army will remember The dashing Lieut.
Roach, of whom much said in 1863. Our
space will not rmt full recital of her adventures