American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-03-29
CANTON MISSISSIPPI, MARCH 20, 1866
Romance of the War-Thrilling Ad-
ventures of a Young and Beautiful
Woman.

Among the many thrilling events oil the
late war none can exceed the adventures
of Mrs. Loretta DeCamp, the subject OF
this sketch Mrs. DeCamp whose maid
en- name was Roach, was born IN the
West Indies, in 1888, and is now about
twenty-eight years of age. At an early
period her parents moved to the United
States and settled in the parish OF st.
James, Louisiana. The current OF ner
life ran smoothly on, until the outbreak
Of the war for Southern independence,
when, fred by enthusiasm IN, as she
thought, the cause of liberty, she donHed
the male attire aud was among the first
to rush to arms. Raising a company OF
cavalry and eqniping it at her own eZ-
pense she proceeded to virginia ana iAere
served for eight months on the PeninsuS
la, under the command Of the celebrat-
ed Col. Dreux, before her sex was dis"
covered. When this occurred she was at
once mustered out and ordered home.
Instead Of oOeying the orders heproceed'
ed to Columbus, Ky, and was serving
with Gen. Polk at the evacuation of that
place.
She proceeded to Island No. 10, butnot
being satisfied with the manner IN when
nr -. .a -, ,l,otoI tbara che left and
:. went to Fort Pillow, where she was elect
ed lst Lieutenant in Captain fhlllIps
), company of Independent Tennessee Cav
$ airy. With her company she proceeded
5, to Corinth, and reported to General A
S. Johnston. At the battle of Shiloh, Cap
tain Phillips fell mortally wounded, and
the command then devolved on her
S, While gallantly leading her company in
J, charge, she was twice wounded and
o carried from the field Alter tie retreat
to Corinth she was taken to New Orleans
for surgical treatment, and when the city
fell into the Federal hands she was
amongst those taken prisoner. After
5. confinement of several months, she was
paroled and soon after exchanged
Proceeding at once to Richmond, the dis
guised female soldier was commissioner
LIST Lieutenant in the Adjutaat General
department, and ordered to report to den
d Marcus J. Wright, commanding the dis
trict of Atlanta. Upon reporting sh
was assigned to duty with the Proves
Marshal, as chief of detectives and mill
tary conductor. Serving for seVera
- months in this capacity, she met Mao
r De Camp, of the 3rd Arkansas cavalry
to whom she was engaged TO be m arrle(
IN previous to the war The ceremony was
then performed at Atlanta, and from th'
- dashing Lieut. Roach she was transform
u ed to the sober Mrs. Major DeCamp
From this time her services ceased as al
- officer in the field and she engaged in Sc
in cret services in the Confederacy, agar
in England and then in Canada In Sc.
she spent several months travelling IN 'h'
$ United States, and even went as far
the Sioux country in Minnesota lie
husband, who was taken prisoner IN tn
fall Of 1862, while serving with his regl
ment in Georgia, was carried to New
, York. After long and arduous selge
she at length succeeded in getting hlu
paroled in January, 1865, but he i've,
only eight days alter his release iron
prison. Subsequent to the death OF be
husband (in January, 1905, } she proceed
= ed to Columbus, Ohio, to watch over III
interests of the Confederate prisoners con
fued at Camp Chase
After the final collapse Of the Conied
eracy, Mrs. DeCamp renamed at III
North until January, when she returne
to her home in Louisiana but rema'r
= inr there only few days she p7oceede
to Memphis, and purchased stock
goods which were shipped on the i'll fate
steamer Miami, which was blown up Q
the Arkansas in February. She was or
of the two ladies who were saved, bu
with the sacrifice Of all her baggage an
goods. By an unfortunate oversight Q
the part of her merchants, her goo,
were not insured, and, consequently. 81
lost her all.
Mrs. DeCamp is now in this city and s.
iouruiug at the Southern Hotel. Mar
who served in the Confederate army w
remember the dasbing Lieutenant Roae
of whom so much was said in Mobile an
Selma in 1868. Our space will not pc
nit full recital Of her adyentures.-S
Louis RfpuEioaH, Ill.
The Treasury Department IS s''li aHH'! "
itself to the suppression OF frauds in he GO