Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-15
lie, SHE Or 1T.
A Correct Account of the Mys-
teriOus Female Man.
Truth Stranger than Fiction,
If not More SO.

his wife and two children, daughter
aged sixteen and son three or four
years younger. DIR. Burnham was man
of some property and the highest respect
ability. The family soon became active
members Of our village society, the doc
tor being an active member and one OF
the deacons ofthe Congregational church.
DR. Burnham was well read physician,
and did some practice in addition to
keeping drug store, in which his daugh-
ter Ellen assis.ed him as a clerk for the
FIRST two years Of the Doctors residence
here. Miss Ellen Burnham was by no
means beautiful girl, Her hair and
eyes we're dark; features regular, but
rather coarse and masculine; form tall,
square shouldered and wanting in that
grace Of outline that inspires admiration.
| IL a stranger were tempted to look at her
the second time, it would be from sur
prise at the strong, masculine appear
auce, unnatural to woman, especially
one so young. Miss Burnham was
not a favorite with our young men,
nor did she seem anxious to be.
| Her time, outside Of her domestic
duties, was devoted to instrumental
music and to horseback-riding, in both
of which she was decidedly accom-
plished. Her life for the four years sub
sequent to 1856 was not unlike that OF
other young ladies of the place. She
had large class, mostly of young ladies,
| whom she instructed in instrumental
music. Ia the fall of 1868 young man
by the name of Powell came here, and
was employed as principal of the village
school. Powell resigned the leadership
of the school in the spring of 1859, and
started the Reporter, the first paper pub.
lished in our village. During the sum-
mer be became intimate with the family
| of DIR. Burnham, and became engaged to
Miss Burnham in the fall of 1859. The
engagement soon became known outside
of the family. The only surprise ex-
cited on account of it was surprise at the
taste of Mr.. Powell in selecting girl Of
such masculine appearance. Miss Burn
hams parents we're particularly pleased
at the prospective marriage OF their
daughter, whom they believed well
qualified to make q good wife for an
editor In February, 1860, l.. W. Powell
and Miss Ellen Burnham were married
by Rev. Mr.. Cochran, the Congregational
minister.
The happy couple took short bridal
| tour, preparatory TO settling down for
| life. After an absence of week they
returned to the residence of the brides
parent, who, in honor of their daughters 8
marriage, sent out invitations to large
numbers of our citizens to welcome the
bride aud groom. We were present at
the wedding party, and could not but
think that both the bride and groom APP
peared remarkably solemn. We did not
kiss the bride, although that was the
fashion. Our objection to the kissing
part of the programme was dislike to
come in contact with an unusually heavy
and black mustache which marred the
upper lip of the bride.
Mrs. Powell became more and more
masculine in her appearance as she grew
older. She took a case in the Reporter
office, and learned the printers trade
rapidly, and in a short time she proved
to be the best "jour in the Office. She
also took to smoking, in the cultivation
of which habit she proved herself prin'
ter.
In the spring of 1861, when Powell
had been married about year and
half, the 7th Wisconsin regiment was or
ganized Powels wife not having pre-
sented him with an heir to make home
doubly pleasant, he resolved to 60 to the
wars. He sought, and through the in
Auence of friends, obtained the appoint
ment of State agent or wet nurse for
the gallant 7th, then ordered to Wash
ington. Mrs. Powell, being of rough
and hardy make, resolved to accompany
her husband to the front. No objection
being raised, she fitted herself out and
went to Washington. The regiment was
for a time detained at Washington, and
Mrs. Powell made herself happy by
working up that moral town. A few
weeks after her arrival there, while she
was riding on horseback one day, her
masculine appearance attracted the at
tention of a Government detective, who
made up his mind that Mrs. Powell was
man and rebel spy. The detective
followed her about the city and to her
quarters. He dogged her steps for sew
eral days, until just before the regiment
was ordered off. Mrs. Powell took it
into her head to return to Broadhead.
She packed up her rig, took leave OF her
husband and the regiment and started
for home. The detective accompanied
her to Chicago on the same train, and at
the Briggs House, where the lady booked
ner name, he placed her under arrest as
a rebel in disguise. In vain she claimed
to be a woman and the wife of mem
Der of the seventh regiment. She called
in the landlady, who asserted that she
had seen Mrs. Powell at the house before.
Mrs. Powell finally induced the detective
10 telegraph to Governor Randall, OF
this State. and to her husband at Wash
ington. Governor Randall telegraphed
back that there was such lady. A siml
lar telegram arrived from Washington,
and the detective released her and re-
turned 10 Washington. In few days,
Mr.. Powell reached Chicago, and the IN
happy couple made their way home to
this village.
Language cannot describe the feelings
Of this unhappy pair. Hardly over the
first flush Of connubial felicity, and the
wife had become an object Of suspicion to
strangers, aud was in constant Danger OF
being arrested as a man. They remained
here a few days, when Mrs. Powell IN
formedsher parents that she was going to
visit some relations East The fond pa
rents. little dreaming Of the arrest and
subsequent scenes at the Briggs House,
urged her 10 remain and replenlsh her
wardrobe. She readily answered that she
could procure more becoming and stylish
garments at the East After her de-
parture, Mr.. Powell procured some cloth,
and wenl 10 Mr.. Rooney, one OF our
tsilors, atd informed him that he wished
10 vresent bis brother with a suit OF
clothes. lie informed the tailor that his
-.-,,onts ftte,f tis brother. and a suit