The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-05-28

from Fortress Monroe-letters, papers
and packages averaging from two TO
three bushels each trip-the distance
being ahout twenty-five or thirty
miles. Owing to the condition of the
roads, she was often compelled 10
spend the night along the roadside.
When she first began her trips it was
reported that the bushwhackers had
murdered n mail carrier on that road
shortly before and robbed the mail.
The report seemed TO have So 70 forn.
: IN, for in Il most lonely parr
found the ground still strewn with
fragments OF letters and papers. She
was at the battle of Williamsburg, but
was sick when the battle of Fair Oaks
, occurred.
While the army lay in front OF Rich
mond the floods frequently carried
away the bridges over the Chickahom-
my and the young mail carrier was
more than once obliged to swim her
horse across the swift, running stream
Often she sat in the saddle drenched
Tor hours, sometimes remaing all night
by the roadside watching for daylight
to pick her way through the danger.
Gus mudholes through which the mule
teams had wallowed. She was in the
seven days fight crossing the penin-
sula to the James River and more than
once barely escaped with her life.
At one place she was ordered to pro-
cure some stores from farmhouse,
and while there was caught between
two fires, the enemy opening up and
her comrades responding. She se-
cured the provisions. though, and re-
turned unhurt. After the army went
into camp at Harrison's Landing she
resumed her old duties OF postmaster,
and when the army left the peninsula
came to Alexandria with her company.
The company was sent up the Shenan.
doah Valley and sue went to hos
pital. She reioined her command,
though, in time to take part in the
second battle of Bull Run. She was at
Fredericksburg and at the battle acted
as orderly to General o. NJ. Poe.
About the middle of March, 1863,
she accompanied her company to Ken
lucky. Here she was debilitated by
the chills and fever. She applied fer
furlough, but it was refused, and
fearing that her sex might be discov-
cred. she deserted. She reached Ober-
lin, Ohio, some time in April, and Tor
four weeks wore the costume of Dri-
vate soldier. Then she went back to
pettlcoats again and mas never been
in disguise since. Civil life had too
few attractions for her, and soon after
she returned to hospital duty once
more under the auspices of the Chris
tian Commission at Harper's Ferry.
She remained in the Department of
the Cumberland during the remainder
of the war. That she was able to so
long hide the secret of her sex has
been to soldiers a great wonder.
The second authentic case on the
records is not so interesting. The
heroine was only able to remain in the
service sixteen weeks. Her sex was
then discovered, she was sent to the
hospital and ne soon rs cured sent
home. She enlisted under the name
OF Charles Freeman. When discoy.
cred she refused to give her correct
name, and she left the hospital mys.
terry.
Charles Freeman was a member of
the Fifty.second Ohio and was sent to
the general hospital at Louisville,
KY, November 10, 1862. The dag
nosis set against his name was "sexual
incompatibility and remittent fever. "
December 8, 1862, Chatles Freeman
was discharged "as woman in dis
guise as soldier" In the war de-
partment this diagnosis is regarded as