Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Adventures of a long-island girl.

Miss Fanny Wilson is a native of Williamsburgh, Long Island. About four years ago, or one year prior to the war, she came West, visiting a relative who resided at La. Fayette, Indiana. While here her leisure moments were frequently employed in communicating, by affectionate epistles, with one to whom her heart had been given, and her hand had been promised, before leaving her native city — a young man from New-Jersey. After a residence of about one year with her Western relative, and just as the war was beginning to prove a reality, Fanny, in company with a certain Miss Nelly Graves, who had also come from the East, and there left a lover, set out upon her return to her home and family. While on their way thither, the two young ladies concocted a scheme, the romantic nature of which was doubtless its most attractive feature.

The call for troops having been issued, and the several States coming quickly forward with their first brave boys, it so happened that those two youths whose hearts had been exchanged for those of the pair who now were on their happy way toward them, enlisted in a certain and the same regiment. Having obtained cognizance of this fact, Fanny and her companion conceived the idea of assuming the uniform, enlisting in the service, and following their lovers to the field. Soon their plans were matured and carried into effect. A sufficient change having been made in their personal appearance, their hair having been cut, and themselves reclothed to suit their wish, they sought the locality of the chosen regiment, offered their services, were accepted, and mustered in. In another company from thrir own of the same regiment, (the Twenty-fourth New-Jersey,) were their patriotic lovers, “known though all uhknowing.” On parade, in the drill, they were together — they obeyed thle same command. In the quick evolutions of the field, they came as close as they had in other days, even on the floor of the dancing-school — and yet, so says Fanny, the facts of the case were not made known.

But the Twenty-fourth, by the fate of war, was ordered before Vicksburghi, having already served through the first campaign in Western Virginia, and here, alas! for Fanny, she was to suffer by one blow, Here her brave lover was wounded. She sought his cot, watched over him, and half revealed her true nature in her devotion and gentleness. She nursed him faithfully and long, but he died. Next after this, by the reverse of fortune, Fanny herself and her coinpanion were both thrown upon their hospital cots, exhausted, sick. With others, both wounded and debilitated, they were sent to Cairo. Their attendants were more constant and more scrutinizing. Suspicion was first had; the discovery of Fanny's and Nelly's true sex was made. Of course, the next event in their romantic history was a dismissal from the service. But not until her health had improved sufficiently was Fanny dismissed from the sick-ward of the hospital. This happened, however, a week or two after her sex had become known. Nellie, who up to this time had shared the fate of her companion, was now no longer allowed to do so; her illness became serious she was detained in the hospital, and Fanny and she parted — their histories no longer being linked. Nellie we can [55] tell no further of; but Fanny, having again entered society in her true position, what became of her?

We now see her on the stage of a theatre at Cairo, serving an engagement as ballet girl. But this lasts but a few nights. She turns up in Memphis, even as a soldier again. But she has changed her branch of the service; Fanny has now become a private in the Third Illinois cavalry. Only two weeks has she been enlisted, when, to her surprise, while riding through the street with a fellow-soldier,.she is stopped by a guard, and arrested for being “a woman in men's clothing.” She is taken to the office of the detective police, and questioned until no doubt can remain as to her identity — not proving herself, as suspected, a rebel spy, but a Federal soldier. An appropriate wardrobe is procured her, and her word is given that she will not again attempt a disguise. And here we leave her. Fanny is a young lady of about nineteen years; of a fair face, though somewhat tanned; of a rather masculine voice, and a mind sprightly and somewhat educated — being very easily able to pass herself off for a boy of about seventeen or eighteen.