The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Questions About the 15th Missouri Infantry

Thank you for the reply and information, Mr. McGhee. The reason I cut it off at March is because Ella Reno and Sarah Bradbury were before the Chief of Army Police on March 7th according to the Nashville Dispatch, 3/8/63:

"Army Police Proceedings.
Before the Chief of Army Police, Nashville, March 7, 1863.
. . . Miss Ella V. Reno and Miss Sarah E. Bradbury, who exhibited their martial
ardor and love of country by enlisting as young men and serving faithfully as
soldiers for several months each were, upon the discovery of their sex,
honorably discharged, and were sent from Murfreesboro' by Capt. Wiles,
Provost Marshal General, to the Chief of Police to be forwarded to their
friends—those of Miss Ella residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, and those of Miss
Sarah residing in this county. After being provided with proper female apparel
they were placed en route for their homes."

And then the March 11th edition of the Nashville Dispatch reads in part:

"In our Sunday's issue we published the fact that Ella V. Reno and Sarah E.
Bradbury had been arrested in military uniform, at Murfreesboro', and sent to
Col. Truesdail. After an examination into their case, the Colonel generously
provided them with comfortable female attire, and furnished them with means
to reach their homes."

It contained Bradbury's written statement which says in part:

"I have been in the service six months. I first went into the 7th Illinois cavalry,
in company C. This company was the body guard of Gen. Palmer. I was
induced to go into the service by my friend, Mr. H., who, by his frequent visits
and manifestations of love, won my heart. I dressed myself in men's clothing
and determined to follow him. I served in this company two months, making a
faithful and attentive soldier; while there I became Orderly for my General,
and flatter myself that I made him a good officer. During all this time my sex
was never discovered. Unfortunately, my friend was captured by the rebels
while out scouting the day after I went into his company, and I have never
heard of him since.

"Despairing of seeing him again, and becoming attached to a young man in the
22d Illinois infantry, I joined his regiment in order that I might be the more
with him. I was with him constantly, and we have passed many pleasant hours
together. One day, while taking a walk with him, and thinking that I had gained
his confidence, I gave him my history and disclosed my sex. This he was
surprised to hear, for he had taken me for a boy, and was disposed to doubt me.
Since that time he has made me frequent proposals of marriage. Circumstances
proved to me that I was mistaken in my man, for I soon became satisfied that
he was not a gentleman. Thus losing confidence in him, I made up my mind to
return to my home. When I thought of having left home without the consent of
my friends, I instantly abandoned the thought, and determined to remain in the
army. Camp life agreed with me, and I never enjoyed better health in my life.
Afterward I became a member of General Sheridan's escort, company L, 2d
Kentucky cavalry.......
" (emphasis added)

She is correct in that this company did indeed serve escort duty for Sheridan at Murfreesboro. She goes on to say that she left this unit because another orderly betrayed her, which is not true. She was discovered due to the drunken incident.

I'm just confused as to the time frame.

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