Signs, Signs - Sgt. Bob Morgan and a Wrap-Up of the Battle of Buchanan

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The boys are getting a lesson about Sgt. Bob Morgan.

"Mary and Molly Bell were two young women from Pulaski County, Virginia who disguised themselves as men in order to fight with the Confederate Army during the Civil War. It seems their uncle had decided to join the Union Army in 1862, so Mary and her cousin Molly decided to make up for his defection by enlisting on the opposing side under the names of Tom Parker (Mary) and Bob Morgan (Molly). They started out in the cavalry, but were captured after just one month. They were soon rescued, and then joined the 36th Virginia Infantry, with whom they served for the next 2 years.

"Tom" and "Bob" were both good soldiers, described by their fellow infantrymen as "gallant, first-class fighting men." During the course of their service, Tom was promoted to corporal, while Bob, who managed to kill 3 Yankee soldiers one night while on picket duty, made sergeant. Bob also showed "his" mettle when severely wounded in the arm. "He" refused to see a doctor, fearing that "his" secret would be discovered, so he laughed the wound off as "just a scratch." Tom tended the wound, and Bob was able to recover and keep on fighting.

The secret came out after the battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864 when Tom's and Bob's commanding officer was taken captive. They had confided the truth of their gender to this captain, so he could help them avoid physical exams or anything else that might expose them as women. In his absence, they decided they had best confide in their new commander, a recently promoted lieutenant. This proved to be a bad move, as this liuetenant promptly turned them over to General Early, who denounced them as "camp followers" and sent them to the notorious Confederate prison Castle Thunder where they were imprisoned for three weeks. Upon their release they were sent back to the family farm in Pulaski County, and were reported by the Richmond Daily Examiner as being "perfectly disconsolate" at being forced to leave their comrades in the 36th." Found HERE

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