Charley Miller joins the army, 1861

“Disguised.” Buffalo Commercial [Buffalo, New York] 30 July 1861; p. 3.

Information was received at the Chief’s office this forenoon that a woman in male attire had been careering around the city for nearly a week attending the races, theatre, &c., playing billiards, chewing tobacco, and conducting herself in a generally rapid and tumultuous manner. Officers were despatched in search, and she was arrested about eleven o’clock and brought before the Chief, to whom she finally confessed her sex. He in turn ordered her conducted to Justice Burt’s court, where she was arraigned and examined. She gave her name as Lydia Foster, and said that her mother and step-father, John White, resided about ten miles from Dunkirk, where she generally made her home. She had often been absent on independent tours, like that in which she is now apprehended, and had served at different times on the lakes and in other cities as bar-tender, waiter, etc. She came from Albany hither about ten days ago, since which time she had passed herself under the nom de plume of “Charley Miller.” The Justice was listening to her story when we left, and has probably discharged her, on the condition of her assuming proper attire and returning to her home without delay.

“Wearing the Breeches.” Buffalo Morning Express [Buffalo, New York] 31 July 1861; p. 3.

A strong minded young woman, who gives her name as Lydia Foster, was arrested yesterday while disguising her gender in masculine habiliments. She is evidently a very hard customer, having lost all the virtues and graces of her sex before she threw aside its distinguishing apparel. One of her first inquiries of the officer who took her in custody was whether he had any tobacco, and on his producing a box she regaled herself with a quid, the enormity of which was perfectly astounding. Her language was by no means refined, nor her manners those of the modest maiden. She states that her home is about ten miles from Dunkirk. She went eastward on a journey of adventure about two months ago, and has been masquerading, probably, most of the time since. She says that she has performed the functions of a bar tender about two weeks in Syracuse. The masculine name which she assumed was Charley Miller.

She has been in this city several days, stopping at the Waverley House. After an examination by the police authorities she was released upon promising to resume her legitimate dress and return home.

“On Wednesday last.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle [Brooklyn, New York] 3 August 1861; p. 2.

On Wednesday last, some Buffalo officers arrested a sweet looking young man who had been round town for three weeks past playing billiards, drinking brandy-smashes, chewing tobacco, attending horse-races, &c., &c. The arrest was the consequence of a rumor which had gained ground for a day or two back amon ‘the boys,’ that ‘Charley Miller’ had another name, more appropriate to one of the softer sex. At the chief’s office the secret came out, and Charley stood confessed as Lydia Foster, a girl from twelve miles south of Dunkirk. She stated that she had been three weeks in this unnatural attire, and asserts as a reason for her wayward course, that she is ‘seeking for a man.’ She was taken before a Justice, and eventually given over to the keeper of the Waverly Hotel, to be forwarded to her home.

“Police Matters: Antonette Robinson.” Rochester Evening Express [Rochester, New York] 18 December 1861; p. 2.

Antonette Robinson, alias “Ed.” Hamilton, who figured about the streets yesterday in a soldier’s uniform, was brought up this morning for examination. She had changed her attire, and appeared “like any other (wo)man.” She is 29 years of age, and has traveled in male attire for eight or ten years, acting as hack-driver, bar-tender, tight-rope performer, and finally drummer boy, in the 18th N. Y. Regiment. She adopted the dress, as she alleges, to obtain an honest livelihood. Her parents reside in one of the Eastern counties, and she has an uncle in Clifton. She was fined $10, or three months, and held to bail, which ensures her confinement in the Penitentiary one year.

“Wearing the Breeches.” Buffalo Morning Express [Buffalo, New York] 20 December 1861; p. 3.

A fast young woman, bearing several masculine and feminine aliases, such as Hattie Robinson, Antoniette Robinson, Ed. Hamilton and Charley Miller, was detected the other day at Rochester in attempting to personate the character of a drummer boy for the purpose of enlisting in the 18th Regiment. The Express pretends that this protean female hails from Buffalo; but the Rochester papers are too reckless in such assertions to be credited for an instant. The career of Miss Robinson is briefly related as follows: “She is 29 years of age, and has travelled in male attire for eight or ten years, acting as hack-driver, bar-tender, tight rope performer, and finally drummer-boy in the 18th N. Y. Regiment. She adopted the dress, as she alleges, to obtain an honest livelihood. Her parents reside in one of the eastern counties, and she has an uncle in Clifton.”

“Another Woman in Male Clothing.—A ‘Bould Sojer Boy’ (?)” Rochester Democrat [Rochester, New York]; reprinted in Journal and Courier [Lockport, New York] 24 December 1861; p. 2.

Yesterday afternoon a smart looking lad wearing a military cap and overcoat, applied at the recruiting office of Capt Benjamin, in the Arcade, to be enrolled as a drummer boy. He stated that he was seventeen years of age, and had served as a drummer in the army on the Potomac several months. An officer took him into a private room where a very brief inspection revealed the fact that the pretended boy was a woman! She was handed over to the custody of the police, and accommodated with lod[g]ings in a cell. Apparel more becoming to her sex was supplied her, and she will appear before the magistrate suitably clothed, if not exactly in her right mind. She is the same woman that was arrested at Albion last winter. She tended bar at the Clinton House in that village two weeks, going by the name of Charley Miller. Being detected by officer Foster she was taken before Justice Brarey who discharged her on her promise to leave town.

She says now that she enlisted last spring in the 18th New York volunteers, Col. Jackson, as a drummer, and served in that capacity for two months. She was then transferred to the 46th Pennsylvania volunteers, Col. Knipes, and acted as servant to one of the officers. She was then discharged—whether upon discovery of her sex or not; she did not inform us. She returned home to her mother, who lives in Cayuga county, and to whom she gave the money she had received as wages, but being enamored of the life of a soldier, she determined to enlist again, and came to Rochester for that purpose. In the 18th regiment she was called Edward D. Hamilton, but the name she prefers is Charley Miller. Her real name we do not think proper to mention, as she disclosed it under promise that it should not be published.

We are informed that this woman is more than thirty years, but she gave her age to us as twenty-one. In crinoline she appears to be twenty-five or twenty-six: in pantaloons seventeen or eighteen. A person who professes to have known her twelve or fourteen years ago, says that at that time she was driving a hackney coach for Mr. Benjamin McFarlin. Subsequently she was engaged in the same business in Buffalo. Almost from childhood she has chosen to unsex herself and lead a masquerading life in male garb.

For some two years she traveled with a circus. She was here last summer with a concert of that sort, in the employ of a man who sold whips from a wagon. So long has she followed an adventurous career, passing herself off as a boy, that she scarcely retains any femanine [sic] characteristics. When she is in her favorite attire there is nothing in her general appearance, or in her voice, to indicate that she is other than she seems. A slight peculiarity in her walk is alone likely to betray her.

What disposition will be made of her we cannot say. It is scarcely probable that the magistrate will deem her deserving of any very severe punishment, as no crime or offence is charged against her except her disguise.—Rochester Democrat.

“Arrest of a Female in Soldiers’ Uniform.” Courier [Syracuse, New York]; reprinted in Brooklyn Daily Eagle [Brooklyn, New York] 28 December 1861; p. 1.

A female known in our police court by the name of Hattie Robinson, was arrested in Rochester on Tuesday afternoon, while dressed in soldiers’ clothes. It appears from the Rochester Union that she went into the recruiting office of Capt. benjamin in the Arcade, and wished to enlist as a drummer. Mr. Grant, the auctioneer, happened to be in at the time, and he recognized the would-be recruit as a woman whom he had seen at County fairs selling whips. She was taken to a convenient place and examined, when Mr. Grant’s suspicions were verified. Policeman Sullivan took the female to the police office, where she had an examination on the charge of being disorderly. She was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of ten dollars, and to be confined in the penitentiary for three months, also to give bail for her good behaviour. Accordingly she took a seat in the Penitentiary wagon, and is now under the care of Capt. fullerton. Her right name is Antoinette Robinson, and her parents reside near Clyde. She is about 30 years of age, of fair appearance, but completely lost to all sense of shame and decency. She has led a checkered life, and has often been incarcerated in prison. A year since she tended a saloon at Albion, but her sex was discovered, and she was started out of town. Since then she has been brought before the public at Syracuse and Jordan. She says some six months since she entered the 15th [sic] regiment from this State in the capacity of a drummer boy, but was compelled to leave the service when it was discovered that she was a female. She also claims that she was at the battle of Bull Run, but that is doubtful. She served in the 46th Pennsylvania Regiment as a servant to Colonel Knipes. Her aliases are Charley Miller and Edward D. Hamilton. She can swear, play cards, &c., with a perfect abandon; and declares that she cannot be reformed. She will be kept under proper restraint for three months at least.—Syracuse Courier.