Soldier to spy, 1861
A number of biological women entered the service during the Civil War—and even more tried to. Canny recruiters often had recruits physically examined, but, especially at the beginning of the War, enthusiastic female-bodied volunteers managed to enter the army. Some were discovered; some weren’t.
John Thompson was one soldier discovered to be biologically female, having joined Company D, 1st Kentucky Infantry in Hamilton County, Ohio, on 28 May 1861 as a private at age 18. The discovery was made on 22 July at Ravenswood, Virginia (now West Virginia), near enough to Gallipolis, Ohio, to have Thompson jailed there.
A female was last week. Gallipolis Journal [Gallipolis, Ohio] 1 August 1861; p. 2.
A female was last week discovered in the First Kentucky Regiment dressed in male attire. She enlisted at Camp Clay under the name of John Thompson, and was about as efficient a “soger boy” as could be found in the Regiment. She is at present confined in our jail by order of Col. Guthrie, but for what reason we have not learned. We are told her appearance is rather masculine, and “trowserloons” become her remarkably well. She is not the only woman in this community that wears britches. Her age is about 20 years. If she wishes to serve her country in the capacity of a soldier, we say turn her loose—”or any other man.”
(That women in the community wear pants is likely a sexist joke.)
Thompson wasn’t exactly “turned loose,” but was discharged on 25 July 1861 and charged with being a spy. The information was revealed to citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio, in three pieces by two correspondents.
[Transcriber’s notes: I’ve trimmed out parts of the first piece which are on other subjects. The “Knights of the Golden Circle” was an organization devoted to creating a nation encompassing Mexico, the Southern states of the U. S., Central America, Caribbean islands, and parts of South America; here, slavery would be legal.]
“Another Unexpected Order and March—The Story About Col. Guthrie Being Poisoned—The Discovery of a Female Spy—A Woman a Knight of the Golden Circle,” by Ivanhoe. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune [Cincinnati, Ohio] 29 July 1861; p. 2.
Racine, O., July 25, 1861.
…
Col. Guthrie was a little unwell on Tuesday afternoon, and some foolish person started the report that he had been poisoned while dining out. He was out again yesterday, and today is riding his horse about as well as ever.
On Sunday last we discovered a female soldier in our camp—she enlisted in Company D, on the 10th of May last, and has been doing soldier duty ever since. On all the long marches we have made, she has carried her musket and knapsack the whole time, and has never complained or lagged behind. It is astonishing to every one how she ever stood up under it.
On being closely questioned, she confessed that she was a spy, and in constant communication with the rebels—that she is a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle, and through that order, members of which she finds every where, she has found the means of forwarding her letters to the rebels. She says she knew full well that the penalty for being a spy was death, and that she is ready whenever they wish to shoot her. She has been kept a prisoner ever since, and will be forwarded to Columbus for safe keeping.
The health of our troops continues excellent. We have but two or three in the hospital.
We are again aboard of the Eunice, and are just leaving, so I must close.
In haste, yours, “IVANHOE.”
“More About the Female Spy—How She Looks, and What She Intended to Do,” by V. G. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune [Cincinnati, Ohio] 29 July 1861; p. 2.
Racine, O., July 24th.
The First Kentucky Regiment arrested a female spy last Monday. She says she is from Georgia. She came to Cincinnati and enlisted in the First Kentucky Regiment, thinking she would get in Gen. McClellan’s army. She was caught writing letters containing our movements for the enemy. I cannot obtain either her true or assumed name. She has endured all the hardships of camp life as bravely as any of the “boys,”—making at one time a forced march over a rough, hilly country of 60 miles with only two scant meals. She is about five feet seven inches high, and apparently well proportioned, with features rather effeminate since you know her to be a woman. Before she was pointed out to me, I had noticed her sitting in her chair with feet on as near a level with the head as possible, just like any other American man, and really I thought she looked as manly as most boys at eighteen.—It is curious how we change our opinions to suit the circumstances. She will not divulge a thing. The boys have had a goodly lot of sport plaguing her, or at least trying since she was arrested. I saw her on the transport steamer Eunice, that was taking her to Gallipolis, en route for Columbus, where she will without doubt, quit “sogering.”
“One-half of the First Kentucky Regiment,” by V. G. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune [Cincinnati, Ohio] 29 July 1861; p. 2.
Racine, O., July 25th.
One-half of the First Kentucky Regiment marched from Ravenswood to this place last night. They embarked on the S. B. Eunice this morning for the Kanawha. The report that 1,500 men were at Ravenswood was false. Six of Col. Guthrie’s men deserted him yesterday. On Sunday these men got on a spree, causing much trouble to the officers, for which they were severely punished. There is a reward offered for their arrest.
The spy spoken of in yesterday’s letter, poisoned one of the soldiers who discovered her sex. It did not injure him seriously.—A confident [sic] of hers, by the name of Williams has been arrested and will probably give some information of her.
Was Colonel Guthrie the presumed victim of Thompson’s presumed effort at poisoning?
Thompson’s identity as a spy may have been tenuous, as hinted by Albert D. Richardson, who describes how Thompson was discovered.
Albert D. Richardson. The Secret Service, the Field, the Dungeon, and the Escape (Hartford, Connecticut: American Publishing Company, 1865); p. 175. via HathiTrust.org
A private who had served in the First Kentucky Infantry for three months, proved to be of the wrong sex. She performed camp duties with great fortitude, and never fell out of the ranks during the severest marches. She was small in stature, and kept her coat buttoned to her chin. She first excited suspicion by her feminine method of putting on her stockings; and when handed over to the surgeon proved to be a woman, about twenty years old. She was discharged from the regiment, but sent to Columbus upon suspicion, excited by some of her remarks, that she was a spy of the Rebels.
”Some of her remarks” is certainly a mild way of saying “constant communication with the rebels,” “Knight of the Golden Circle,” and “You’re free to shoot me as a spy.” Thompson may not have been executed, appearing on the muster roll for 31 August 1861 (with a note that appears to read “Our Sutler”; was that Thompson’s fate?). (See Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Kentucky. M397 roll 159.)
”It is curious how we change our opinions to suit the circumstances,” Ivanhoe points out, noting that Thompson appeared male when thought to be male and had “features rather effeminate since you know her to be a woman.” It’s an interesting observation—and certainly seems to have held true for those looking at female-bodied individuals living as men.
[In my research, I used DeAnne Blanton and Lauren M. Cook. They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the American Civil War. (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 2002)]
previous: Soldier to sutler, 1861
next: Sophia Cryder, soldier, 1861
To “Nineteenth-Century American Children & What They Read”
Some of the children | Some of their books | Some of their magazines
Some works for adults, 1800-1872