Almost Christmas and we are planning for a Christmas dinner.
Very cold. The rebels are testing their big guns on the opposite shore
of the river and fairly shake the ground we stand on. We can see the shells as
they leave the guns until they explode, affording quite a pastime for us
watching their war machines. Militia in sight drilling over in Richmond. A
woman found among us — a prisoner of war. Some one who knew the secret informed
Lieutenant Bossieux and he immediately had her taken outside, when she told him
the whole story — how she had “followed her lawyer a soldiering” in disguise,
and being of a romantic turn, enjoyed it hugely until the funny part was done
away with and Madame Collier, from East Tennessee, found herself in durance
vile; nothing to do but make the best of it and conceal her sex if possible,
hoping for a release, which, however, did not come in the shape she wished. The
lieutenant has sent her over to Richmond to be cared for and she is to be sent
north by the first flag of truce boat. She tells of another female being among
us, but as yet she has not been found out.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
20-1
