Mollie Bean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mollie Bean
Other name(s)	Melvin Bean
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Unit	47th North Carolina Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Mollie Bean was a woman from North Carolina who played a unique role in the American Civil War. She pretended to be a man and joined the 47th North Carolina Infantry. This unit was part of the Confederate States Army.

Mollie Bean's Service in the Civil War

Mollie Bean used the name Melvin Bean while serving in the army. She was captured by Union soldiers on February 17, 1865. This happened near Richmond, Virginia.

When Union forces questioned her, Mollie said she had been a soldier for two years. She also mentioned being wounded twice during her service. However, these injuries did not reveal that she was a woman. The newspapers at the time described her as a "suspicious character." This meant they thought she might be involved in secret activities.

Mollie Bean was held at Castle Thunder, a prison in Richmond. Another interesting fact is that her captain was reportedly John Thorp.

Newspaper reports from February 20, 1865, suggested that other soldiers in her company might have known she was a woman. However, historian Elizabeth D. Leonard believes this was probably not true. It was very unusual for women to serve in the army during the Civil War. Many women who did so tried very hard to keep their true identity a secret.