Katie Hanson - Another One Bites the Dust

In 1879, the story of Katie (or Kate) Hanson swept across the country.  She had disappeared twenty-two years prior, and newspapers reported that the mystery had finally been solved.  The romantic tale began in Pennsylvania when the eighteen-year-old fell in love with a man named Johnson.  The couple relished each other's company and specifically loved sharing adventures hunting and fishing in the woods.  But that came to an end when Hanson's father commanded her to desist in associating with the young man, whom he deemed "worthless."  Katie could not reconcile her feelings for Johnson and her father's lack of approval.  To her, the only option was to dissolve the relationship, which she chose to accomplish by running away in male disguise..  A search ensued, but after a couple of years, Katie's parents gave her up for dead.  According to them, she must have either been shot and killed in a hunting accident or became lost in the woods and perished.

Charlotte Hope: Facts and Fiction

The story of Charlotte Hope as reported is heart breaking.  She first enters the historical record when she assisted the 1st Virginia Cavalry with reconnaissance about the area surrounding her residence.  While helping guide the troopers, she met and fell in love with Billy Wilds.  However, the budding romance came to a tragic end when the young lieutenant was killed during a raid.  The distraught Charlotte sought to avenge his death by sending 21 Yankees into eternity, one for each year of her beloved's life.  In order to accomplish this gory goal, Charlotte Hope assumed the alias, "Charlie Hopper," and joined the regiment. It is reported that the captain, Charles Irving, was aware of her true identity as well as her mission, and looked after her.  Despite his attempts to protect the young girl, however, Hope ultimately suffered the same fate as her love when she, too, was killed.