Mary and Molly Bell of Pulaski County

Home in 1860 Western District, Pulaski, Virginia
Post Office Newbern
possible MRS. Mary M or Mary Melvina Bell (no maiden name)

"VIENNA, Va., November 29, 2012 — They were just teenaged girls from Pulaski County in southwestern Virginia, but their bravado and dedication stood as a marker to many. Mary and Mollie (or Molly) Bell were cousins, living on the family farms and working hard outside, as did everyone, particularly in wartime.
While the whole family had always been Confederate-inclined, at some point the uncle with whom they lived lost his allegiance to the Confederacy and enlisted in a Union regiment.
This appears to have infuriated and inflamed the two girls, who decided they would join the Confederate Army, and they did. They cut their hair fairly short in the manner adopted by most young men of the time, and using cloths to bind their chests and working to “walk like a man” while employing a lower voice to speak, they were able to give the appearance of adolescent boys. (Unfortunately, no photographs remain to show the cousins as themselves or teenage boys.)
Expired Image Removed
Confederate General Jubal Early​
“Bob Morgan” and “Tom Parker” Appear
Mary became known as Tom Parker, and Mollie assumed the identity of Bob Morgan (or Martin). Most of the men who served with them had no reason to question the validity of their gender, and all stated that they fought hard and were “never known to straggle or shirk duty.”
The cousins joined a cavalry unit led by Gen. Jubal Early and served in it for two years, fighting like a man and living like the male soldiers while apparently arousing no suspicion in those they encountered.
As many girls similar serving had done, they told their secret to their captain, who kept it for them until his capture in 1864. It was he who gave the information to Gen. Early."
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-civil-war-two-farm-girls-serve...

"During their time with the troops, Mary was promoted to Sergeant and Mollie to Corporal. This did not matter to Early when he learned their true gender, and they were falsely accused of being “camp followers” or prostitutes and were put in prison.
When they were captured, the Richmond Daily Examiner painted the two brave women in less than flattering terms, but when the Richmond Dispatch got the story, the treatment was extremely positive and the girls were described in better terms. The story read as follows:
“The central [rail] cars, on Friday night, brought down two girls, namely Mary Bell and Mollie Bell, who were dressed in soldier clothes. They claim to be cousins, and state that before the war they lived with their uncle in Southwestern Virginia; but about two years since he left them and went over to the Yankees.
They then attired themselves in male apparel and were admitted into a cavalry company, attached to the Confederate service. A few months after their enlistment they encountered a force of Yankees, were defeated and captured with the rest of the company; but subsequently, General John H. Morgan, with reinforcements, overtook the Yankees who had them in charge, causing such a precipitate retreat that they were compelled to abandon their prisoners.
After three months; service in the cavalry, they joined the Thirty-sixth Virginia Infantry, and have been with it up to the present time. On one occasion, Mollie killed three Yankees while on picket, and on her return to the brigade was promoted for gallantry to corporalcy [sic]. The corporal has missed but one battle – that of Cedar Creek – she having been sent off on duty at the time. Once she was slightly wounded in the arm by a piece of shell.
From the time these girls entered the service up to the day of the fight which took place between Early and [Union General Phil] Sheridan on the 19th [October 1864] instant, the secret of their sex was only known to the captain of the company to which they belonged….”

https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2007/11/mary-and-mollie-bell.html
In the interview with the General, which ensued in consequence of the information imparted to him by said lieutenant, Mollie stated that there were six other females in disguise in the army; but she refused to tell who or where they were.

These girls were known in the army by the names of Tom Parker and Bob Morgan, and were acknowledged by all the soldiers with whom they were associated to be valiant soldiers, having never been known to straggle or shirk duty.

As they appeared in the Chief-of-Police office on Friday night, there was nothing in their appearance to excite suspicion that they were other than what they appeared to be, Confederate soldiers. They are modest in demeanor, and were always known as quiet and orderly members of their command.

Mollie, alias Bob Morgan, did most of the talking and displayed evident marks of education and refinement; Mary, alias Tom Parker, was taciturn and moody, but yet not altogether uninteresting. Mollie says that “Tom” as she called her cousin was never intended to be a soldier; she is too modest and backward. They were both committed to Castle Thunder to await further arrangements for their welfare.

In late November 1864, Mary and Mollie Bell were released from Castle Thunder. No charges would be brought against them. They were no longer enlisted men, and were sent back to their home in Southwest Virginia in the same uniforms they had been arrested in. The Examiner described it as “sending home the petticoat soldiers.”

Yorkville Enquirer
09 Nov 1864, Wed ·Page 1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/339379792/?terms=%22Castle%20Thund...

Mary E Bell
in the 1860 United States Federal Census

View1860 United States Federal Census

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Detail Source
Name Mary E Bell
Age 18
Birth Year abt 1842
Gender Female
Race White
Birth Place Virginia
Home in 1860 District 1, Augusta, Virginia
Post Office Staunton
Dwelling Number 515
Family Number 557
Disability Condition Insane
Household Members (Name) Age
James L Bell 63
Sarah E Bell 40
Mary E Bell 18 <<<<<<<<<<<<?
Sarah F Bell 16 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<?
James F Bell 12
Samuel D Mc Bell 10
William Bell 4

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/34496486:7667?tid...

Mary Bell
in the 1860 United States Federal Census

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Detail Source
Name Mary Bell
Age 14
Birth Year abt 1846
Gender Female
Race White
Birth Place Virginia
Home in 1860 North Subdivision, Augusta, Virginia
Post Office Burkes Mill
Dwelling Number 226
Family Number 231
Attended School Y
Household Members (Name) Age
J Bell
53
Rachael Bell
30
Martha Bell
27
T M Bell
24
S J Bell
22
J A Bell
18
R M Bell
16
Mary Bell 14
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/33931736:7667?tid...

https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000202976505821
Yorkville Enquirer
09 Nov 1864, Wed ·Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/339379792/?match=1&clipping_id=140...

perhaps this is a match for Mary?

https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000019182195571?photo_id=6000000202980005827