Thomas Wright's Diary

Women of the War

It is hard to say, just how many women, disguised themselves as men and marched off to war. Both Armies forbade the enlistment of women. Some think the number is close to 400. I think this may have been higher.

Think about it, these ladies had to change the way they dressed acted, even live under the same conditions as men. Just the routine of changing clothes or going to the latrine could out these ladies.

Changing names to more masculine sounding names. Some weren't found out till wounded or killed in action. Others within days of enlistment.

One of the best documented cases of women serving is, Sarah Edmonds she was Union Soldier and Nurse. Her alias was Frank Thompson.

If you are wondering how they got by a physical exam, most they did was check to see how many teeth you had, that was about it, if they did that.
The Confederate Army had no minimum age, the Union was 18 for most states, although the need for men, they took teenagers younger ones that hadn't even had a voice change. So a lady dressed in several layers and lose clothing and bound breasts could get by possibly with a little dirt on the face and short hair. As long as you could hold and fire a musket you were fine.

Most stayed what the men called aloof, kept to themselves. After being found out, so keeping to themselves helped keep it a secrete. Some enlisted with a brother or husband, which gave them more help in keeping the secrete. Someone to stand guard while at the latrine or a quick clean up at the stream or river.

What could of motivated them to go off to war?
Like most men these ladies when asked, said they wanted to fight. Be part of it for the adventure patriotism for their respective cause. To be able to leave home earn money, just like most of the young men that did same thing.

From some of the surviving personal writings, they wanted to escape from home, unable to marry or they felt trapped a burden on the families financially. Most came from poor farming families, if you think it about it most were used to hard work, maybe even knew how to fire a rifle.
Probably even wore men's clothes to work in. So they even fit the profile of the young men that enlisted.

Even the Female nurses were close to battle often running into it to help a wounded soldier. Makes you wonder what the difference was between that and carrying a musket. Well the musket does when used produce death or wounds, could be it was thought the female couldn't perform such dealings.

Another point that most historians don't look at in how some were never found out. Could it be her fellow soldiers didn't care, she done what was needed killed done the work of clearing trees for firewood, digging fortifications, foraging for food.
Maybe they figured she would be better than no one at all, even if they replaced her she still might be better than the replacement. Trust runs deep in combat.

                                   Jennie Hodgers
                                AKA Albert Cashier

She enlisted in Illinois, fought the entire war without being found out. Ended up living the rest of her life as a man for another fifty years. She got her pension ended up living in the Sailors and Soldiers home. The staff kept it secrete after discovering she was a woman.

Most cases if the lady was found out she was just sent home no major uproar about it. Although some did spend time in prison. I am not certain this one is true, but the story is one female of course acting as man, was pulling guard duty watching over three women that were found out.
She said one was a Major in the Union Army, she had gone to battle with her men and found out, and promptly jailed. Rather interesting one disguised lady watching three women that were found out.
Like I said not sure if that story is true, just thought I would add it, fact can be stranger than fiction.
  

                       Loreta Janeta Velazquez
                                       AKA
                             Harry T. Buford

Ok so this is another that could be truth or half truth. She was born in Cuba moved to New Orleans, to live with her aunt. She eloped with a officer in the Texas Army. When Texas seceded he joined the Confederate Army, she wanted to leave with him. He said no, she had a uniform made disguised herself left for Arkansas. Taking the name of Harry T. Buford, Lieutenant.

She raised a Regiment of volunteers, locating her husband in Florida she brought the Regiment to him. He soon died after. She headed north acting as an independent soldier, she managed to join a regiment and fight at first Manassa and the battle of Balls Bluff.

Later she put a dress on and acted as a spy in Washington, D.C.  She was made a member of the Detective Corp. Again later she put a uniform back on moved to Tennessee, rejoining the Regiment she formed. Fought with them at the Battle of Shiloh. While on burial detail she was wounded a found out.

She wrote a book called, The Woman in Battle: A narrative of the Exploits, Adventures, and Travels of Madame Loreta Janeta Velazquez, other wise known as Lieutenant Harry T. Buford.

Some of the incidents in the book have been verified. So like the other story, the truth of the story isn't known.

              Top picture is Loreta Velazquez
              Bottom picture Albert Cashier aka
                     Jennie Hodgers.

Well thanks for your time, the next chapters back to Thomas, hope all enjoyed the history lesson. Comment vote if you please.