Fearless & Proud Podcast

 The first two episodes of the Fearless & Proud podcast are now available.  They are arranged topically with insights shared by multiple historians, including myself.  Check back as a new episode will be added each week.

Fearless & Proud Podcast

 Last month, I was approached by Fox Business News (no political comments please) about doing a podcast with Gerri Willis and John Toldi about women soldiers of the Civil War. I was honored to do so! So check it out wherever you get podcasts. The trailer is live and then beginning Monday, they will release one episode a week.

 

 

Video: Holly Springs and Frances "Hook" Quinn at Coldwater Station, December 1862

Does This Photograph Show a Woman Soldier?

 Someone shared this interesting video with me showing a photograph of Confederates captured around Fairfax Courhouse, Virginia in June 1863.  The gentleman in the video believes that one of the prisoners is a woman.  I'm assuming the reason is because of the seemingly bulging chest.  

 

 

What do you think? 

 

Lots of other interesting information in this video beyond just the possible woman soldier part.

160th Anniversary of Chickasaw Bayou

Today marks the 160th anniversary of the landing of William T. Sherman's squadron just north of Vicksburg in an early attempt to capture the important river city.  It was a dismal failure for the Federals.  Among Sherman's soldiers was Almeda Hart.  She was disguised as "James Strong" so that she could accompany her husband, Henry, in the 127th Illinois Infantry.  Here is a short video I made showing viewers where Almeda an Henry landed and the area where she was riding as she delivered messages during the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou for David Stuart's brigade of Morgan Smith's division.  You can read more about Almeda and other women soldiers in my book Behind the Rifle:  Women Soldiers in Civil War Mississippi.  Also, if you attend my presentations, I open with a reading of the letter Almeda sent to her mother.

 

J.R.R. Tolkien's Warrior Woman: Éowyn - Part 7 - And They Lived Happily Ever After

In previous articles in this series, I introduced  Éowyn, discussed possible historical and mythological women who may have influenced Tolkien to create her, her background, motivational factors that led her to ride to war disguised as "Dernhelm," and her experiences on the battlefield.  I also provided historical context for her character by illustrating how she relates to women soldiers of the Civil War.

In this final installment, I am going to conclude Éowyn's story along with other women soldiers I have previously discussed.

Soldiers Rest in Alexandria, Virginia

 In a previous post [click here], I shared a part of a letter written by Sgt. William Henry Austin of the 109th New York Infantry.  He knew Rosetta Wakeman from back home and mentioned that he encountered her at Soldiers Rest in Alexandria, Virginia.  What is interesting is that at the time, she was serving as Pvt. Lyons Wakeman in the 153rd New York Infantry and sported an "insipid moustache."  Despite the disguise, Austin nevertheless recognized her.  In this post, I wanted to share images and information of Soldiers Rest where he encountered her prior to the 153rd New York's assignment to the western theater where Wakeman and her regiment participated in the ill-fated Red River Campaign.  Rosetta ultimately would not live to see the end of the war as she succumbed to dysentery in June 1864.

Rosetta Wakeman sans "insipid moustache"

The Paperback Version of My Book Released Earlier

I got my author's copies of the paperback version of my book in the mail today.  It wasn't supposed to be out until next month.  Rather, it will ship next week!  

I'm so glad they kept the cover the same!  

You can order the hardback, paperback, or ebook at the University of Press website by clicking [HERE].  Fake plant not included.

Until next formation.....rest.

Sarah Rosetta Wakeman Wore a Fake Mustache?

 A reader sent me a link to an auction house that sold a letter written by Sgt. William Henry Austin of the 109th New York Infantry.  He was a childhood friend of Rosetta Wakeman and was a bit surprised to see her in the uniform of a soldier when her regiment, the 153rd New York Infantry, was passing through Alexandria, Virginia.  Austin says her unit was bound for Texas, but they ended up in Louisiana and participated in the ill-fated Red River Campaign.  What I found especially intriguing about Austin's letter is the fact that he observed that she sported "an insipid moustache, highly colored." 

Finding Jennie Jenkins: Minnesota's Woman Soldier Who Wasn't

 The amazing account of Pvt. Jennie Jenkins has been documented previously in secondary sources.  Apparently, she enlisted openly as a woman in the Butternut Valley Guards.  This was in 1862, and I began to wonder if this is the first instance of a female serving under her true identity as a documented soldier in the ranks in our country's history.

This article will detail my adventure in researching Jennie Jenkins, which will serve as another installment in my Finding series.  Other women soldiers I have previously included in the series include Elizabeth Quinn (Frances Hook), "William Bradley," and Sophronia Hunt Smith.