Thursday, November 19, 2015

Sergeant Jennie Gregg

According to her discharge document (1), Jennie Gregg was 4'10" with a dark complexion, black eyes, and auburn hair.  She enlisted in the 128th Ohio Infantry, Company K, on August 22nd, 1864, and was discharged at Johnson's Island on June 23rd, 1865, due to expiration of service. Her antebellum profession was listed as "lady." During the war, however, she apparently was a sergeant.  Supposedly, there is an accompanying Letter of Recognition and Recommendation also noting her rank as sergeant but lists her unit as company K, 82nd Ohio Infantry.(2)

Monday, November 9, 2015

The Men Were Not to Be Outdone: Male Soldiers Dressing as Women

While women disguised themselves as men in order to enter the service, there were some men who dressed as women to get out of it....precursors to Corporal Max Klinger, if you will.