The Town She Left Behind, Part 2

In my last post, I provided a glimpse of La Moille, Illinois, the town woman soldier Frances Hook left behind when she enlisted as a soldier.  Click [HERE] for the post.  In this article....which is more like part 1.5 instead of part 2....I discuss the means by which she left her small town, bound for Chicago.

The Town She Left Behind - Frances Hook's La Moille, Illinois

Mark and I stopped by woman soldier Frances Hook's hometown yesterday.  Located in Bureau County in northern  Illinois, La Moille was settled in the 1830's and named for the Lamoille River Valley in Vermont.  Yes, Lamoille is another spelling.  I have also seen it listed as LaMoille with no space.  As for the pronunciation - well, I discovered I had been saying it "wrong" the whole time.  Down here along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the French Canadian influences can be readily seen and heard in the names of our towns and surnames of the people.  So I naturally wanted to pronounce La Moille like what I was used to.  Nuh uh.  It's la - MOIL, as in the last part rhymes with oil like you put in your vehicle.  And now it's going to be difficult to change the way I say it because I had been pronouncing it a certain way for so long.  Plus, we  Southerners have problems saying "oil."  Just ask us.

Spanish Fort: Two Women Soldiers Experience One of the Last Engagements of the War

In the spring of 1865, the Confederacy was in its final death throes.  Lee was being run into the ground by Grant in the east.  And then in the west, the Federals had turned their attention to capturing Mobile, which was one of the best fortified cities in the Confederacy.  Admiral David Farragut damned the torpedoes and, on August 5th, 1864, made a run past Forts Gaines and Morgan which guarded the the entrance to Mobile Bay.   This is ironic because Farragut spent his childhood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, about 30 miles from Mobile.  He was born in Tennessee but moved with his family to the Gautier area.  You can pronounce it as either GO-shay or GO-chay.  Both will work.  But some sources say it wasn't Gautier anyway but Pascagoula.  My research points towards Gautier.  There is a Farragut Lake north of Gautier, and there are still descendants of the admiral's in the area.  Matter of fact, I have played tennis with/against one.

Making a Break in Milledgeville: Women Using the Military to Escape the Law

Motivational factors that drove women into the ranks varied.  For some, the army served as a refuge from oppressive situations at home, which had turned into a virtual prison for them.  Some women, however, joined the ranks in order to escape a literal confinement after finding themselves behind bars as a result of poor life choices.  Such is the case of at least two women who were serving time in the state penitentiary in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Manuscript Announcement

This is my 100th post to my blog, and I thought it would be appropriate to share news regarding my manuscript.  You probably didn't even know there was a manuscript.  Well, surprise!  I submitted it to a university press at the end of August after diligently working on it for the past two years.  The assistant to the director at the press told me they would get back with me within ten to twelve weeks.  After enduring the agony of waiting, I received encouraging news from an acquisition editor earlier this week,  

"We had the opportunity to discuss your project at our last acquisitions meeting, and I am happy to say everyone was quite interested and agrees it would be a good fit for us."

Yay!  That is definitely promising.  But it's really just the beginning.  So what's next?  The editor is going to submit my manuscript to peer reviewers.  When I sent off my original version back in August, I included the names of five individuals who would be willing to review my work.  (Yes, I asked them first.)  So I'm not sure if the chosen reviewers will come from my list or will be individuals that the press selects from possible contacts they already have.  Or perhaps both.  Regardless, these individuals will compose and submit a report to the press.  I should know something by the new year depending on how busy the holidays get for everybody.  These reviewers will determine whether the work should be published and provide suggested edits.  

Hopefully, I will have good news to report.  So keep checking back.

  Until next formation...rest.

Are These Women Soldiers? Part 3!

I shared some images before of soldiers that may have been women.  Click [HERE] and [HERE] for for the posts.   Here are some more.  What do you think?  Even if they're actually men (or young boys), their feminine appearance makes it easy to see how a woman soldier could blend in.

Laundresses: Warriors of the Washboard

In my last blog post, click [HERE], I talked about orderlies or servants, in which capacity some women served while disguised as men.  Others, however, provided support services while in their true feminine identities.  These women were employed by the military as nurses, cooks, and laundresses. This article will focus on laundresses, also called washerwomen.

Serving Their Country: Women Soldiers As Orderlies

During my research, I have increasingly noticed more and more women soldiers who served as orderlies on both sides.  Acting in such capacity means that they would have been tasked with such chores as making coffee for the officers, caring for their uniforms and horses, helping with their meals, and other similar responsibilities.  In short, they were servants.  Because orderlies were considered noncombatants, they would have remained in the rear with the wagons and out of the direct line of fire.  The post was not devoid of risk, however.  Orderlies would have been exposed to overshot artillery rounds during battles and diseases.  And, in some instances, may have risked life an limb upon the battlefield.  There is evidence of this at Spanish Fort in March 1865.  Confederate Brigadier General Randall Gibson wrote in his original after action report, "all Negro servants of the officers participated in the defense of the works - one or two of them were wounded."

Colors of Erin: The Flag of Chicago's Irish Legion

Recently, my friend, Tom, treated Mark and me to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Illinois Military Museum in Springfield.  We were joined by another friend, Chris, who had already seen all the cool things we were about to.  

Jennie Hodgers-After She Came Marching Home

After returning home to Illinois upon the conclusion of three years' service with the 95th Illinois Infantry, Jennie Hodgers relocated to four different towns before finally settling in Saunemin in 1869.  With her secret still intact, she maintained her male disguise and continued to take advantage of opportunities denied to women.  She voted in elections when it was still illegal for women to do so and worked at a variety of jobs including farmhand, day laborer, handyman, child sitter, janitor, property caretaker, and town lamplighter.  The ex-soldier was not only popular among her male comrades with whom she fought, but she was also respected and highly regarded by civilians she encountered during her post-war life.  One of the families for whom she worked, the Chesbros, even bought her a house, which still stands today and is open to tourists.   You can read a post about the house by clicking [HERE].

Hannah Snell-Royal Marine

This is not Civil War related, but I wanted to share her brief story and a neat video to go with it.  Hannah

Snell was an English woman who disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Royal Marines in the mid-1700's in order to search for a wayward husband who had abandoned her while she was pregnant with their child.  Following the death of the the little girl died at a year old, Snell took to the seas as "James Gray."  After fighting in India, during which she was wounded, she and her fellow marines sailed back to England where she revealed her secret.  Her comrades urged her to seek a pension, which she did.  Hannah was honorably discharged, and after the Royal Hospital of Chelsea officially recognized her service, began to receive a pension in 1750.

Babes on the Bluff: Women Soldiers at Natchez, Mississippi

Sorry for the title, but I couldn't resist.

Previously, I wrote about the life of William Johnson, the Barber of Natchez, who was a free black man and slaveowner.  Click (HERE) for the post.  This was part 1 of an article detailing forgotten or little known aspects of Natchez history.  Part 2 deals with women soldiers and their connection to the Bluff City.

They Fought in World War I, Too!

With  yesterday marking the centennial anniversary of the U.S. entering the war, I thought I would share a few accounts of women soldiers who participated.....or tried, such as in this first case.

Book: "Death of an Assassin" by Ann Marie Ackermann

I am excited to share my friend Ann Marie Ackermann's book with y'all. Though it does not involve women soldiers, the topic is very interesting! Ms. Ackermann has uncovered an account of a German assassin who died defending Robert E. Lee during the Mexican War.  After committing a murder, he fled to the United States where he enlisted in a Pennsylvania volunteer unit comprised of Germans.  Upon the outbreak of war, the unit was sent to Mexico where it helped defend Lee's battery at the Battle of Vera Cruz.  Among those killed was the assassin.  Afterwards, Lee wrote a letter praising his heroism.

Death of an Assassin: The True Story of the German Murderer Who Died Defending Robert E. Lee

will be released in September by Kent State University Press, but you can pre-order now through Amazon, click (HERE) or Barnes and Noble, click (HERE).  I hope you will check it out!  She has researched this interesting topic extensively, and I am sure has a good story to tell.

I was honored to compose a guest blog post for Ann Marie about the trials of researching women soldiers, which you can read by clicking (HERE).

Until next formation...rest.

Women Soldiers of the Atlanta Campaign

Click (HERE) for a virtual tour of the Atlanta Campaign locations connected with women soldiers.  And then scroll down to see other pictures I posted of other areas in Tennessee and Georgia that are significant to their history.

 And if you missed out on a similar album I posted to my page last year dealing with women soldiers of the Red River Campaign, click (HERE) for those.

I post photos to my accompanying woman soldier Facebook page because Blogger is not conducive for such.  Therefore, if you enjoy my research, you may want to check out and "like" my Facebook page so you won't miss out.

Until next formation...rest.

The Jackson, Mississippi Arsenal Explosion

Recently, I came across Raina's Facebook page and found her information interesting.  She is writing a book on women working in arsenals, some of whom perished in explosions at various sites.  The working title is In the Midst of Youth and Beauty:  Women in Civil War Arsenals.  You can visit her Facebook page by clicking (HERE) and blog (HERE).  In reading some of her material, I learned that there was an explosion at the arsenal in Jackson, Mississippi which I wasn't aware of.  Because I also enjoy learning about and sharing my own state's history, I asked her to write an article about this event, which she graciously did.  It appears below.   Thanks, Raina!  Following her article, I include information about women soldiers who worked in arsenals....or attempted to.

My Talk for the Shieldsboro Rifles SCV Camp

"I don't need to test the amp," I said.  "It has always worked fine," I said.  So as I prepared for the first talk of the year, I didn't drag it out and hook it up to ensure it was in good order like the rest of my equipment. 

Aiming to Do Her Part-Mercy Street's Woman Soldier

A new character made an appearance on the latest episode of Mercy Street, a soldier named Private Ames who came in with a sick comrade.  The youngster seemed extra protective and concerned.  As events began to unfold, we learned that Private Ames was a woman soldier disguised as a male.  What gave her away?  The French illustrator said she knew because, as she put it, her adeptness at anatomical drawings allowed her to pick up on the woman soldier's bodily nuances.  As for everybody else.....well, she kind of betrayed herself  with the extreme hand holding and the kissing, which would have NEVER happened in public!!  The real women soldiers were discovered after becoming a casualty, or falling ill, or putting their stockings on in a feminine way, wringing out a dishrag in a feminine manner, sneezing like a girl, wearing clothes that were too big, instinctively trying to catch apples with nonexistent aprons, "giving a woman's squeal," trying to don trousers over the head.  But they were never detected while smooching on a man.  While many women soldiers enlisted to be with a husband or sweetheart, they kept their emotions in check because they were terrified of being discovered, and that was one sure fire way of being outed. Sarah Emma Edmonds, alias "Franklin Thompson" of the 2nd Michigan Infantry, offered perhaps the best illustration of this fear when she wrote that she would rather have been shot dead than to have been discovered and sent away from her regiment like a criminal (Edmondson file, RG 15, National Archives).

From Slave to Slaveholder: Mississippi's William Johnson

Natchez is an old city.  French colonists founded it in 1716 high on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. 

Vicksburg: POW Exchange Point

During the summer of 1862, the Dix-Hill Cartel created a system regulating prisoner exchanges.  This included enlisted men (and women), officers, civilians, and civilians employed by the military, such as teamsters and sutlers. You can read the details of the agreement by clicking (HERE).  One element of this system was establishing sites that would serve as exchange points.  City Point was chosen for the east and Vicksburg for the west.

At least one woman was exchanged at Vicksburg under this cartel.  Mary Ann Clark was captured in Kentucky in late 1862.  The unit she was with and the battle where she was taken vary.  Most accounts claim it was Richmond (KY). But I have also seen it listed as Perryville.  And then another source says she was captured by a Federal detachment, which indicates she was serving picket, out on a patrol, or foraging, if this had indeed been the situation when she was taken.

The KGC in Villisca, Iowa and Facts About the Free State of Jones

The Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) was a secret society that sought to extend slave-holding territory through annexation.  Click (HERE) to read an article I wrote last year about a woman soldier who claimed to be a member of the organization.

Are These Women Soldiers? Part 2!

Last year, I posted some images from the Library of Congress that I thought were interesting.  Click (HERE) to see it.

Mr. Frank Vattelana sent me the following photographs and gave me permission to share them.  The inscriptions are his labels.   What do you think?  Female soldiers?

II Corps, 2nd Division, AOP

114th New York

Benton Barracks, St. Louis

I'll post another batch another time.

Until next formation....rest.