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."
