Are These Women Soldiers? Part 4!

For the previous parts of this series, click [HERE].

What about these?

They are courtesy Mr. Frank Vattelena.

Signal Tower at Point of Rocks
Library of Congress photo

Individual on the left

I think this individual is a guy with thick hair.

What about the individual with hands crossed in the middle of the photo below?  Woman or young boy?

Sailors of the USS Choctaw

Unfortunately, we'll likely never know for sure.  But it's still a fun mental exercise.  What do you think?

Until next formation.....rest.

My Article in Gettysburg Magazine

I am pleased to announce that I have an article in the recent issue of Gettysburg Magazine, issue #62, January 2020. This magazine is a peer-reviewed periodical published bi-annually by the University of Nebraska Press. My piece deals with two female casualties of Pickett's charge. You will already find parts of it scattered in my book and in a previous blog post, but this article has all the details and most recent research – complete with footnotes — in one comprehensive piece.
Click [HERE] to order a copy.

J.R.R. Tolkien's Warrior Woman: Éowyn - Part 1 - Introduction

I first met Éowyn after wandering into Middle-earth in the early 90's when I was in high school.  Enthralled, I consumed J.R.R Tolkien's fantasy masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings.  In its most basic form, the work is a tale of good and evil.  But as a reader journeys through its three volumes — The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King — complex layers emerge as characters confront not only the darkness that is trying to "rule them all" through the one ring, but also the demons within themselves.  Indeed, we struggle alongside  Men, Elves, Dwarves, and others as they cope with fear, greed, weakness, temptation, tragedy, pride, despair, sorrow, betrayal, grief, and dysfunctional familial dynamics as they attempt to make the right decision amidst chaotic and stressful situations.  We agonize and weep when they fail, celebrate when they triumph, and rejoice when hope is restored.  Their strength and perseverance inspire us.

Thus it was regarding Éowyn. And what is ironic is that she captured my attention before I discovered women soldiers of the Civil War.  Indeed, my interest in these two topics developed mutually exclusive of each other at different times.  But in this multi-part article, I am going to merge them by illustrating how the characteristics, motivations, and experiences of women soldiers of the Civil War are mirrored by those of Éowyn.  I am also going to explain how Professor Tolkien molded and shaped Éowyn's character into the woman who appears in the books today.  Readers will undoubtedly find the changes interesting.