With so many men marching off to war, women found themselves in charge of their homes and hearths. Among the unconventional roles they assumed in the absence of their male loved ones included managing farms and hunting for food. In addition to these undertakings which provided for their families, they also formed home guard units in order to protect them. I mentioned a couple of these in my book, Behind the Rifle. One unit existed in Chickasaw County, Mississippi:
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| Raftsmans Journal, April 10, 1861 |
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| Chickasaw County Wikipedia |
