My friend and fellow author, Mark Flotow, periodically sends me accounts relative to my research. He is the author of In Their Letters, In Their Words: Illinois Soldiers Write Home. Visit his website to learn more about him and his research: http://www.markflotow.net/. Most of the accounts Mark sends me have a Springfield, Illinois connection since that is where he is from. His latest submission involved a civilian named Ellen Nolan who was discovered wearing male attire in the city. Mark commented, "Note the fine amount versus being drunk on 'bad whisky.'"
The $7 discrepancy is a whole different topic, but it gave me the idea to discuss the price women paid - both socially and financially - for daring to overstep the bounds of propriety.
