My book: "Behind the Rifle: Women Soldiers in Civil War Mississippi"

My book is now available for pre-order!  Click on a link below:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

 
"The old argument that there is nothing new to write about the Civil War is obviously wrong, as illustrated by Shelby Harriel’s Behind the Rifle: Women Soldiers in Civil War Mississippi. Full of new research and insightful analysis, Behind the Rifle provides a wonderful overview of the important role of fighting women in Mississippi’s Civil War history." (Timothy B. Smith, author of Mississippi in the Civil War: The Homefront; Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation; Shiloh: Conquer or Perish; Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg; The Real Horse Soldiers: Benjamin Grierson’s Epic 1863 Civil War Raid Through Mississippi, and others) 

"Harriel offers fresh evidence and cogent insight into the phenomenon of women soldiers fighting and dying in the American Civil War. Her exhaustive research brings to light stories previously undocumented and is presented in an engaging narrative that crucially places these women in their social and historical context. Behind the Rifle is a welcome addition to both Civil War and women’s history. I couldn’t be more pleased to recommend it." (DeAnne Blanton, coauthor of They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the American Civil War)

 
Slated to be released by the University Press of Mississippi March 15th, 2019, my book, Behind the Rifle:  Women Soldiers in Civil War Mississippi, is a ground-breaking study that discusses women soldiers with a connection to Mississippi:  either those who hailed from the Magnolia State or those from elsewhere who fought in Mississippi battles during the Civil War.

The meaning of the title is twofold.  Literally, it refers to women soldiers holding and aiming their rifles.  Figuratively, it refers to them hiding their true identities "behind the rifle" in the guise of male soldiers. 

My book goes beyond examining women soldiers though.  It also serves as a brief survey of military action in the state.  Additionally, this publication will reach a wider audience beyond individuals specifically interested in Mississippi history because it includes new information regarding women soldiers who were killed or wounded in such battles as Shiloh, Allatoona, Peach Tree Creek, Antietam, 2nd Fort Donelson (Dover), Cloyd's Mountain/New River Bridge, and Gettysburg.  A reader will also find new documentation regarding female fighters held as prisoners of war in such prisons as Andersonville and Alton.

The culmination of over ten years of research, my book provides new details of formerly recorded female fighters, debunks some cases, and introduces previously undocumented ones.  

Specifically, for those who know the stories of many of these women soldiers, this is what you are going to get:

• The most in-depth discussion of Florena Budwin ever published

• The most in-depth discussion of women at Andersonville, including a recent discovery of a female soldier buried there.  New research also points towards the possibility that  there may have been other women soldiers held as prisoners at Andersonville.

• The most complete profiles of Frances Hook and Mary Ann Clark ever published.

• New information about  Ella Reno, Sarah Bradbury, "Charles Johehons" (which ended up being a horrible misspelling), "William Bradley," Marian McKenzie, Fannie Lee, Charlotte Hope, Ellen Levasay, Fanny Wilson, Alfred J. Luther, Lizzie Compton, and "Soldier Tom" of the 45th Illinois Infantry. What I present concerning Mary Ellen Wise is especially intriguing and provocative.

• While familiar characters make appearances, these aren't the same stories rehashed from other books, articles, blogs, or website.  As a matter of fact, there are accounts of over twenty previously undocumented women soldiers.                                         

• Learn about the first black woman in our nation's history to serve as a documented soldier in the ranks. (Hint: it was not Cathay Williams)

• Even though there are accounts of women following their husbands to war, there have never been any pictures published of the couples.....until now.  (However, they are not in the same photograph and both are in civilian attire.  There is supposedly a photograph of them together with him in uniform and her in a dress, but nobody seems to know where it is now.)  Also included are excerpts from the letter she wrote home to her mother on the eve of battle.

Sources used include period and contemporary books, Civil War era newspapers, periodicals, male soldiers' letters and diaries, a letter from a previously undocumented woman soldier, provost documents, pension records, service records, hospital records, court martial records, genealogy records, prisoner of war records, and burial registers, among others.  

Also included are two maps, photographs of some of the women, and pictures showing locations significant to the stories of the female soldiers in my book.

So in March 2019, come find out who these hidden soldiers behind the rifle were, where they fought in Mississippi and elsewhere, and the horrors they experienced.    

Behind the Rifle:  Women Soldiers in Civil War Mississippi by Shelby Harriel