The Images of Loreta Janeta Velazquez

Cuban-born Loreta Janeta Valezquez is only one of two women soldiers known to have published her memoirs.  Sarah Emma Edmonds was the other.  The Woman in Battle, Velazquez's narrative, appeared originally  in 1876 and details daring exploits of the lady lieutenant and double agent.   Some of her adventures were embellished.  Jubal Early condemned her as a liar.  James Longstreet, however, seemed to corroborate some of story at least in a letter he wrote in 1888 to a Miss Park in Massachusetts where he says that he met Valezquez in New Orleans after the war.  Even though he "...had not known of her in the ranks..." he was able to "...attest of points she gave for identification."  (Richard Hall, Women on the Civil War Battlefront, p. 311)  Furthermore, historians have been able to confirm at least part of her exploits through newspaper articles and documents in the national archives.  Edit to add:  William C. "Jack" Davis wrote a book about her called Inventing Loreta Velazquez (2016) in which he concluded that she was a hoaxer.  I found flaws in his research, and you can read my critical review of his book by clicking [HERE].