Women were there...

The Civil War brought enormous hardship and tragedy to America's female population. Yet, it also provided women of all races and social classes with unprecedented opportunities to participate in civic, economic, and military activities that had previously been closed to them. Although officially banned from serving in combat by both the Union and Confederate governments, women played a vital role in their side's war efforts.
 During the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history, some risked their lives as spies, scouts, and saboteurs, and in some instances, even disguised themselves as men to challenge their nation's foes directly on the battlefield.



Women from the state of Georgia provide a stark reminder of the Confederate perspectives on the war. Among those included are Sarah Thompson, the Union spy and nurse who brought down the famous raider John Hunt Morgan; Elizabeth Van Lew, the Union spy who was instrumental in the success of the largest prisonbreak of the Civil War; Sarah Malinda Blalock, who fought for the Confederacy as a soldier and then for the Union as a guerrilla raider; Dr. Mary Walker, a doctor for the Union and the only woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War; and Jennie Hodgers, who had the longest length of service for any woman soldier, was the only woman to receive a soldier’s pension and the first woman to vote in Illinois.


Others produced and donated desperately needed supplies for the troops, or cared for ill and wounded soldiers. Those at home kept farms and businesses running while their male relations were off fighting.

You can find more about women in the Civil War here:

• http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvets2.html
• http://www.hsp.org/node/2028

I am just amazed at how many women posed as men so they could fight on both sides of the Civil War! The courage and bravery of these women who were also spies and smugglers was astounding.