After reading All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, by Elizabeth D. Leonard, I've come to one conclusion; many people overlook the role of women in war. It is said even by women that the men go off to fight, and the women stay home and wait. They did something to help their country when it needed it most. Women who fought As many as 400 women from the North and South disguised themselves as men and enlisted in the army. It may seem as if mostly men populated the war. This book mainly focused on women who fought in the war whether portraying men or themselves. Many women kept some kind of diary, and their stories came alive in this book tale by tale. The women had many reasons for fighting: some wanted to accompany husbands or boyfriends into the field, others fought out of concern for the Confederate or Union cause.
There were many women who contributed to the war. Their careers ranged from helping soldiers to even being soldiers, some were nurses, doctors and even spies in the war. For example "Major" Pauline Cushman She was a woman who claimed her loyalty to the confederacy but instead she really spied for the union. She often pretended to be an actress and found out important information that helped the north defeat the south. "Emily", another woman in the war was a woman only known as Emily. At the age of 19 she ran away from home and joined the drum corps of a Michigan regiment. The regiment was sent to Tennessee and during the struggle for Chattanooga a mine ball pierced her side. Her wound was fatal and her sex was disclosed but she refused to reveal her real name but as she lay dying she decided to disclose a telegram to her father in Brooklyn. "I have but a few moments to live. My native soil drinks my blood. I expected to deliver to my country but the fate would not have it so. I am content to die. Pray for me Emily. Dr. Mary Walker Dr. Mary Walker was a surgeon in the Civil War.
