Where there woman fighters in the Civil War?

Question

My school is having "Civil War Day" and i want to be a woman fighter. I am on the south side and I just want to know if the south had woman fighters.

Answer 1

Yes there were. As others have said, most served as nurses or other roles like that, although there were notable exceptions. Dr. Mary Walker, a female surgeon from New York, was awarded the Medal of Honor for her work as a regimental surgeon during the Civil War.

I've included links to a couple of sites that the contribution of women as soldiers during the Civil War was far greater than history books give credit for.

BTW - someone mentioned Molly Pitcher. Molly Pitcher was a real person, though her real name was Mary Hays. During the battle of Monmouth, during the REVOLUTIONARY War, she brought water to her husband's artillery battery (pitchers of water, get it?). There is no historical proof that she took over the gun after her husband was wounded, though there are legends to that effect. But again, this was the Revolutionary War. She died in 1832.

Answer 2

Yes both sides did.
When the wounded would come in doctors were surprised to find out that some where females.

BTW: The only woman to win the Congressional Medal of Honor was Dr. Mary Walker who would cross the battle lines to treat the wounded and tell the Confederate generals to take better care of the Union wounded.

Answer 3

There were, they just cut their hair and hid anything else. there are a lot of facts that is not known to the country, there were a few blacks/African Americans( as called today) to fight for the south. Most in the service were of course north

Women followed the troops to be with their husbands, and any else. Most did domestic duties though, so getting into the fight would be easy. Even the women had southern pride.

Answer 4

Because Lincoln in his infinite wisdom refused to recognize the CSA as a separate country and he strongly suggested that all foreign countries follow suit The CSA wasn't fighting to preserve slavery as much as it was fighting to preserve the racist Southern way of life which put the poorest white trash that God ever created above all Black people regardless of their wealth and accomplishments You can see proof of my POV a hundred years later during the Civil Rights Movement

Answer 5

everyside had women fighters in major wars-regardless if most of the armies comprised of men... surely women spilled onto the battlefield during the civil war at some point... the revolutionary war, i'm certain included women in the barracks...!

Answer 6

some women followed their men into combat dressed as soldiers. No one knew unles they got wounded.

You would be better off portraying one of the southern women spies like belle star and others. They were both pretty, smart, and cunning to learn of enemy troop movements and then alert the southern troops in advance.

Answer 7

No, there were camp followers who cooked etc. but there were no women fighters on either side. I believe some women took on a nursing role but men didn't approve.

Answer 8

Most women involved in the war acted as nurses and/or physician's assistants.

Answer 9

Yes, a few women disguised themselves as men and fought alongside their husbands/lovers/etc.

There were no women "officially" in the military back in those days -- fighting/killing/dying in combat were considered "unladylike".

Answer 10

Yes. There is an entire book on them that I saw at Barnes and Nobles. Sorry, I don't remember the title.

There is also the famous story of Molly Pitcher. It is not known if she was real or an amalgamation of other female combatants.