I'll Pass For Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War
Grade 5–8—Women's history continues to be a burgeoning field, especially the study of women who fought in the Civil War. Silvey offers insights into the soldiers' daily lives in hospitals and prisons and on the battlefields, including Antietam and Bull Run. Interjected into this brief survey are the stories of the women, some of whom joined the military, both Union and Confederate, to follow their husbands or sweethearts, and others who were passionate about the cause and wanted to defend their homeland. Still others wanted adventure or wished to escape from poverty. Lieutenant Harry T. Buford was, in fact, Loreta Janeta Velazquez and served as a Confederate officer at the First Battle of Bull Run. Sarah Emma Edmonds, born in Canada, left a harsh farm life and enlisted in the Michigan Volunteers. Jennie Hodgers served for three years as a member of an Illinois infantry unit and continued to live as a man for the next 40 years. Her true identify was not discovered until her death in 1911; nonetheless she was buried with full military honors. These are a few of the intriguing stories told in this well-researched book. Another highlight of the book is the use of archival photographs and reproductions. This title can serve as a springboard for further reading and inspire exploration of primary accounts.—Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, ILCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.