Women on the Civil War Battlefront

By Richard H. Hall
Illustrated, case studies, afterword, appendices, endnotes, bibliography, index, 384 pp, 2006. The University Press of Kansas, 2502 Westbrooke Circle, Lawrence, KS 66045, $24.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Richard J. Blumberg
Richard J. Blumberg has a master's degree with honors in Civil War studies. He is past president of the Houston Civil War Round Table and is a speaker for that group and the Society of Women in the Civil War. He also reviews books for the Blue and Gray Education Society.

Review:
Richard Hall's new book "went to the well again," drawing on some of his past works. However, unlike many who go to the well too often, Hall's newest book, Women on the Civil War Battlefront, should be a hit with both avid Civil War historians and general readers.

Building upon his first book, Patriots in Disguise, Hall continues to refine his data on the various contributions women made to the war effort. The new book revisits some of the same subjects covered in Patriots in Disguise.

The natural question would then be, why purchase another book from the same author on essentially the same subject? The answer is clearly evident throughout the book. Hall provides new insight on old ideas and validation of many new areas where the contributions women made during the war were not previously discussed.

The last 10 years has seen a remarkable increase in the interest of women and their varied wartime contributions. Many unknown diaries have surfaced and those, along with some basic general knowledge books, have provided the field with new information.

Hall's newest effort brings the best of the already validated information along with many new topics of interest. Each chapter is easy to read and is focused on particular aspects of women's service.

The work includes chapters on women spies, she-dragoons (cavalry), saboteurs, smugglers, unit mascots, regimental matrons, nurses, prisoners of war, and various combat soldiers who served in infantry, cavalry and artillery units.

Where possible, Hall has used direct quotes from memoirs, official records or eyewitness accounts. Additionally, he has shared new insights where new or additional information has become available. The book chronicles numerous stories in each subject category.

Hall takes great care to build all aspects of the story to show the grit and determination these women faced in overcoming the many obstacles that faced them in recruitment, gender discovery, and their actual combat service.

He provides a wonderful photographic collection of the women. Hall also uses an extensive series of case studies and illustrations to make the stories of each of his subjects come alive.

His analytical approach incorporates a variety of sources, both primary and secondary. The well-researched appendices offer valuable insight into contemporary documents on many of these unique women. In addition, Hall includes an "honor roll" biographical directory of nearly 400 women whose participation in the Civil War is documented.

As he mentions on numerous occasions, "These women were determined to serve." His new book attests to the fact that many did and with great distinction. At $34.95 for the hardbound edition, this book is a bargain and will surely line reference shelves at university and public libraries for many years to come.