Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 19:31:51 -0500
From: campbelld%apsu.dnet%net.Vanderbilt.Edu@KSUVM.KSU.EDU (Richard Jensen,
exec. dir. H-Net)
H-CivWar had a good discussion last winter about women
in uniform, with a report on Feb 22 on "an Uncommon Soldier:
The Civil War Letters of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, alias Pvt.
Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers,
1862-1864," edited by Lauren Cook Burgess. Published by The
Minerva Center, Pasadena MD (zip 2112-2708; isbn
0-9634895-1-8). I've just read the short (100pp) book, and
commend Burgess for an excellent editing job. The text
consists of Wakeman's letters home. She spent most of the
war on guard duty in Washington, was eager to fight, and
went on the Red River campaign. She died of chronic diarrhea
in June 1864. Burgess's notes give elaborate detail on the
history of Wakeman's company, and can be recommended. James
McPherson in the preface says there were 400+ other women
who served in uniform as men.
Richard Jensen
U of Illinois-Chicago