All the Daring of the Soldier: What was the Role of Women in the American Civil War?

A civil war re-enactment photo. Photo credit Steve Wilkie/Syfy

Modern historians have been interested in retrieving lives from the shadows of history, with studies ranging from how life was for coal miners in medieval Europe to the life of peasants in colonial America. Moreover, the recent focus has been on the lives of minority groups, and such is the focus of the book, All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, by Elizabeth D. Leonard, which investigates the role played by women in the American Civil War armies. Leonard notes that “domestic service continued in the late nineteenth century to represent the primary waged occupation for women,” which explains why a few intrepid women decided that the war gave them better opportunities than they could have out there. The Civil War transformed the role of women in society, and as noted by Leonard, the war allowed many women to advance in previously male-dominated spheres such as regiments, spying, and even the medical field

Leonard’s book reveals how the Civil War was transformative for women. The book gives a dozen accounts of women who were actively involved in the civil war. Although the role played by women in various events that have shaped history remain in the dark corridors of the past, more of their stories are being revealed. Individuals who studied American history or the American Civil War are familiar with women such as Belle Boyd, Rose Greenhow, Antonia Ford, Tubman, etc. However, Leonard focuses on women that are unknown such as Emma A.B. Kinsey, Sarah Collins, Frances Clalin, Fanny Wilson, and Nadine Turchin.

In Leonard’s book, she examines the careers of women who served the roles of soldiers in the ranks, couriers, spies, and daughters of regiments. Moreover, she examines the socioeconomic status of these women, noting that educated women or women belonging to the upper and middle classes were often couriers and spies, while women from the working class had few options, and most had to disguise themselves as men so that they could work in regiments.

Several aspects motivated women to serve in the Civil War. According to Leonard, some women did not want to stay away from their husbands or lovers and followed them into the war, taking different roles. On the other hand, some women sought adventure just like most men who enlisted in the war, while a huge number of working-class women who disguised themselves were lured into the war by the prospects of a soldier’s wage. Leonard estimates that as many as 400 women fought in the ranks. Moreover, a few women like Sarah Wakeman were so good at maintaining their secrets, which held for months until they could not be kept anymore due to an illness, wound, or the revelation of an acquaintance sold them out. Nevertheless, many of the women veterans who served the war were awarded pensions because of their exemplary service.

Like most of her American contemporaries, Catharine Beecher, the 19^th century American, believed that the Bible’s divine economy asserted that women needed to play a subordinate role to the other gender. Moreover, she argued that women’s influence and duties were just as crucial as that of men but needed to be exercised in different ways, i.e., they needed to win through peace and love. According to Beecher, the spheres of a woman were private life and included things such as living for others, family and persuasion. On the other hand, men’s spheres in life were in the public domain and included politics, business, ambition and achievement. Moreover, Beecher is famous for having said that anything that throws a woman into the attitude of a combatant throws her out of the appropriate sphere.

The Civil War, as highlighted by Leonard, contradicts Beecher’s 19^th-century statement that women spheres were in the private. Moreover, it proves that the 19^th-century woman was just as ambitious and influential as a man, and a significant number of women were not content wallowing in the contexts of the private. Nevertheless, as noted by Leonard, Civil War women played a combatant role. Whether they were thrown out of their appropriate sphere is a matter of opinion. However, despite their intention in joining the war activities, these women are today celebrated for pushing gender boundaries, and their contribution to the war definitely had an impact to the plight of women everywhere.

The Civil War created a window of opportunity for advancing the societal role of women. The war allowed many women to advance in previously male-dominated spheres such as regiments, spying, and even the medical field. As Leonard shows in her book, the civil war disrupted the gender divisions of labour and opened up spaces for women to traditionally enter male-dominated professions. Nevertheless, women who entered male-dominated professions created normative changes in attitudes towards women, which has worked a long way in increasing political empowerment for women all around the world.

Malcolm X’s Autobiography: Nature v Nurture

A painting of Malcolm X by T. A. Charron (2007)

While reading Malcolm X’s autobiography by Alex Haley, I realized that most of it was about his African American experience than was his Muslim experience. The key theme in the book is about racial prejudice, and it demonstrates just how the vice was ingrained in society back then. In chapter two, Malcolm X himself concludes that even well meaning white people still believed that they were better than Black people. A young Malcolm X witnesses the murder of his father, Earl, in the hands of white people just for speaking for an independent Black society. Moreover, he watches his mother driven to insanity by a white welfare agency that does not deem it fit for a widowed Black woman to take care of her children.

The coming of age Malcolm considers himself a “pink poodle,” a perspective that is emasculating due to the White oppression that denies him his manhood. Moreover, at the age of 15, Malcolm has already come to terms with the reality that no amount of achievement or popularity can break the barrier of success or societal acceptance. For instance, Malcolm tops his all-white class, but the teacher cannot see any feasibility in his dream of becoming a lawyer. To the teacher, Malcolm is better off being a carpenter.

Malcolm first comes into contact with Islam in chapter ten of the book. He learns about Muslim beliefs through his brother Reginald, ultimately giving up pork, which I consider as his first step in becoming a Muslim. Moreover, Malcolm goes ahead to meet the Nation of Islam and its leader Elijah Muhammad, whose central rhetoric is that all white men are demons. Malcolm had negative experiences at the hands of white people all his life, from the people who murdered his father, the people who split his family apart, the teacher who discouraged his dreams, and the policemen, judges, and guards who locked him away.

The negative experiences perpetuated by the White society made it easier for Malcolm to resonate with Elijah’s teachings and ultimately accept the truth of Islam. Malcolm leaves prison in Chapter 13, and the audience is introduced to Minister Malcolm X. He has polished his English, rhetorical style, and is a devout Muslim. Moreover, he is hell-bent in spreading his newfound faith to his African American brothers and sisters. Through Malcolm’s effort, determination, and dedication, the Nation of Islam has excellent success in converting many Black Christians into Islam to the point that they get national recognition. Oppression, segregation, and racial prejudice from a dominantly white society plays a significant role in attracting ethnic minorities and ex-cons to Malcolm’s movement.