Gunpowder on Their Skirts

These were no damsels in distress! Did you know that a woman named Kady Brownell was the color bearer for 5th Rhode Island infantry? She braved enemy fire at Bull Run to hold her banner high! Or that Dr. Mary Walker, a battlefield surgeon, was the first and only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor? These women, and many more, marched alongside the soldiers and were on the battlefields of the American Civil War. They were both respected and admired by their male comrades. Stephanie Ford regularly speaks at historical societies and participates in reenactments as a vivandiere. Through her thorough research comes a compelling collection of stories of remarkable women from both sides of the conflict.