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My name is Edith Greyger, but when I was 19- 22 I was known as Oscar Walsh, because I disused myself as a man so I could fight in the war. These times were very difficult, but I have found out who I am. I am two people. One is an ordinary woman who stays at home cooking, cleaning, ect. and the other person I am is a strong woman who everyone sees as a man who won an entire battle. Now I am back being a regular woman, but deep down inside I know what I have accomplished. The war changed my life, and it taught me who I really was, and how I proved to everyone women were as strong and brave as men.

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Some people might think that women would be too scared to do any major roles in the war but that's not at all true, the disguised woman did the exact same things that men did, we fought in battles, were spies, and lots of other roles. We didn't let our gender stop us from fighting for our country. I was a soldier who fought in the battle field, and I had helped win some battles. There is nothing that feels nicer than knowing that you were the one who won a battle.

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The Women Who Fought in the Civil War.

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I haven't seen you in a while so I thought I might write about what I've been doing these days, and it may come as a bit of a shock to you but, I'm fighting in the war, and you may think, I'm a woman, and woman can't fight in wars, and you're right, they can't. but men can. And if you look like a man you can. So, i am disguising as a man. Don't worry about me, I'm fine, I've been doing quite well. The war life is where I belong, I get to embark on so many adventures.  But please keep it a secret, the only one who knows is m husband, and I have his company. See you soon.

Yours truly,
Edith.

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After the war was over, I could finally go home. I took a long road to get back to my families farm in Illinois. When I finally got home I decided to have a little fun with a joke. When I got back to the farm, (fully dressed like a man) I knocked on the door.  When my mom answered I talked in my low voice and told her I was on my way home and asked if I could use the bathroom. When I got to the bathroom I took off all of my men clothes and put on my normal clothes that I was hiding in my bag. When I walked out I passed my mother and told her thank you for the bathroom. She was midway through saying you're welcome when she realized who I was. "Edith" she said almost crying, we were both so happy to see each other. I was finally back home with my husband and the rest of my family.

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This is Jennie Hodgers, also known as Albert Cashier of the 95th Illinois Infantry, on the left side of the picture she is in soldier disguise, and on the other side is her as a woman
Photo Credit:

Female Soldiers in the Civil War

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One of the hardest things about disguising as a man is the fear of being revealed.  I never changed my clothes where people were, and always tried to stay quiet as much as i could so nobody would be able to hear my woman voice. Only my husband knew my secret, until one day when i was shot in the chest and moved to a hospital. The nurse had discovered that I was a woman, so I begged her not to tell, and promised her money if she didn't tell anyone, and kept my secret, but she said that she was going tell because she always followed rules. so I threatened to kill her. I never would, but she was afraid of me so the secret was never revealed.

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I wanted to fight in the war for may reasons. One reason is that my husband was fighting in the war, but he hated adventure, battles and wars, and just liked to stay at home, while I was the opposite and loved adventures. In one of his letters he said that he missed me so much, and he wished I could be there with him, helping. Then I thought, wait I can! I wrote him a letter in reply that I was coming to the war with him, because I was going to disguise as a man, and help him. I went to war, and nobody knew I was a woman, they all just figured I was a man without a beard. I felt like I was really playing my part instead of uselessly staying home

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I wasn't the only one who dressed up as a man to fight in the war. Lots of women were also hiding a big secret as well. Lots of my friends were found out in battles. Some of them were just sent home, but some were sent to jail, and then to go home. I was a bit afraid that I would have to go to jail if i was discovered, but i knew i would never just give up and reveal myself.

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1.Righthand, Jess. “The Women Who Fought in the Civil War.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 7 Apr. 2011, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-women-who-fought-in-the-civil-war-1402680/.

2. “Articles.” American Battlefield Trust, www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/female-soldiers-civil-war.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-women-who-fought-in-the-civil-war-1402680/