All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies

All the Daring of the Soldier examines the lives of women who served in various military roles during the American Civil War. Leonard documents hundreds of cases of women who disguised themselves as men to fight, as well as those who worked as spies, scouts, and nurses for both Union and Confederate forces. The book draws from military records, pension documents, newspaper accounts, and personal letters to reconstruct these women's wartime experiences. Each chapter focuses on different aspects of female military service, from the motivations that drove women to enlist to the challenges they faced maintaining their disguises in camp and combat. The narrative follows several key figures in detail, including Sarah Edmonds, Loreta Janeta Velazquez, and Belle Boyd, while also presenting broader patterns across the many documented cases. Leonard provides context about nineteenth-century gender roles and military culture that shaped these women's choices and experiences. This research reveals tensions between individual agency and societal constraints in Civil War America, while challenging assumptions about gender roles in military history. The work stands as both a collection of remarkable personal stories and an analysis of how wartime disruption created opportunities for women to cross established social boundaries.

Readers appreciate Leonard's research into lesser-known female soldiers and spies during the Civil War, with many noting the book fills gaps in Civil War history. Several reviewers highlighted the detailed accounts of women who dressed as men to fight, particularly Sarah Emma Edmonds and Loreta Janeta Velazquez. Readers liked: - Personal stories and primary sources - Focus on both Union and Confederate women - Coverage of African American women's roles Common criticisms: - Writing can be dry and academic - Some accounts feel repetitive - Limited information about certain featured women Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (161 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (21 ratings) One reader noted: "The research is solid but the narrative doesn't flow well between subjects." Another wrote: "Finally gives these brave women their due, though I wished for more details about their lives after the war." The book receives stronger ratings from academic readers than general history enthusiasts.

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Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott This account follows four women who acted as spies, scouts, and intelligence gatherers during the Civil War through primary source documents and military records.

She Went to the Field: Women Soldiers of the Civil War by Bonnie Tsui This compilation presents the documented cases of women who fought in the Civil War through military records, letters, and diaries.

An Uncommon Soldier: The Civil War Letters of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman by Lauren Cook Burgess This collection of letters from a woman who served in the 153rd Regiment of New York State Volunteers provides direct insight into the experience of female soldiers during the Civil War.

🔹 Elizabeth Leonard uncovered evidence of over 250 women who served as soldiers during the Civil War, many of whom successfully concealed their gender for extended periods. 🔹 Sarah Emma Edmonds, one of the soldiers featured in the book, served as a male nurse, mail carrier, and spy for the Union Army under the alias "Franklin Thompson" and later received a military pension. 🔹 Some women soldiers were only discovered to be female after being wounded in battle, including Loreta Janeta Velazquez, who fought at the Battle of Bull Run and was wounded at Shiloh. 🔹 The author spent over five years researching primary sources, including military records, pension files, diaries, and letters, to document these women's experiences authentically. 🔹 Many women soldiers cited the same motivations as men for joining the army: patriotism, adventure, and higher wages than they could earn in traditional female occupations of the time.