Unexpected Bravery: Women and Children of the Civil War

by A.J. Schenkman

The American Civil War divided the United States from 1861-1865. During those years, over two million soldiers served in both the Union and Confederate Armies. What is little known is that not only the numerous children, some as young 12, enlisted on both sides, but also women who disguised themselves as men in an attempt to make a difference in the epic struggle to determine the future of the United States of America.

Genres: Civil War

200 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

A. J. Schenkman is a teacher of history in the Hudson Valley and a volunteer firefighter. He has written extensively on the history of Ulster and Orange Counties. The rare, vintage images contained in his books were culled from numerous local and national archives.

Reviews

[Dan Lutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Bravery: Women and Children of the Civil War is a really interesting nonfiction book. Most people who read books about the Civil War, including myself, had no idea that women and children fought on both sides. Some of the children were as young as twelve years old. Women disguised themselves as men to fight alongside the men so they could be with their husbands or brothers to help fight in the Civil War. This is a book well worth reading.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read. About 400 women disguised themselves as men to fight in the Civil War as they were not legally allowed to do so. We often think of the men who fought in the 1861-1865 war, but the bravery of kids and women is definitely something I’ll think of after reading this book!

I appreciate all of the research that author Schenkman did for this book. From gathering info from books on historical events, biographies, and memoirs to reading US Bureau of the Census of Population over many years, he pulled a lot of information together to do justice to many of these women and kids.

In particular I was drawn to the chapter on Sarah Emma Edmonds. She disguised herself as Franklin Thompson and enlisted as a private, initially taking care of soldiers, after leaving Canada for the US and now wanting to serve her new country. The details of this individual’s life, including getting wounded, later being labelled as a deserter, and after that serving as a woman nurse are incredible. It was only by reading this book that I got to know her and others.

Unexpected Bravery is not about statistics. It is about real people who often are overlooked. Whose names are not well-known. Who fought for their country. Many who died or were wounded for their country. It includes their desires, love stories, families, and challenges. I recommend this read for a look at history that you won’t read very often but really ought to.

Disclosure: I was gifted this book in return for an honest review.

[Hope Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed and researched stories of persons who served the Union, Confederacy, and themselves during the Civil War years. 1861 - 1865. Some monuments have been erected for these people and feats accomplished in these United States. We can relive the lives of 19th Century through stories,and we can cherish the valor they displayed and the conflict they endured.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories of men, women and children who served in the Civil War on both sides.