CINCINNATI
 CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE
Serving Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Since 1956

Next Meeting: Thursday,February 16, 2012

Speaker: Jill Holt, Cincinnati CWRT

Topic: Women Soldiers in the Civil War

Jill Holt will speak for the first time to the Cincinnati Civil War Round Table at its February meeting. Ms. Holt will speak to us on a topic close to her heart – women soldiers of the Civil War. The fact that women disguised themselves as men and served with the Union and the Confederacy is one of the best kept secrets of the American Civil War.

To date, the story of the average antebellum soldier has been told from a distinctly masculine point of view. However, the last fifteen years have brought to light a lot of information about these Civil War heroines that had been previously lost or hidden over the last century. Jill's presentation will focus on how so many women of the North and South, with absolutely no urging from their respective governments, all made the same, independent decision to dress like a man and march off to war. Jill's talk will also focus on the legal, social, and economic status of mid-nineteenth century women, as well as the cultural and historical patterns that set a precedent for female services in the military. Jill will also talk about how female soldiers of the Civil War were viewed then, and how they are viewed now, the results of which are both fascinating and surprising, and speak volumes not only about the women soldiers, but also of America as a whole.

Jill's talk will also focus on the legal, social, and economic status of mid-nineteenth century women, as well as the cultural and historical patterns that set a precedent for female services in the military. Jill will also talk about how female soldiers of the Civil War were viewed then, and how they are viewed now, the results of which are both fascinating and surprising, and speak volumes not only about the women soldiers, but also of America as a whole.

Jill is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a B.S in nursing. She practiced for 10 years as a critical care nurse, receiving her CCN accreditation. Jill has been a student of history her whole life, with an emphasis on American history and with an even greater emphasis on the American Civil War. She has always found the Civil War interesting, especially when discussing how people of this era lived in a tumultuous time without many of the medical or technological advances that we enjoy today. Yet, what impresses Jill most about the Civil War is that so many people maintained a high moral, educational, and religious standard despite their surroundings. Jill has spoken about the Civil War to various children’s groups and classrooms, hoping that her talks will help history come alive for young people and start a fire in their hearts to learn and to study.

Webmaster's Notes: (1) The following article about an Ohio woman who served with her husband in various roles in the 81st OVI appeared in the National Tribune on 25 July 1907, page 8. Their name is spelled "Finnern" on their gravemarker. A memorial with photographs is on the Find-a-Grave website at Finnern memorial.

(2) In a letter on 19 April 1863 from Murfreesboro, Sergeant McLain Montgomery of the 33rd OVI told his wife: "Yes, Mary I have a little piece of news to tell you that is out of the course of common events entirely. A night or two since on picket, a Sergeant of one of our volunteer regiments gave birth to a child, but I have not learned whether the little stranger is a boy or girl as the sergeant has been in the service over a year it is reasonable to suppose that the little pledge of love was gotten in true military style. It had ought to be a hero and very fond of martial music[.]" See Lois Lambert's Treasured Memories of a Civil War Widow, page 90-91, reviewed on this site at review.