Women of the Blue and Gray: True Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies of the Civil War

Women of the Blue and Gray Summary

Hidden amongst the photographs, uniforms, revolvers, and war medals of the Civil War are the remarkable stories of some of the most unlikely heroes-women. North, South, black, white, Native American, immigrant-the women in these micro-drama biographies are wives, mothers, sisters, and friends. Their purposes ranged from supporting husbands and sons during wartime to counseling President Lincoln in strategy. They tended to the wounded on the battlefield to and spirited away slaves through the Underground Railroad. Some even donned uniforms and fought unrecognized alongside the men to working as spies for either side.

This book brings to light the incredible stories of women from the Civil War that remain relevant to our nation today. Each woman’s experience helps us see a truer, fuller, richer version of what really happened in this country during this time period.

Women of the Blue and Gray Review

I love people stories. I really enjoy novels, but I love stories about real people especially women. And this book is full of stories of amazing, inspiring women who stepped up and stepped out to do what they thought was best for their families, their communities and their countries. Women of the Blue & Gray profiles both union and confederate women. Many of these women have been all but lost to history. I don’t remember learning about a single woman from the American Civil War, other than Clara Barton, who is mentioned only in passing in this book.

These are stories of white women, black women and native American women, both young and old, who served their communities and countries in various ways. These are mini-biographies. I see this book as one to spark interest and encourage the reader to go and learn more. For some it will not be difficult to learn more, but for others, it may require some digging. It’s a book that can be read “in parts,” so if you can’t devote all day to a good read, you can start and stop without losing the threads of the story.

If you enjoy history, especially Civil War history, and you enjoy stories of inspiring, adventurous and brave women who changed the world—at least their corners of it—you will enjoy reading Women of the Blue and Gray.

Buy the Book

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Women of the Blue and Gray: True Stories of Mothers, Medics, Soldiers, and Spies of the Civil War by Marianne Monson is available through Amazon.com.