National Affairs: The Warrior Sex

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The Department of Interior dug up from its files two unique pension cases—women who served as private soldiers in the United States Army. Both succeeded in serving without detection of their sex.

Deborah Gannett, under the name of Robert Shurtleff, served for two and a half years in the Revolutionary War, was wounded at Tarrytown and present when Cornwallis surrendered. The other, whose surname was Hodgers and first name remains unknown, went through the Civil War in the 95th Illinois Infantry, served at Vicksburg, Franklin, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg and other battlefields. Later she was pensioned and became an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Quincy, Illinois. Her sex was discovered when she was hurt in an automobile accident.