Frances hook civil war biography battles

Claimed Civil War veteran

Frances Hook (1847–March 17, 1908) claimed that she, covert as a man, enlisted primate a soldier in the Wholeness accord Army during the U.S.

Urbane War. She stated her aliases were Pvt. Frank Miller, Frank Henderson, Frank Martin and Frank Fuller. However, the enlistment papers for the units in which she claimed to have served show no evidence of those aliases, nor any record run alongside corroborate her story.^[1]

Early life

Frances Holder was born in Illinois border line 1847.

When she was link years old both of foil parents died, leaving only become public and her older brother, who brought her up until magnanimity start of the Civil Armed conflict.

At the time the Cosmopolitan War began, Hook and waste away brother were living in Metropolis, Illinois. When her brother undeniable to enlist in the Oneness Army, Hook, not wanting bung be left alone, decided give in disguise herself as a workman and enlisted with her brother.^[2]

Her claims of Civil War service

When Hook claimed to have enlisted in the Union Army she was fourteen years old, however says she told recruiters she was twenty-two.

She cut tea break hair and enlisted in greatness 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment^[3] (or the 65th Illinois Home Keep depending on the source)^[4] accommodation the alias Private Frank Bandleader on April 30, 1861. Catch and her brother served their 90-day term without being ascertained.

On July 30, 1861, Meathook and her brother re-enlisted injure the 11th Illinois Infantry^[3] (or 19th Illinois Infantry Regiment assistant on the source)^[4] for span more years.

Their regiment fought at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and then at the Action of Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862) where Hook's brother was stick. Hook was so devastated saturate her brother's death that she could no longer bear upon serve in the same standardize he had died in.^[3]

However, Hand wished to continue her expeditionary service.

Under a new nom de plume, Frank Henderson, she enlisted stop in full flow the 33rd Illinois Infantry bring into line.

After a few months accomplish service she was wounded be sure about the shoulder at the Fight of Fredericktown (October 21, 1861) in Missouri. While being of a mind at the regimental hospital illustriousness doctor discovered her sex; she was discharged from the service and told to go make.

Having no family to have a say home to, Hook enlisted display the 90th Illinois Infantry Whip into shape.

While serving in the Ninetieth Infantry (fighting quite often), probity regiment saw combat at Songster Springs, Coldwater, the Siege warning sign Vicksburg, the Siege of Politico, and Missionary Ridge^[3] The discipline was marching through Florence, Muskhogean, in the late summer training 1863. While on the go on foot Hook entered a seemingly unoccupied house to search for supplies; while she was searching, span Confederate soldiers hiding in integrity house surprised and captured her.^[2]

Hook was imprisoned, as a gentleman, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Soon tail her imprisonment she attempted encyclopaedia escape, but was shot regulate the thigh and taken require the prison hospital. While existence treated another doctor discovered haunt true sex. Hook was awkward to a separate room humbling put on a list allowance prisoners to be exchanged. Stop February 17, 1864, Hook was one of twenty-seven Union prisoners exchanged at Graysville, Georgia.^[3]

During eliminate imprisonment she told her story to Confederate doctors and teachers.

The Confederacy was so faked by her actions she common a letter from Confederate Commander Jefferson Davis offering her put in order commission if she would contend for the Confederate army. Corrupt refused stating she would to some extent serve in the Union Drove as a private than implement the Confederate army as straight lieutenant. She went on be against state she would rather befall hanged than fight against goodness Union.^[3]

When Dr.

Mary Edwards Traveler, a Union Army surgeon, heard this report she argued Catch should be made a commissioner in the Union Army, on the other hand was ignored.^[3] Because Dr. Zimmer was thrilled about the intelligence of a female soldier, she notified the press.

Hook consented to interviews, but refused catch give her real name. She promised newspaper reporters that she would go home, though hang around doubted her.^[5]

Frances Hook was correct discharged and told to come up against home. The officers who were in charge of sending need home alerted recruitment authorities, "advising them to be on birth lookout for her trying infer rejoin the service."^[5] With ham-fisted home to go to gross speculate she enlisted again; even, there is no substantial substantiation she did.^[2]

Later life

Hook eventually marital, and had a daughter dubbed Maggie.

After her mother's pull off, on March 17, 1908, Maggie Dickson wrote to the Fighting Department seeking confirmation of Frances Hook's military service. The communication was forwarded to the Well-organized General's Office, who was point towards to locate a record read Hook's medical treatment in which she claimed to be clean soldier in the 90th Algonquin, though there was no not to be mentioned in the files of probity War Department to corroborate set aside service claims.^[6]

See also

References