Female Union Soldier Or Seeing Things Again?

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, I understand one begins to see female soldiers behind every hairless chin after too long placing these under extreme scrutiny. The thing is wasn't looking- ' she ' just kind of hove into view while browsing.

It is not merely the soft, rounded features- and remember some descriptions we have of feminine soldiers have been an awful lot more masculine than this fairly nice looking person. Recall the 2 who were not discovered until they fell into the river during a punch 'em up? That did it- only way anyone could tell was er, wetted down.

Added to some suspect aspects is this soldier's insistence on a hand inserted in the jacket- common enough for officers, perhaps this person wished to see how well it went down, maybe liked how important they looked- OR there was another reason. Perhaps the jacket required a disguised view exactly where the hand is inserted- if you look it all seems a tad suspect.

I'm voting yes- guessing there will be scoffers, fair enough. Thought I'd ask!

 

[Poor Sharecropper's Son]

Without trying to sound too forward, there's definitely a, um, shapeliness in the hand placement area.


OTOH, can't imagine it went unnoticed for longer than 8/10ths of second, if our suspicions are correct.

 

[Al Murray]

guessing there will be scoffers,

can't imagine it went unnoticed for longer than 8/10ths of second,

Not scoffing, but it looks like a man to me. The hand is bigger than mine (mine are small, though). If you had just posted the picture without comment a female would not have occurred to me. I wonder if the clothes even fit? The cap looks too small, and the coat too big. I am an odd size and buying clothes is difficult. If the torso fits the arms are too short. If the arms are long enough the body is too big, etc. That coat looks big, as if then the person dropped the arm the sleeve would fall below the hand. Could this account for the (possible) curvature in front? I don't know, just giving you my vote.

 

[Poor Sharecropper's Son]

Could well be the case - my point was that it probably was a man, because they look way too feminine to not be recognized as such if they really were a woman, if that makes any sense.

 

[Allie]

I'm pretty sure that's a man. Look at the forehead and eye placement. It's not even a particularly girly man. Look at how broad his chin is. Very few women and almost no young women have that. I do think he has something tucked into his jacket, possibly a handkerchief.

 

[MRB1863]

I do think he has something tucked into his jacket, possibly a handkerchief.

I don't know Allie...looks suspect to me! Perhaps that handkerchief is pink lace...eyebrows look a little bushy for a woman. But then..? Hand also looks very smooth for a man. Neck looks slender, too. It's a toss up in my book. But even nowadays there are many who are difficult to gender in life and photos.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Well yes but- if all the female soldiers looked like women they'd have lasted 5 minutes. The 2 teamsters who were not discovered until they fell into a river while brawling were described as distinctly manly- and rough men toboot. There were 400 plus women identified- a vast amount more who fought undiscovered. Stories came out post war; a few told only by female remains.

Not sure anyone would point these two out as women.

Albert Cashier / Jennie Hodges

Sarah Rossetta Wakeman/ Lyons Wakeman
Sarah Rossetta Wakeman

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Here's one found a few months ago- forget when exactly. Thought I'd repost. Same thing, just something about one of the soldiers caught me eye. Beyond how sunlight lay on the plane across this person's chest here's a nipped- in waist, narrow shoulders compared to others, a less than hefty jaw and narrow neck. Someone identified the uniform, or at least could tell state, I think? We really have whizzes here, gosh.

First row, second from left

 

[alexjack]

After twirling up and down this page till I think I've worn my mousewheel out, I'd say 'Female', definitely, maybe.

 

[MRB1863]

After twirling up and down this page till I think I've worn my mousewheel out, I'd say 'Female', definitely, maybe.

I will surely agree with you possibly perhaps. You maybe could be right, or not.

 

[Poor Sharecropper's Son]

Splunge!

 

[Stiles/Akin]

https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/education/upload/Albert Cashier.pdf