They Fought Like Demons Analysis

When thinking about the Civil War, the 620,000 men who fought and died in combat is what comes to mind, but what is not talked about are the over 400 women who died right beside them. The reasons men went to war were because they were proud of their country, they were able to leave home, they got to go on an adventure, and they earned money. Women joined the war for the same reasons, but with the addition of having freedom (Righthand, Jess. "The Women Who Fought in the Civil War."). One such example was Jennie Hodgers--known as Albert Cashier on the battlefield-- who was enlisted in Illinois and fought for the entire Civil War without being caught. She lived fifty years as a man, getting a military pension, and lived with those in Illinois …show more content…
Women, like men, saw the Civil War as a chance of leaving home and seeking freedom, but for some women it was a little more personal. A woman’s brother or husband might join the army, and, wanting to be by their loved one, she would join with them. In the first chapter of the novel, “They Fought Like Demons,” DeAnne Blanton and Lauren Cook spoke about women on both the Confederate and Union sides during 1863. “An unnamed [Confederate,] Ohio woman fought in the battle by the side of her father…(p.17)”. Another example would be Sarah Edmonds, who was also known as Franklin Thompson, who was part of Michigan’s 2nd Infantry said: "I could only thank God that I was free and could go forward and work, and I was not obliged to stay at home and weep (Smith, Sam. "Female Soldiers in the Civil War." ).” Whether it was for a taste of freedom, family, or marriage confrontation, these women did their part just as their male counterparts did without being asked, and they should be recognized for …show more content…
“They Fought Like Demons” elaborates on why: “Since women were not supposed to be soldiers, army regulations did not address the treatment of female prisoners of war...Therefore...experience of women soldiers varied widely. (p.78)”. Women went through the same training and army life as men with no extra difficulty because the men who were deployed were amateurs, as well. All soldiers were to sleep with their clothes on, they used the wash up facility and bathroom separately, and female soldiers learned male-like attitudes along the way (Smith, Sam.p "Female Soldiers in the Civil War." ). When they were found out, mostly by injury or illness, they were either sent back home without a fuss, or, in very small cases, were imprisoned (Righthand, Jess. "The Women Who Fought in the Civil War."). Such is the case of Mary Jane Johnson, who was put in prison but not found out to be a woman. Before prison guards could find out, Johnson fell ill and had gone to the camp hospital where there she confessed that she was female. After her confession, she humbly didn’t say anything about herself, but instead spoke of the reasons why she joined the army and how long she served. However, she was still sent home (Blanton, DeAnne, and Lauren Cook M. They Fought Like Demons. p.79). It is