| Civil War Lady |
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| 1861 to 1864 |
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| She spent her intire adult life as a man and in later years she claimed a veteran's pension, which she was more than entitled to for her service in the war. It wasn't until struck in an automobile accident in 1911, breaking her leg, that her sex was revealed when treated by a physician at a veteran's hospital. She was admitted to the "Soldiers' and Sailors'" Home in Quincy, Illinois. The authorities there kept her true sex a secret. Jennie lived there until her mind weakened , and she was then moved to an insane asylum at Watertown in March 1913. She died on October 14th 1915. |
| Jennie (Irene) Hodgers, aged 19 and Irish, enlisted on the 3rd of August 1862, into the 95th Illinois Infantry regiment under the name of Albert Cashier. She fought in about 40 battles and skirmishes. None of her comrades ever suspected that she was infact a "he". There are some accounts by Cashier's fellow comrades indicating that the other soldiers just thought that Cashier was small and shy, the smallest man in the company, but very brave and fearless. "He kept up on the hardest marches, skillfully handled a rifle and never shirked duty. |
| She fought throughout the war, until August 17th 1865 when her regiment was mustered out of the Union army, without her sex being discovered. Cashier finally setteled in Saunemin, Illinois in 1869, where she held a number of jobs again without her sex being discovered. She (still as a man) voted in the presidential elections before Illinois women were given the right to vote. |
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| Albert Cashier aka Jennie (Irene) Hodgers |
| Links to other sites dealing with Jennie Hodges UNION MAID By Peg Spalding Nice detailed article Vetetran's home where Jennie was admitted to. The Illinois Soldiers' & Sailors' Home (Illinois Veteran's Home) Documentation of Cashier's service Newspaper article on Hodges Claims for Cashier's estate Irish Women in the Army from the Civil War to Today Story By Tom Deignan What was the best kept secret of the Civil War? A soldier that fought at Vicksburg When Jennie Comes Marchin' Home Article with picture of Jennie's Grave Stone !!! |
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| Books with content on Jennie Hodges aka Albert Cashier |
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