Jennie was an Irish immigrant to to the United States in the early 1960's. She and her brother Tom were orphans. Jennie began to wear pants in Ireland in order to work as a shepherd. She continues to do this after she and her brother make there way to Queens, New York, so that she can get better paying work as a cashier.
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Jennie is forced to leave her kind employer in Queens when Tom, out of jealousy betrays the fact that she is acutually a girl. She works on a farm for 2 years under the name Albert Cashier, and joins a friend in responding to recruitment for the Union army. She feels loyal to her new country, and also wishes to make some money.
Jennie has to work hard to conceal that she is a woman. She becomes good friends with Frank Moore, a former schoolteacher. They become close, and he suspects the truth but she is too afraid to be fully honest. Her regiment participates in the seige and capture of Vicksburg which took place over 18 months, and the peaceful seige of Natchez. Battles of Bryson's Crossroads, and seige of Fort Spanish are also described. She also works on the clean up of Camp Douglas, a POW prison on the south side of Chicago where at least 8,000 confederates died.
Jennie maintains her disguise for over 50 years. The fate of her relationship with Frank Moore, and her life after war and recovery are described in the concluding chapters.
The review of this Book prepared by Susan Coffey
