Frances Clalin Clayton

Several hundred women disguised themselves as men and took the bold step of serving in the army in the Civil War. Frances Clalin was born in Illinois in the 1830s. She married Elmer Clayton and gave birth to three children. The family lived on a farm in Minnesota.

When the war broke out, Frances and her husband enlisted in the Missouri artillery and cavalry. Frances joined under the name of Jack Williams. To better conceal her gender, she learned to smoke, drink, chew, and swear. Elmer and Frances served side by side during the war until 1863, when Elmer died in battle.

Frances fought in seventeen battles, was wounded three times, and taken prisoner once. Her true gender was never discovered. After being discharged from the army, she returned back to Minnesota. Her story became popular with the newspapers of the time after she revealed her identity.