On Sunday, March 9th at 3 P.M., the Franklin Civil War Round Table will present author and educator Shelby Harriel who will speak on “Forbidden, Hidden and Forgotten: Women in the Ranks” during the Civil War.

The wartime experiences and sacrifices of women were often similar to their male counterparts. There are many documented cases of women serving in combat positions. Women served in picket duty along the snowy banks of the Rappahannock, languished in Andersonville, suffered horrible wounds during the Wilderness and lost their lives during Pickett’s Charge. Harriel will relate many of the fascinating stories of women in the ranks.

Harriel received both her B.A. in History and M. Ed from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is currently a teacher of mathematics at Pearl River Community College.

Harriel has written numerous Civil War articles for various publications and has spoken to many groups such as the Louisiana Civil War Round Table and the Louisiana Historical Association’s annual meeting. In May 2013 she presented “Women in Combat During the Civil War” at the Vicksburg National Military Park