On Sunday, June 9th at 3 P.M., the Franklin Civil War Round Table will host author and historian Shelby Harriel who will present “Behind the Rifle: Women Soldiers in the Civil War.”

During the Civil War it was not unheard of to have female soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with men on the firing lines. These soldiers were disguised as men and had various motivations for going to war. Many wanted to be near their husbands or other loved ones, and some simply sought adventure. Harriel will relate these stories, including women who served on picket duty along the Rappahannock, suffered in Andersonville prison, and incurred wounds in battles such as Gettysburg and the Wilderness.

Shelby Harriel received her B.A. in History and her M.Ed from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has written numerous articles on the Civil War 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. Her new book, “Behind the Rifle: Women Soldiers in the Civil War Mississippi,” has just been released by the University of Mississippi Press. She last appeared at the FCWRT in 2016 and we are pleased to have her back. Her book will be available for purchase.

The event is free to the public. The Franklin Civil War Round Table is an educational program of Franklin’s Charge, and meets each month at Carnton Plantation's Fleming Center, 1345 Eastern Flank Circle. For more information, email fcwrt@yahoo.com, or visit https://www.franklinscharge.org/the-round-table