Fanny Wilson (U.S. Civil War) facts for kids

Fanny (Fannie) Wilson was a brave woman who secretly joined the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. She pretended to be a man because women were not allowed to be soldiers back then. Her close friend, Nellie Graves, also joined the army with her, disguised as a man.

Before the War

Fanny Wilson was born in Long Island, New York. Before the war started, she was engaged to a man she loved. In 1860, she traveled to Lafayette, Indiana, to visit relatives. Her friend, Nellie Graves, went with her. Nellie also had a boyfriend she loved back home.

In early 1861, America was getting closer to war. Fanny and Nellie returned to Long Island. On their way home, they came up with a plan. Both their boyfriends said they would join the Union Army if war broke out. Fanny and Nellie decided to enlist in the same army group as their boyfriends. They planned to be in different companies within that group. This way, they could be close to their loved ones but still avoid being discovered as women.

Fighting in the Civil War

In 1862, Fanny and Nellie's boyfriends joined a new army group. It was forming at Camp Cadwallader in Beverly, New Jersey. This group became the 24th New Jersey Infantry Regiment. It officially joined the army on September 16, 1862. Fanny and Nellie put their plan into action. They cut their hair short and put on men's clothes. Nellie had a harder time hiding her true identity than Fanny. People said Fanny had a "masculine voice." She was also described as "tanned and smart and somewhat educated." Fanny was nineteen years old at the time.

Their plan worked! They marched and trained alongside their boyfriends. No one found out they were women. They helped defend Washington D.C. until December 1862. Then, their regiment moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia. There, they fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg. After seeing the terrible things that happened in war, both women became more serious about their service. They decided to keep fighting, not just for their boyfriends, but because they felt it was their duty to serve their country.

In early May 1863, the regiment fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville. During this battle, Fanny's boyfriend was badly hurt. After the battle, Fanny took care of him. She almost gave away her secret identity trying to help him. Sadly, her boyfriend died despite her efforts. Around the same time, Nellie's boyfriend was also killed. We don't know exactly when or where he died.

Soon after their boyfriends died, Fanny and Nellie both got sick. They were sent to an army hospital in Cairo, Illinois. While they were there, doctors discovered they were women. Nellie got better first and was sent home. She and Fanny went their separate ways. After Fanny was discharged, she became a ballet dancer at the Cairo Theater. But after only two shows, she quit. She still felt a strong need to serve her country.

Fanny looked for another army group to join. She joined the 3rd Illinois Cavalry. They were on their way to Vicksburg, Mississippi. On May 22, during the second attack on Vicksburg, Fanny was wounded in battle. It wasn't a serious injury. She was treated, and her true identity was still not discovered. She fully recovered and continued serving with the cavalry.

On August 5, 1863, Fanny was riding through Memphis, Tennessee with another soldier. A guard stopped them. Fanny was arrested because they thought she might be a woman dressed as a man, or even a spy. During questioning, she proved she was a Union soldier. Soon after, the authorities discharged her from the army. They gave her women's clothing and made her promise not to disguise herself as a man again. Fanny died on September 15, 1864, from an illness. She is buried in the Memphis Tennessee National Cemetery, in grave 621.