Elizabeth A. Niles
Elizabeth A. Hawver Niles (January 22, 1842 - September 13, 1920) served for the Union Army in the American Civil War, along with her husband.
Biography
[edit]Elizabeth Hawver was born in White Creek, New York, on January 22, 1842. She married Martin C. Niles in 1861, and in mid-April, the call for volunteers to fight in the Civil War began, and Martin enlisted in Company K of the 14th Vermont Infantry.[1] She cut her hair, and joined her husband in battle.[2] There are several other "Niles'" listed in the rosters for the 13th and 14th infantries, and it is likely that Elizabeth was one of them, under a male name.[3] Throughout her service, she participated in many battles, including the Battle of Gaines's Mill, the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Gettysburg.[4] She remained undetected by the other soldiers or officers, and was mustered out with her husband on September 7, 1864.[4] Following the war, they had 7 children together, and Martin died in 1889, leaving her with 5 children still in her care. She moved to Raritan, New Jersey, where she died on October 4, 1920, at the age of 78.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Niles, Martin C." www.nps.gov. National Park Service. 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "Women Who Fought in Civil War Beside Hubby Dies, Aged Ninety-two". Washington Times. Washington D. C. 4 October 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "Search For Soldiers". www.nps.gov. National Park Service. 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ a b Eggleston, Larry G. (2015). Women in the Civil War: Extraordinary Stories of Soldiers, Spies, Nurses, Doctors, Crusaders, and Others. McFarland Publishers. pp. 74–75. ISBN 9781476607818.
- ^ "Women Who Fought in Civil War Beside Hubby Dies, Aged Ninety-two". Washington Times. Washington D. C. 4 October 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2018.