During the American Revolution, women were thrust into the difficulties and dangers of the war. With many men joining the militia, women found themselves in charge of family businesses and farms. This required them to learn new skills or take a more active role than they had previously. Some women became camp followers and performed duties such as mending and washing clothes, nursing sick or wounded soldiers, and preparing meals. They followed the men onto the battlefields and performed duties as needed, often risking their lives.
In this talk, Kathleen (K.M.) Waldvogel discussed her research for her middle-grade book, Spies, Soldiers, Couriers, & Saboteurs: Women of the American Revolution. During her work, she discovered fascinating stories of ordinary women who felt compelled to stand up for what they believed, including sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington who rode approximately 40 miles to warn the countryside of the British marching to Danbury, Connecticut.
Waldvogel focused on researching the stories of little-known women who felt the need to take an active role to help the Patriots defeat the British. As the title of her book suggests, many of these women contributed in unconventional ways.
