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They were able to use their gender to their advantage, blending in with the enemy and gathering valuable intelligence.
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Women played an important role in the American Civil War as spies and informants. Despite these obstacles, many women were able to make significant contributions to the war effort. They had to contend with the same physical and psychological hardships as their male counterparts, as well as the added difficulty of maintaining their disguise. Women who served as soldiers in the Civil War faced many challenges. Some even fought in battles, though their presence was not officially recognized until 1863 when a Union burial detail in Pennsylvania found a female body amongst their dead troops. They served in a variety of roles, including nurses, cooks, laundresses, and spies. Some of these women disguised themselves as men, while others were open about their gender. The American Civil War saw a number of women who served in the military, though the exact number is unknown.
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