The Real Rosetta

The moment I saw the real Rosetta’s photo on the cover of An Uncommon Soldier: The Civil War Letters of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, alias Pvt. Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers, 1862-1864, I knew I was going to have to read her letters. She captivated me then, and reading her letters even now, I still find myself surprised and tickled and saddened. She was remarkable, and here she is:

You wouldn’t ever guess the soldier pictured here is a woman, would you?