Women
Women served various roles in the Civil War. First, they volunteered to fight in battles, despite army restrictions on the enlistment of female soldiers. Historians believe that over 250 women participated in major military engagements, including the 1862 Battle of Shiloh. Notable figures include Mary Owens and Loreta Velázquez. They used male aliases. Hence, they were undetectable unless injured or killed. Second, women served as self-sacrificing nurses for both the Union and Confederate armies. Through entities like the Sick Soldier’s Relief Society, they delivered material support and cared to wounded men on either side. A notable figure is Clara Barton, who provided humanitarian aid for wounded cavalrymen. Women also did quasi-military work, such as laundry, gun and ammunition manufacturing, and meal preparation for infantries. Others served as spies to obtain information from the enemy and do clandestine operations. An example of such women was Harriet Tubman.
Blacks
Until 1865, African-American participation in the war was prohibited. However, during the Civil War, an estimated 180,000 black soldiers served in the Union army. They included free men in the North and African-Americans fleeing the South. They were promised freedom and citizenship after the combat. All-black infantries participated in hand-to-hand battles against the confederates; for example, the 54th Massachusetts division played a critical role in the Fort Wagner engagement. The South engaged blacks in building mounds, fixing destroyed bridges, and constructing new passages. They also served as handmaids, cooks, and blacksmiths for the confederate commanders.