Frances Louisa Clayton/Francis Clalin

Biography:

Frances Louisa Clayton enlisted in a Minnesota regiment as Francis Clalin. Presumably she enlisted to be with her husband. While in the Civil War, she served under General Rosecrans in Tennessee. Her husband was killed instantly during a charge on the enemy. She was 5 paces behind her husband, and she was wounded in the hip. Her true identify was found when she entered the hospital, and she was discharged Jan. 2, 1863.

She was on a train home to Nashville when the train was attacked by guerrillas, robbed of her papers she decided to try again. This time she learned to smoke, swear, and drink to better conceal her sex. Once back in the army she stood guard, went on picket duty, and fought in the field with the rest of her comrades. She was considered a good soldier. There doesn't seem to be any information about her after this time period.