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Victorian concepts of gender in America contributed to the continuation of the guerrilla warfare occurring at the Kansas and Missouri border. Popular legend often ignores that women were playing a large role in the continual supply to guerrilla troops of clothing and food, but also crucial information of the movements of Union troops. Even some involved in this conflict, like Union General Thomas Ewing, portrayed the women as victims of the war, not perpetrators. (Sarah M)
The gender dynamics of the war is something I find particularly interesting. Women, despite the many different ways they were involved in the war, were still seen as domicile and not as valuable to the war effort. Though women fought on the front lines, they were seen as victims or bystanders, rather than instigators and in some cases, heroes. (Caty)
Whites argues that the most important role within the guerilla movement on the Kansas-Missouri border were the logistic duties, performed by women like the Mundy sisters and Nannie Harris. These women provided clothing and food, respectively. Whites points out that these women could not be possibly be portrayed as “innocent” because their efforts provided the confederate guerillas the resources they needed to continue fighting. (Ian Tiblin)
Southern-sympathizing women were not seen as violated females related to the guerilla warfare in Kansa but rather as critical components. Women aided the supply line and brought the guerilla soldiers clothing and food. Though the women helped the guerilla’s, they took the position of victims when being charged with their crimes. Even the commanding Union officer, General Thomas Ewing, viewed them as victims of the guerillas. (Hank L.)
Women played a vital role in the guerilla warfare on the Western Front. They worked on supply runs and they helped clothe the rebels. These domestic tasks were not fighting to be sure, but they were invaluable efforts that sustained the fighting.- Sophia Prewitt
Women were captured and imprisoned. During the ongoing fighting, their holding place collapsed. This ended up killing and injuring many of the women inside. This collapse is what is said to have turned plain Bill Anderson into the infamous Bloody Bill. (Lexi)