User:SamanthaMes/Clayton

Frances Louisa Clayton was a female soldier during the American Civil War. She served alongside her husband in the State Militia Cavalry and the 2nd Minnesota Light Artillery Battery.

Military Duty
At St. Paul, Minnesota, Clayton and her husband decided to enlist when President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer soldiers to stop the rebellion. After their initial 90 days in the State Militia Cavalry, it is believed that they fought with the 2nd Minnesota Battery. They fought in the Battle of Stone's River which started on December 31, 1862 and lasted until January 3, 1863. On the first day of the Battle, the Union forces made a bayonet assault. During that assault, her husband was killed; Clayton was a few feet behind him. Despite that her husband was just killed, Clayton continued over his body and helped push back the Confederate soldiers. Towards the end of the battle, Clayton was wounded at the hip by a minie ball. It was while she was in the hospital receiving treatment that it was discovered Clayton was a woman. Clayton was discharged on January 3, 1863. Many of her fellow soldiers considered her to be a good horse-man as well as an overall good soldier.

After Discharge
On the train back to Minnesota, guerillas attacked and stole all of Clayton belongings. Once she was home and recovered from her wound, Clayton decided to return her regiment to reclaim her husband's belongings. Her true reasoning for going was to convince the commander to allow her to be a solider again. However, she was stopped by the Provost Marshal and forced to return home. It was on the way home, that her train reservations were incorrect so Clayton was left in Kalamazoo, Michigan and soon after went to Grand Rapids. It was in Grand Rapids that she met old friend who owned a local restaurant. He provided her a place to stay the night and the next morning she caught a train to Minnesota.

Disguise as a Man
It is believed that Clayton adopted the name "Jack Williams" during her time of service. Additionally, Clayton embraced what she believed was male characteristics. She drank, smoked, gambled, cussed, and learned the "male" walk. Moreover, Clayton particularly enjoyed cigars. Being a soldier allowed women to savor things that society deem inappropriate for a woman. Finally, Clayton had naturally masculine physique. .

Historical Controversy
There has been debate over the spelling of the last name. On the back of a photograph of Clayton in soldier wear there is a signature that is spelled "Claytin," and in an article her name is spelled "Clalin." However, many other books and articles, including an interview she gave, has her name spelled "Clayton." Additionally, the Minnesota regiments records only have a "Clayton." Thus, it is safe to assume that the correct spelling of her name is "Clayton." Furthermore, there is little history known about Clayton. Little is known before she and her husband entered the war and nothing is known after she boards the train back to Minnesota for the final time. Another difficulty is that many newspapers gave conflicting stories. For example, one stated that she was injured at the Stones River Battle; however, she apparently told another newspaper that she was injured Fort Donelson.

Play
Playwright, Beth Gilleland, used Clayton's life as the foundation of her play Civil Ceremony. The play debut in 1996 at the Great American History Theatre in Minneapolis. The play demonstrated that for women soldiers life was freeing during the war. For instance, they were about to free themselves from the binding corset and gender stereotypes.