Loreta Janeta Velázquez

Loreta Janeta Velázquez was a 19th-century Cuban-born woman who became a Civil War soldier, spy, and author in the United States. Disguising herself as a man, she fought on the Union side and gathered intelligence for the Confederacy. Her memoir, published in 1876, recounts her adventurous and often controversial experiences during the war. Velázquez’s story challenges traditional gender roles and provides a unique perspective on wartime espionage and combat, highlighting her daring efforts to influence the course of the Civil War from both frontlines and behind the scenes.