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Frances Clayton

Frances Clayton
Artist
Samuel Masury, c. 1818 - 1874
Sitter
Frances Louisa Clayton, c. 1830 - after 1863
Date
c. 1863
Type
Photograph
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 9.3 × 5.6 cm (3 11/16 × 2 3/16")
Mount: 10.2 × 6.2 cm (4 × 2 7/16")
Topic
Interior
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie
Interior\Studio
Photographic format\Carte-de-visite
Frances Louisa Clayton: Female
Frances Louisa Clayton: Military and Intelligence\Soldier\Civil War\Union
Portrait
Place
United States\Massachusetts\Suffolk\Boston
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Alan and Lois Fern Acquisition Fund
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.2020.96
Exhibition Label
Birthplace unknown
Frances Clayton was among an estimated 400 to 750 women who disguised themselves as men in order to fight in the Civil War. When her husband enlisted in a Missouri artillery unit, Clayton joined him by donning male clothing and using the name “Jack Williams.” The couple fought alongside each other and later served in a cavalry unit until Clayton’s husband was killed and she was wounded at the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee (1862–63). It was apparently during subsequent medical treatment that Clayton’s gender was revealed, resulting in her discharge.
Lugar de nacimiento desconocido
Frances Clayton estuvo entre un número estimado de 400 a 750 mujeres que se disfrazaron de hombre para luchar en la Guerra Civil. Cuando su esposo se alistó en una unidad de artillería en Misuri, Clayton se fue con él vestida de hombre y haciéndose llamar “Jack Williams”. La pareja luchó hombro con hombro y luego sirvieron en una unidad de caballería hasta que él murió y ella resultó herida en la Batalla de Stones River en Tennessee (1862–63). Parece que, al recibir tratamiento médico, el género de Clayton quedó revelado y le dieron de baja del ejército.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Exhibition
Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900
On View
NPG, East Gallery 111