Today there are 400-750 women soldiers documented from the Civil War. Since women weren’t allowed to join the military, they had to disguise themselves as men. It was a big risk to take, but there was a smaller chance of getting caught then you think. Women had techniques of not getting caught. They hid by sleeping clothed, bathing separately, avoiding public latrines, and wearing heavy, baggy clothing to conceal their body shape. Even though they were unable to grow a beard, it just was thought of as an attribute of youth. The women soldiers cut their hair short and fought for the side that they believed in. The war gave women the opportunity to be involved in national affairs and function with a type of independence that seemed almost foreign to them. It also gave women a chance to control their lives, earn their own money and manage their own finances. But, with a risk there is almost always a consequence and some women soldiers experienced that.