From the earliest days of the western frontier, women heeded the call to
go west along with their husbands, sweethearts, and parents. Many of
these women were attached to the army camps and outposts that dotted the
prairies. Some were active participants in the skirmishes and battles
that took place in the western territories. Each of these women-wives,
mothers, daughters, laundresses, soldiers, and shamans-risked their
lives in unsettled lands, facing such challenges as bearing children in
primitive conditions and defying military orders in an effort to save
innocent people. Soldier, Sister, Spy, Scout tells the story of twelve
such brave women-Buffalo Soldiers, scouts, interpreters, nurses, and
others-who served their country in the early frontier. These heroic
women displayed a depth of courage and physical bravery not found in
many men of the time. Their remarkable commitment and willingness to
throw off the constraints of nineteenth-century conventions helped build
the west for generations to come.