1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: Ridiculous History is a production of I Heart Radio. One 2 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 1: of the weird things about US history is that we 3 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: have strange names for wars. We call the Civil War 4 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: the Civil War, which is a weird dame if you 5 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:42,319 Speaker 1: think about it, for any sort of war, especially one 6 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: that bellicose and bloody. Here's a fact you may not 7 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: know about the Civil War. There are over four hundred 8 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: solidly documented cases of women disguising themselves as men and 9 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: fighting as soldiers on both sides of the conflict, the 10 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: Union and the Confederacy. Welcome to Ridiculous History. My name 11 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: is Ben, my name is Knoel, and Ben, I'm I'm 12 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: just gonna go ahead and get this out of the way, 13 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: get out of my system right up front, sort of 14 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: like Mulan. You're getting something out of your system. Like No, No, 15 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: this this case of like the women dressing up like 16 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,279 Speaker 1: so they could fight in the war, kind of like Mulan. 17 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: Which is how about to have a live action adaptation? 18 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: Quite excited. This episode is not brought to you by 19 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: the Disney Corporation. No, but it's an interesting distinction, Ben, 20 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: because a lot of folks women dressed up in men's 21 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: clothing and passed as men in order to either escape 22 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: a harsh life and get the relatively stable life of 23 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: a soldier, which gave you three square meals a day, 24 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: roof over your head, et cetera. I mean, of course, 25 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: you know, you had to put your life on the 26 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: line for some folks that might have been preferable to 27 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: the conditions they were living in before that. Um, this 28 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: story that we're talking about today is a little different 29 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: because the individual that's the center of this story is 30 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: someone who continued to go on living as a man 31 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: after the war was over. That's correct, That's correct. And 32 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: we want to be very clear here. Science shows that 33 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: gender as it is commonly understood is largely a social construct, 34 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: and we wanted to share with you today the story 35 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: of Albert Cashier, who fought for the Union in the 36 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: US Civil War and was a trans man before before 37 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: we continue, I can't believe we got this far in 38 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: the episode without shouting out our super producer, Casey Pegram. Now, Casey, 39 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: you're not what people would describe as a Civil War 40 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: buff especially, is that correct? That's correct? Yeah, I'm not 41 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: really too heavily invested in that. What was that four 42 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: hour Civil War film? The Civil War, Gettysburg. Gettysburg. Wasn't 43 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: there one that? Probably ten or twelve? Okay? So okay, Well, 44 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: like I was thinking of of a high account Civil 45 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: War documentary. Um. I love how skin Burns his documentaries 46 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: are so like authoritative, They're just like jazz baseball the 47 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: Civil War. I want him to go a little more 48 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: of fields sometimes, you know, I wish he just did 49 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: very very specific things, you know, like mascots. That'd be good. 50 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what it's very very specific about ken 51 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: Burns is his haircut. Have you seen it? It's like 52 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: a very uh interesting twist on the bowl cut. I mean, 53 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 1: he's lived in his life. He is living his life. 54 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: And I'll tell you else was living their lives is 55 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: Albert Cashier, who was born on December eight, forty three 56 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: in a fantastically named Cloggerhead County. Maybe it's claw for head. 57 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: There's a g h sound. What do you think, Ben, 58 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: we learned our lesson about Gaelic. Let's just spell it 59 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: c l O g h e r head. I'm gonna 60 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: go with clover Head. That's what I'm gonna shoot for um, 61 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: And that is in the County of Louth. Luth, Luth, 62 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: I would I would, I would Hazard? It is Luth, 63 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: you would Hazard did this Luth. Let's see what four 64 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: vo has to say about this. Loud the robot voice 65 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: has spoken. Louth is what we shall go with today 66 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: for the purposes of this story. So yeah, County of Louth, Ireland. 67 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: And the interesting thing, or the I guess galling thing 68 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: about the story is that there isn't that much that 69 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: we know about this person's life. And the things that 70 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 1: we do know come from a recorded account when Cashier 71 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: was going through the throes of dementia back in nineteen thirteen. Um. 72 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: But we are going to do our best piece together 73 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: what we do know about this fascinating individual and their 74 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: bravery and their life rights. So the account comes when 75 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: Cashier is seventy years old and suffering from a bit 76 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: of mental deterioration with age. Here's what we know. So 77 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: Cashier was born in Ireland, as you said in eighteen three, 78 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: immigrated to illan away at a very young age, sometime 79 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: in childhood, but exactly when is not clear, as a 80 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 1: cast or as a stowaway on a ship to first 81 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: two I want to say England London, and then carried 82 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: on to New York City, and from his teenage years 83 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: Cashier was living as a man, and he did so 84 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: until his death at age seventy one. So the account 85 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: we have comes one year before he passes away, and 86 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: his story is remembered because of his service in the 87 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: Civil War. Cashier is one of many, many people who 88 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: were living their lives in a way that was largely 89 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: unacknowledged by the public, by the communities through which they moved. 90 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: And that's that's a problem that continues today throughout the 91 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: throughout the world, throughout the species. But in Cashier's case, 92 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: Uncle Sam itself infirmed or affirmed would be a better word, 93 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: this male identity. We know that at some point after immigrating, 94 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: Cashier was given men's clothing by an uncle or stepfather, 95 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: with the idea being that, you know, hey, kid, wear 96 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: this and you can get a job at this shoe factory. 97 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: And that's where that's where Albert adopts the name Albert Cashier. 98 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: It's interesting to you that there's this idea of of 99 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: cooperation from a you know, member of the patriarchy that 100 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: was that would potentially have had a problem with this 101 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: and uh caused uh, you know, a lot of difficulties 102 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: for this this young person at the time. UM. But 103 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: the account that we have is that the uncle or 104 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: stepfather was in fact cooperative and helpful and helped helped Albert, 105 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 1: you know, mask his assigned gender identity and uh, secure 106 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: work at a shoe factory. Um. And that's where he 107 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: took on the name Albert Cashier so that he could work. 108 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: And he lived by himself and he kept to himself. 109 00:06:57,880 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: And that's something that he would continue doing once he 110 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: listed in the Union Army in eighteen sixty two. UM. 111 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 1: He would shower on his own, he would change into 112 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: his you know, from his uniform on his own, and 113 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: that wasn't seen as being particularly strange, right, Like, that 114 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: was pretty common according to some of the records that 115 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: we've seen for other soldiers to do that. It wasn't 116 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: like a big boys club kind of locker room situation, 117 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: right right. And for the record, eighteen sixty two, that 118 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: makes Albert nineteen when joining the Union. So here's what 119 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: we know for certain. On August sixth, eighteen sixty two, 120 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: nineteen year old Albert Cashier was a resident of Belvedere, Illinois, 121 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: and enlisted in the ninety five Illinois infantry. Like you 122 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, Noel Albert was known to keep mostly to 123 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: himself and the only thing people really called out about 124 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: or busted chops about with him was that he was 125 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: the shortest person in the squad. But he passed the 126 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: medical exam, which only consisted of looking at like things 127 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: like teeth and I guess arches, you know, make sure 128 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: he didn't have any bone spurs or anything. I guess 129 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: um and the ability to wield rifle. Those are the 130 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: things that there was no looking at. The private bits 131 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: right right. Cashier was also known for being the silent type, 132 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: not not super extroverted, but being very, very brave in 133 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: the field of battle. We also found that correspondencies from 134 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:40,959 Speaker 1: the time suggest Cashier had a significant other during the war, 135 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: and like many other soldiers on both the Union and 136 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: Confederate sides of that conflict, Cashier wrote to this significant 137 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: other that was the Morey family, um he kept in 138 00:08:54,280 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: contact with in Babcox Grove, Illinois. Cashier's regiment participated in 139 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: over forty uh engagements battles in the war um They 140 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: were part of the Army of the Tennessee, and that 141 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: included the Siege of Vicksburg, the Red River Campaign, battles 142 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: in Kennesaw Mountain, and Jonesboro, Georgia very near where we 143 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: are here in Atlanta, and also the Battle of Nashville, 144 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: and he survived. In fact, he also, uh, there's a 145 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: story that isn't very detailed, but he supposedly was captured 146 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: at one point, and he more or less just was 147 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: a badass and like knocked over his captor and ran 148 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: on foot all the way back to his his camp 149 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: and escaped, and all the while avoiding being detective. He 150 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: was even treated for diarrhea once and was able to 151 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: kind of like wiggle his way out of getting inspected 152 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: in any kind of way that would have given away 153 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: his secret. And that capture was in eighteen sixty three 154 00:09:53,679 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: during the Siege of Vicksburg. In maybe so Cashier serves 155 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: a three year enlistment with his regiment until they are 156 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: mustard out honorably discharged on August sixteenth of eighteen sixty five. 157 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: To put in perspective how amazing it is for anyone 158 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: to survive this sort of conflict. Out of the regiment, 159 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: two hundred and eighty nine soldiers died due to death 160 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: on battlefield or due to disease, because I thought it 161 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: was interesting that you mentioned the idea of joining a 162 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: military to get three square meals a day. That is 163 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: the case now right in the in the U. S. 164 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: Military and most Western militaries. You will be you will 165 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: be fed, you will have a place to sleep. It 166 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: may not be ideal, but you will have those things. 167 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: This was not always the case in the Union and 168 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: Confederate armies. People were fighting for ideological reasons. At least 169 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: the people, the people on the ground. And Albert's reputation 170 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: continues well after the war. His brothers and arms remember 171 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: this guy that they thought was, you know, kind of short, 172 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: but so brave. It was plucky, you know, and uh, 173 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: he undertook dangerous assignments. He was admired for his heroic actions, 174 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 1: his bravery, and he was somewhat of an enigmatic, fascinating 175 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: figure because he never seemed to get a serious injury. 176 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: He was blessed in some way, very much so. And 177 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: that reputation um carried over into his life after the war, 178 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: where he continued to keep to himself. Um. You know, 179 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: it makes sense that he would do that because too 180 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,599 Speaker 1: many questions are getting too close to anybody could have 181 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: opened the door to him being discovered, which could have 182 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: robbed him of his pension. That's another thing that is 183 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 1: a positive aspect of being in the military. You get 184 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: paid even after your service, of which he did the 185 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: full term, by the way. So he moved back to 186 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: a small community in Illinois where he had immigrated to 187 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: originally and was like a pillar of the community. People 188 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: you know, didn't really know too much about him, but 189 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: he was like regarded as a very good citizen and 190 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: treated with respect and no one invaded his privacy. And 191 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: during this time he had many odd jobs, including like 192 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: he was like a lamplighter for the city. I think 193 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: he was a custodian at a hospital, and he also 194 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: worked for a lawmaker. He found himself working for Senator 195 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: Ira Lash And that is when things kind of started 196 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,359 Speaker 1: going downhill for Cashier when the Senator, the honorable Senator, 197 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: accidentally hit Cashier with his car and broke his leg, 198 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 1: forcing him to be taken to hospital and examined. Right 199 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: and at this time, you know, as as we said, 200 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: he was a respected established member of the unity. He 201 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 1: wasn't he wasn't like a Boo Radley type shut in 202 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: from Harper leaves to kill a mocking bird. He he 203 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: was known, he was active. He wore his uniform all 204 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: the time and buttoned up to his neck, apparently to 205 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: hide the fact that he did not have an Adam's apple. 206 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: That's correct, and you can read an excellent source on 207 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: this from Irish Times dot com when Jenny Came Marching Home. 208 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: An Irish Woman's Diary on Albert Cashier in the US 209 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 1: Civil War by Nora id Mcalife. So let's fast forward November. 210 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: The Senator hits Cashier with his car. Albert at this 211 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: point is sixty seven years old. His leg is broken, 212 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: goes to hospital, as you said, and the hospital, the 213 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,719 Speaker 1: staff of the hospital learns the sex assignment. They agree 214 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: that they are not going to betray of the trust. 215 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: This is. This is a a bunch of doctors and 216 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 1: medical professional again, incredibly progressive and super helpful and very 217 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: lucky in the string of like lucky events that has 218 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: led this person to have not been exposed for sixty 219 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: seven years of their life. Um, but yeah, there's there. 220 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: They all that they can't all be good eggs because 221 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: once he has treated he is then he doesn't really 222 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: have any much money other than his pension. He can't 223 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: really work anymore, so he's sent to a place called 224 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Quincy, Illinois, where he 225 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: is going to convalesce um and stays there for a 226 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: few years. He stays there for a few years. In 227 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: that amount of time, he starts to get the onset 228 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: of that dementia that we mentioned the top of the show, 229 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: and that's when he's sent to this is a horrible term, 230 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: but this is what it was referred to at the time, 231 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: a state hospital for the insane, and there his sex 232 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: assignment is discovered again and they aren't so kind about it. No, 233 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: the Senator Lish intervened and Lish, from what we could tell, 234 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: is the person who actually disclosed the sex assignment of 235 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: Albert Cashier and warned the staff of this state hospital 236 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: to keep the information a secret. But these two male 237 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: nurses forced Albert to wear a dress and then took 238 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: the information public and the media got ahold of it, 239 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: and the story went national. And at this time, remember 240 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: we mentioned the pension earlier. At this time, the Veterans 241 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: pension Board gets gets wind of this, and they instead 242 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: of recognizing the soldier's duty and the fact that they 243 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: did the full term right of of their enlistment. Instead 244 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: of recognizing that, the Veterans Pension Board begins to investigate 245 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: Albert for fraud. And keep in mind, keep in mind, 246 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: to this point, Albert is sixty nine, seventy years old 247 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: and suffering from this cognitive decline. They go on to 248 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: say they had insult injury in saying that there's no 249 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: way this old elderly person within their frail state could 250 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: have possibly been the heroic soldier who fought in the war. 251 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: And also because of obviously the fact that they're female. Um, 252 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: but again really progressive thinking at this time, his compatriots, 253 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: you know, from his army days, come to his aid 254 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: and back up his story and say, no, this was 255 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: the guy that's and we don't care or I don't know, 256 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: it's not I mean, obviously they would have heard the 257 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: stories and they would have had to come to his 258 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: aid for a reason, and so they had to have 259 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: like not cared. This was national news, national news. They 260 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: had to have like not held a grudge or you 261 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: would think that you know, uh, maybe they would have 262 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: felt betrayed or something like that, or allied to but 263 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: instead they seemed to see through to the truth of 264 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: the matter and come to his defense, and the the 265 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: board decided to continue paying out his pension as they 266 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: should have. Yeah, assented, because think about this, Think about 267 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: the time in which this debate is occurring. What are 268 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: you going to do, as the Veteran Board if other 269 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: veterans come to you and say, essentially, you were insulting 270 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: the entire concept of serving in the military and you 271 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: are not holding up your end of the bargain, and 272 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 1: this is heartbreaking. So Albert's fellow soldiers vouch for him 273 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: and raise enough of a stink and attention that the 274 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 1: Veteran Board does continue these pension payments. But Albert is 275 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: still lost in this place and declared insane. Albert fights 276 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 1: the best way he can. Uh. He takes the skirts 277 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: that he's forced to wear and he ties them up 278 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: with safety pins so he can form pants out of them. 279 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: But Albert trips one day, breaks a hip, and eventually 280 00:17:55,480 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: dies on October, age seventy one. I know this sounds 281 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 1: like down red folks, but we promise you we do 282 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: have a happy ending of sorts. Yeah, there's definitely a 283 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 1: really powerful legacy left behind. Let's also not forget that 284 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: the conditions that he was exposed to our direct result 285 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: of a time before mental health reform, where you know, 286 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: the idea of being insane practically relegated you to you know, 287 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: forced confinement and very little actual treatment, and you know, 288 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: sort of just being almost abandoned and left to rot. 289 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: You know, there's all these these stories we know about 290 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 1: the conditions and quote unquote mental asylums. You know, insane 291 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: asilence is what this would have been considered, and they 292 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 1: were absolutely horrible and in humane. Here is the bitter 293 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: suite powerful ending. When Albert Keshier passes away, he has 294 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 1: given a full military funeral. He is buried in uniform, 295 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: the uniform he always dressed even after the war. There 296 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 1: is a gravestone erected to him. The gravestone does not 297 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: read Jenny Hodgers. The gravestone reads Albert D. J. Cashier. 298 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 1: Six years later, the headstone has changed such that both 299 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: names are there, the original name and then Albert's name. 300 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: How do you feel about them? I don't know, you know, 301 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: I I don't know how he would feel about because 302 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: wondering why they why they chose to do that. Was 303 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: there some kind of outcry that like forced that's just 304 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: such an odd choice to me. Yeah, as well, I 305 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: don't know, because we know that Albert definitely did not 306 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 1: have a say and that you know. Uh, but here's 307 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: the thing. The town in Illinois where Albert is buried, 308 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: they remember him today. You can go to Sonomon, Illinois, 309 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: and you will see US and Irish flags flying side 310 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: by side at the home of Albert D. J. Cashier, 311 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: very modest, one bedroom home that you can, I believe, tour. 312 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: The mayor will also give you a tour. It makes me, 313 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: it makes me, uh, I don't know. It's kind of 314 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: heartwarming to think that you can go to this small 315 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: town and you can call up the mayor and they'll say, okay, 316 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: I'll take you over to the house. I'll you know, 317 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: I'll even walk you to the grave. It's it's heartwarming 318 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: to me that you can literally call up the mayor 319 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 1: of the town and they'll take you on a tour. 320 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: That's pretty neat. It is pretty net and um, I 321 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: I have to be honest, I was unaware of this story, 322 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: but clearly some people were, because there is in fact 323 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: a Broadway musical, or a Broadway style musical um about 324 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 1: the life of Albert Cashier. That came out in seventeen 325 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: and I got pretty great reviews and played at the 326 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: Seven Stage seven seventy three in Chicago. Having anything about 327 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: a Broadway run, but I'd be very interested in seeing this. 328 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: It's called The Civility of Albert Cashier by j. Paul 329 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: Derratani and the score is by Joe Stevens and Keaton Wooden. 330 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: And here's a little blurb from one of the cast 331 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 1: members by the name of Delia Crop quote. In so 332 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 1: many ways, Albert's story is a true American one, a 333 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: soldier who served their country and wanted nothing more than 334 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: personal liberty to live life as they wished to. Which, 335 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: when you put it that way, how much more American 336 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: can you get? What else do you want? That's a 337 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 1: that's personal freedom right. And even though the practice of 338 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: the law doesn't adhere to the letter of the law 339 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: near as often as I think we would all like, 340 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: it is inspirational. It doesn't matter who you are, you 341 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: should be inspired by this. As we mentioned earlier, Albert 342 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: Cashier was not the only person in this situation. And 343 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: there is an important distinction to make here. More than 344 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: two fifties Civil War soldiers were assigned female at birth. 345 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: Most of those soldiers are assumed by historians today to 346 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 1: have been sis gender women in disguise for the purpose 347 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: of getting around army regulations. Mulan like mulan. So some 348 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: would fight to be close to their significant other or 349 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: their spouse. Uh, some were straight up trying to escape slavery, right, which, 350 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: of course, who could blame him? And so that's that's 351 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: sort of the point we made earlier, where it's like, 352 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,120 Speaker 1: the conditions that would maybe cause someone to look at 353 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: military service as a better alternative to the life they're 354 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 1: leading before those previous conditions had to be pretty rough. 355 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: Slavery would certainly be one of them. Abject poverty, things 356 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 1: like that, an abusive relationship or a home situation, you know, 357 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: would make one seek out any alternative, and the army 358 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: was certainly one of those. And while Albert Cashier was 359 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: a transman and trans soldier fighting in the Civil War, Uh, 360 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: this story doesn't stop here, Christine Jorgensen. It's actually the 361 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: first American trans woman who was widely known for having 362 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,239 Speaker 1: a sex reassignment surgery. And and this goes back a 363 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 1: little bit farther right. No, yeah, I mean call the 364 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,239 Speaker 1: Cashier story a precedent if you will, UM or just 365 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: call it kind of a spiritual successor. But Jorgensen, who 366 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: was in the army UM in and she during that 367 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: time she learned about UM the possibility of getting sexual 368 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: reassignment surgery, and she started to get that process underway 369 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: in Denmark in nineteen fifty one. And when she came 370 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 1: back to the US in the early nineteen fifties, it 371 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: became kind of a pretty hot button story when the 372 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: New York Daily News reported it with the headline x 373 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:40,719 Speaker 1: G I becomes blonde bombshell. She documented her life extensively. 374 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: She became a huge figure in the trans community early 375 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: days of the trans community. Um and was you know, 376 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 1: made appearances on talk shows, She toured college campuses talk 377 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: about her transition in her life living as a trans woman. 378 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: She became an actress, a nightclub performer, and she was 379 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: very very sharp witted and um She passed away in 380 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty nine. Um and she referred to her impact 381 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: on the sexual revolution as having given it a good 382 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: swift kick in the pants. It's kind of kick started. 383 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: And there's already been an indie movie made about Jorgensen. 384 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: And also additionally, Edwoods Glenn or Glenda definitely tried tried to, 385 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 1: let's say, take inspiration from Christine Jorgensen's story, But these 386 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: stories are important to remember, and we also want to 387 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 1: acknowledge that the struggle, the search for validation, recognition of 388 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 1: your own identity, and the right to live as you 389 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: wish is a fundamental part of being a human being. 390 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:57,360 Speaker 1: So thankfully Albert Cashier, despite the social climate and discrimination 391 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: of the time, was able to get the recognition he deserved. 392 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,919 Speaker 1: We still have a long way to go, and we 393 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 1: have to wonder what future historians will say about these 394 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: are modern days. I don't know, man, sure seems like 395 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: we're living in a time where, um, things like this 396 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: are much more mainstream and much more accepted. And like 397 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: my kid has grown up being completely comfortable with the 398 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 1: idea of trans people that she has several in her class, 399 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: and she is just like just it's it's it's it's 400 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: basically the new normal. And I think that's an amazing 401 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: place for us to be, given how far we've come. Agreed, agreed, 402 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for tuning in today. We hope 403 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: that you enjoyed this exploration of Albert's life, and we 404 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: would like to hear from you. What are some other 405 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: amazing and inspirational stories of individuals in times of conflict 406 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be restricted to the Civil War here 407 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: in the United States. Let us know we are all 408 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 1: ears or eyes rather, because we'll probably be reading what 409 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: you sent to us. You can email us directly. We 410 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: are Ridiculous at I heart radio dot com. You can 411 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: also find our Facebook page Ridiculous Historians, where you can 412 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: meet our favorite part of the show. The three of 413 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: us are always talking about you off air, your fellow listeners. Yeah. 414 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: You can also check me and Ben out individually on Instagram. 415 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,360 Speaker 1: I've got an account under how Now Noel Brown where 416 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: you can just catch me doing you know, the things 417 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: I do day to day, which apparently includes getting kicked 418 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: in the shens by little kids and until I get 419 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: black bagged and disappeared for my my various misadventures. You 420 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: can find me at Ben Bolan on Instagram. Thanks so 421 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: much to our super producer casey La Bush Pegroom. Thanks 422 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: to our research associates Ryan Bearish and Gabe Bluesia. Yeah 423 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,119 Speaker 1: big thanks to Alex Williams who composed our theme Chris 424 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: for us stots here in spirit Jonathan Strickland looming large 425 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: in the world of quiz related super villainy. And thanks 426 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: to you, Ben for being a friend and a confidant 427 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: down that road and back again and all that. Thanks 428 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 1: to see you next time Fox. For more podcasts for 429 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: My Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple podcast, 430 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.