Unknown to the public, there’d always been women hiding in the ranks of the American Army, dressing and behaving as men. Some followed husbands and lovers, even fighting and dying beside them. Others of a different sort endured army life strictly for money, maintaining a periodic monopoly on certain services among an exclusive and captive, often protectively appreciative clientele. The practice wasn’t widespread, but was more common than any civilian would believe. Observant officers knew about it, but few took notice unless they had to. It often came down to whether the affected unit would be
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