Anna Etheridge (1839-1913) had been a nurse for her sick father as well as at a common hospital before she started her real career as what's called a "camp follower". That happened when she followed her Union soldier husband as he entered the American Civil War, but when he deserted, she stayed on, and became one of the only 2 women who were given the Kearny Cross. Not being in favor of wars of any kind I ought not praise Anna, but it's obvious from all accounts that she was a dedicated as well as very brave woman who made it her duty to see to it that the wounded soldiers were saved from the battlefield and treated when possible. The soldiers called her "Gentle Annie" and she was held in high esteem by them.

She was armed with two pistols which she knew how to use, and she had her own horse, but she doesn't seem to have taken part in the battles as anything, but a very dedicated nurse. However, there are reports of her being present on the battlefields, even when the fights were at their fiercest with bullets and shrapnel flying everywhere. I've seen no indications that she herself became wounded, except for a wound in one of her hands, but her bravery as a nurse has been praised by many. The government didn't approve of women in the field, and she, as well as other women, decided to serve on transport ships, but sometimes she had to enter enemy territory to retrieve the wounded. It seems that she had some close calls both before and after this interim in her years of service, but was neither caught nor seriously wounded.

Wikipedia