Martha Jane Cannary – “Calamity Jane”

» Red - Calamity Jane...

Katie, great article on Calamity Jane. I discovered it while exploring the Women of History Event and really enjoyed it.

I think you may be right about Calamity Jane riding for the Pony Express. I think she may also have acted as a Scout before the army found out she was a woman.

I have a book that was published by Time-Life books on Women of America's West. I will take a look and see what they have to say about Jane. I am sure she is included in it. If I find anything of interest, I will let you know.

-- posted by Red

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» KatieAnne - Re: Calamity Jane...

In response to message posted by Red:

Mary,

I would sure love to know what actually happened in Calamity Jane's life. As far as I could find out during my research, nothing tangible exists as evidence for what she said she did. One book says one thing, one book says another, her words say something else - she led quite a life that much is certain. Strange thing is that other women of the time were so well documented, and she doesn't seem to have been a person to hide her light under a bushel! I think I read in "Army Wives on the American Frontier" that one of the wives, possibly Custer's but I don't have my book at hand to check, mentions Calamity Jane so she was definitely employed by the Cavalry in some capacity at some point. She was quite a woman!

Katie

-- posted by KatieAnne

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