Hispanic Americans in the Civil War

Forgotten Fighters & Unknown Exploits

More than 20,000 Hispanic Americans served in the Civil War. When Cuban-born Loreta Janeta Valazquez's husband would not allow her to join him on the battlefield, she assumed the role of 1st Lieutenant Harry T. Buford to be near him. Philip Baazar, born in Chile, was awarded The Medal of Honor for his courageous exploits during the assault of Fort Fisher. The spying efforts of Floridian Maria Dolores "Lola" Sánchez and her two sisters led to a Union defeat at the Batlle of Horse Landing. Union Admiral David Farragut, of Spanish descent, was not only the Navy's first admiral but also the man who uttered the famous phrase "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

Delving into the lives of these figures and more, A.J. Schenkman uncovers this often-overlooked aspect of Civil War history.