Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

History

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

In this dissertation I reveal a same-sex sexual subculture on Union navy ships and in Union army camps with its own etiquette and racial prejudices, along with the existence of a sexual marketplace. I reveal the naval establishment’s official attitude toward coerced sex, which was one of unequivocal condemnation. Despite condemning same-sex sex, the army and the navy could be discerning in who they punished, as sometimes men convicted of sexual assaults saw their sentences overturned. I also discovered that men could use accusations of sodomy as a weapon and sexual slanders as a way to needle superior officers. I use the case of Lieutenant Colonel George Hollister of the 16th New York Cavalry to show that officers were afforded a great deal more leeway when it came to the consequences of same-sex sexual behavior, but that accusations were toxic enough to kill even the career of a politically powerful officer. I showcase all of the ways men interested in sex with other men found each other, namely through signaling, touch, and very rarely, actual conversation. Finally, I show that both the navy and the army were seemingly willing to tolerate same-sex sexual interactions, so long as they did not disturb the camp or shipboard environment.

Date

4-14-2022

Committee Chair

Sheehan-Dean, Aaron

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.5817

Available for download on Thursday, April 05, 2029

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