There were a few women awarded pensions after the war. The numbers vary, but were around 300 +- women served. These women would dress and present themselves as men, wearing loose clothing, short hair, bathed in their underwear, and sometimes sporting fake mustaches.
One I found very interesting was Loreta Valezquez. She laid many claims in her memoirs in later years; even without validation of all her claims, she had a very interesting life. She claimed she was disguised as a female spy at one point for the Confederate Army. Imagine, a woman pretending to be a man, pretending to be a woman. She served as Lieutenant Harry Buford fighting at the First Bull Run, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh.
Many women served as nurses and Sutlers assisting the troops in the field and at home. Sutlers were basically merchants; selling goods to the troops.
Ahhh the prostitutes! Must have been relatively common; as I read through letters from Union and Confederate soldiers, they refer to these women coming in and out of camp on a regular basis.
Officers had their wives come into camp and stay with them in their tents. These women would cook, clean and take care of their men.
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