Beyond the Battlefield: The Enduring Mystery of Albert Cashier

May 12
3 min read

Updated: May 13

By: Cassandra Williamson

11 May 2025, Monday

You might know the name Albert Cashier as a Union soldier who served bravely with the 95th Illinois Infantry during the American Civil War. His record speaks for itself: three full years of service, participation in around 40 battles including the brutal Siege of Vicksburg and the punishing Red River Campaign, and mustering out with his comrades to a hero's welcome. After the war, he settled in Saunemin, Illinois, living quietly for over four decades as a respected, hardworking member of the community, known for various jobs like church janitor and town lamplighter. He even drew a veteran's pension and voted, exercising the rights of a male citizen of his time.

But Albert Cashier's story holds a depth that goes far beyond the typical soldier's tale.

Born Jennie Irene Hodgers in Ireland in 1843, Cashier adopted a male identity before ever enlisting. This wasn't just a wartime disguise; it was the identity he lived consistently for over 50 years. For decades, through grueling campaigns where privacy was scarce and medical checks, however basic, occurred, and through forty years of civilian life in a small town, his secret held.

It was only late in life, following a debilitating accident involving an automobile in 1910 or 1911, that the truth of his assigned sex at birth was discovered by a doctor. Remarkably, the doctor, and later his employer, agreed to keep his secret. However, declining health and dementia led to his institutionalization, first at a Soldiers' Home and later at the Watertown State Hospital for the Insane. It was there his secret became public knowledge, leading to a government investigation into pension fraud.

What happened next speaks volumes about the bonds of soldiery. Cashier's former comrades from the 95th Illinois rallied, testifying not to Jennie Hodgers, but to Albert Cashier, the brave soldier they fought alongside. Their loyalty secured his pension. Despite this victory, his final years were marked by the distress of being forced to wear women's clothing in the asylum.

Yet, in death in 1915, his chosen identity was honored. He was buried in his Union uniform with full military honors, his tombstone bearing the name Albert D. J. Cashier.

Why did Jennie Hodgers become Albert Cashier? Was it solely for economic opportunity, or did it stem from a deeper sense of self, aligning with modern understandings of transgender identity? How did he maintain his identity for so long? What were the full details of his harrowing capture and escape near Vicksburg?

The full research delves deeper into these questions, exploring the sparse details of his early life, the rigors of his military service, the quiet decades in Saunemin, the painful final years, and the enduring legacy of a figure who challenges simple categorization. Discover the full story of Albert Cashier – a story of immigration, identity, courage, and the profound meaning of living authentically.

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Midday Muster, weekday afternoons around noon

On weekdays, usually at 1 PM Eastern.

[The timing is flexible since, as the caregiver for my 86-year-old mom, 64-year-old brother, and 55-year-old sister, my schedule is influenced by their appointments.]