Malinda Blalock

Malinda Blalock

Sarah Malinda Pritchard Blalock (1842, Avery County, North Carolina – 1901, Watauga County, North Carolina) was a female soldier during the American Civil War. Despite originally being a sympathizer for the right of secession, she fought bravely on both sides. During the last years of the war, she was a pitiless pro-Union marauder, tormenting the Appalachia region. Currently, she's one of the most remembered female warriors of the Civil War.

After North Carolina's region of Appalachia was occupied by the Confederates, Sarah couldn't tolerate the mandatory separation from her beloved soldier husband, the fervent unionist William McKesson Blalock -- who was nicknamed "Keith". She followed him by joining the CSA's 26th North Carolina Regiment, disguising herself as a young male soldier named Samuel Blalock.

Eventually, they escaped by crossing the enemy lines and joining the Union partisans in the mountains of western North Carolina. From this point onwards, Sarah and Keith harassed their natal region vengefully against the local supporters of the Confederate States of America.