Titles with hidden meaning are always intriguing. So it is with “Behind the Rifle: Women Soldiers in the Civil War.”

The author, Shelby Harriel of Pearl River Community College, will speak at the Tuesday meeting of the Natchez Historical Society.

Harriel will explain the two-fold meaning of the title as well as answer another oft-asked question: Is there anything new to write about the Civil War?

She will address other fascinating questions: Why were women on the battlefield ? Were they legally allowed? Were they ever discovered, and, if so, what happened to them? Did they participate in major campaigns? The questions go on and on.

Harriel will answer those and many more questions. USA Today wrote “Absorbing reading, ‘Women’ is an eye-opening treatise on the role of women combatants during the Civil War in general and Mississippi in particular.”

Her sources include period and contemporary books, newspapers, periodicals, letters, diaries and genealogy of both male and female soldiers as well as Civil War prisoners of war and service records, and hospital and burial records.

Contrary to the obvious conclusion, she became a teacher of math rather than history. In a recent interview at Lemuria Books, Harriel explained, “I became interested in the Civil War in elementary school when we were first introduced to the subject in our Mississippi History class. I was absolutely fascinated to learn that my state had left the United States and formed a whole new country. I had to find out more.”

That interest led the future math teacher into intensive research, resulting in numerous publications and ultimately this book. She has appeared on many interview shows across the country. Her enthusiasm makes her an entertaining speaker as she shares her fascinating look at an often-overlooked subject. (Her obvious passion for her subject and in-depth knowledge must make her elementary school teacher proud.)

Noted MPB interviewer, Karen Brown recently asked in a radio interview, “Why were they there and how did they pull it off?”

The answers provide a valuable contribution to the extensive Civil War literature.

Come find out who those hidden soldiers behind the rifle were, where (and why) they fought in Mississippi and elsewhere, and the horrors they experienced.

Harriel will answer all those questions at the meeting of the Natchez Historical Society on Tuesday.

Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 Commerce St. Harriel will speak at 7 p.m. with a book-signing to follow. The public is invited to attend.

Maria Bowser is publicity chair of the Natchez Historical Society.