Women's Role In The Civil War

The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest battle in America’s history, started on September 17, 1862. Many women had been parted from their husbands because of the drafts. The women had wanted to make a difference from the beginning of the war. One way that many women helped was being nurses. It was a crucial way to help. Dorothea Dix had told the public that she would not accept provocative women that would distract the soldiers or act uncivilized or unfeminine in any way. Dix wanted nurses past the age of 30, they needed to be healthy, they had to dress plain almost with repulsion, and a lack from any personal attractions. Because she had not wanted any affairs between the soldiers and the nurses. Thousands of women in the North and South had volunteered to be nurses, it was the first time

Some famous nurses that helped in the Civil war were, Clara Barton was often found working behind the lines. After the war she had started the American Red Cross. Louisa May Alcott was a volunteer nurse in the Civil War, more formally known for her book, Little Women. Many of these women had other things to do but found it in their hearts to help the soldiers. And that was just some of many nurses in the Civil War.

Other ways that women helped in the Civil War were by being, cooks, daughters of regiments, flag bearers, laundresses, scouts, seamstresses, soldiers, spies, and vivandières also known as canteen carriers. There was some more jobs that women did to help. There were many women on the front. After the battle had cleared many soldiers would go and check to dead soldiers. More than likely there had been more than one female soldier dead. More than 400