About Nurses During the Civil War

The Civil War had a profound effect on everyone in the United States. With most of the men out fighting, the women wanted the opportunity to show support and gratitude for the soldiers. There are no concrete figures, but some historians estimate that up to 10,000 women became nurses to help the cause. Many were volunteers, but they wanted the opportunity to prove women were strong enough and smart enough to work under the most horrific conditions.

History

In the military hospitals, nurses' duties were mainly domestic in nature. They would prepare and serve meals, accommodating
each patient's diet. Doctors would determine whether the patient would receive a full, half or low diet. Low usually consisted of coffee, toast and farina. Nurses had to keep track of each patient's meal status. Nurses would distribute linens, clothing and other supplies. They would also look after the soldier's emotional needs by talking with them, reading to them and writing for them. Unlike today, they would rarely assist in surgeries.

Types

Many Civil War nurses were Sisters from religious orders. After the Battle of Antietam the Sisters at St. Joseph's of Emmitsburg, Maryland, went to the battlefield to aid the wounded soldiers from both armies. They helped prepare the survivors for transport to hospitals then continued to search for more wounded soldiers.

Features

Civil War nurses were required to wear dark colors--mostly brown or black. Dresses were not to have any frills or ornaments--definitely no hoop skirts. They were too wide to fit down narrow hospital aisles, but hoop skirts also posed a safety issue. They could easily catch on patients or equipment, causing accidents. Dark-colored fabric was used because nurses weren't supposed to stand out and also because it didn't show blood. Dresses were designed for function, not fashion. Dresses often lacked curves, and some nurses even wore trousers.

Benefits

Dorothea Dix worked as a nurse in the Civil War hospitals as a mental health specialist from 1861 until the end of the war. She organized the female nurses during the war, requiring that they were over 30 and plain looking, and determined to prove that women could make substantial contributions to the war effort.

Benefits

Also in 1861, Clara Barton was collecting medical supplies in the Worcester, Massachusetts, area to send to the war hospitals. She served for years as a nurse tending to wounded soldiers. In 1881 she founded the American Red Cross, which she headed up until 1904.

Resources

• Sisters of Charity
• Female Nurses of the Civil War
• Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton

Photo Credit

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Nurse_Anna_Bell.jpg