The Army Nurse: A Diary Of Lucy Stone

There is very little written record of their service though a few of the more famous names left accounts. At the beginning of the war, nurses were merely volunteers who showed up at military hospitals. But after Battle of Bull Run, Clara Barton and Dorethea Dix organized a nursing corps to help care for the wounded soldiers. http://www.historynet.com/civil-war-nurses Most of the women valorized for their contributions to the war effort were white. Yet African American women, for whom the outcome was of the greatest importance, found their own way to the battlefields.

The role nurses played during the Civil War was truly an extensive one, as the war carried the most casualties in American history and so many more injuries. Despite their invaluable work, though, their experiences have not been related in depth. Civil War Nurse: The Diary and Letters of Hannah Ropes by Joseph Brumgardt is a much-desired addition to the primary collection depicting the story of the United States medical corps during the Civil War. The book’s thesis claims that these men and women who served in the medical end of the conflict deserve attention as full participants in the war rather than as mere helpers of the main actors, more interesting than substantial. As evidence of this, the book focuses on the story of Hannah Ropes, who

“There had been sickness aplenty from the start, deadly "camp fever," which grew worse as summer went on. Anxious mothers and wives from the surrounding towns and countryside came to nurse the sick and dying.” (Chapter 2) The woman that volunteered to nurse in the army had the main thought of keeping their own families safe, not the idea of

The nurses were titled as an equal rank to the army, as both services were equally important to the military operation, however, despite the equal rank, the nurses were paid half of what the male officers and the army received. The nurses’ had to receive financial support from their families while they were away due to these highly low wages (insert reference). This negatively suggests that the importance of the nurses’ work and their contribution during the Gallipoli campaign was not highly valued. Another government source says that the nurses’ worked in different countries on ships and hospitals under deplorable and unhygienic conditions, and some also worked closer to the front line, where they could be killed. For their valuable contribution, many were ‘decorated,’ meaning awarded for bravery, and eight nurses received the Military Medal, and as it may seem there were highly valued, this proves that not all nurses were recognized for their hard work and contribution (insert reference).

Whether it be serving on the battle field, cleansing and healing wounds, or dealing with the war on the home front, running families and supporting the soldiers, Australian women have stood by the soldiers of World War One, serving their country in different ways. The war had greatly impacted and affected the women in Australia and the ones who were away to serve. Since everything in their lives at the time revolved around the war, their lives had changed drastically to cope to this new way of life. These women provided comfort, support and help, where ever they were located, to the men who were fighting at in the front lines. Nurse and medical attendees played a very important part in World War One.

Even with a lack of proper training the volunteer nurses of the Confederacy were able to make wondrous contribution to the care and treatment of injured soldiers as well as the sick. These women courageously ventured into unsanitary conditions in order to deliver proper care to their fellow countrymen. With their actions and servitude, these female nurses were able to expressly dispel the myth that had contended that Southern women were simply timid and

With men being pulled from jobs to fight in the war, it was necessary for women to take over traditionally male dominated jobs. Many women enjoyed this time of working outside of the home, and when the wars were done, had a difficult time returning to their previous lives. Nursing remained a profession in the inter and post war years that was still acceptable for respectable women to work in. This became a source of a movement that was seeing more women work outside of the home than in previous generations. While a lot of women saw this as an intermediary step until they were married, many more saw it as a valuable asset to be had.

During the time of the American Revolution, women were given a large number of economic opportunities to help support and aid men throughout the war. One of the larger ways women contributed was by becoming battlefield nurses and suppliers to provide for the soldiers. An example of one of these nurses is Margaret Corbin. Corbin was the wife of a soldier in the Continental Army and accompanied her husband to the battlefield. During the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776, Corbin's husband was killed, and she took over his position operating a cannon, her actions throughout the war led her to be the first woman to be paid a military pension.

Although the Australian Army Nursing Service was a viable occupation for women prior to WWII, few women were engaged in this service, as women needed a sufficient education and there was a strong push from the government for women to stay out of the workforce (State Library of Victoria, 2015). These sentiments underwent dramatic change during the war, with an increasing number of women contributing to the war and enjoying it. Sister Jane Tivey, a nurse on board the ship ‘Destroyer’ in WWII described this liberation, “On the Destroyer it was the most marvellous feeling… [even though] I hadn’t had a bath for five days and slept in my clothing” (Australian War Memorial, 2015). This was a common attitude for women of all ages as corroborated by sixteen year old Grace Wallace, a volunteer for the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in WWII. Wallace denoted that times were tough, work was hard but the girls got on quite well together (Green Net, 2015).

Playing a major role, “Civil War nurses cleaned and bandaged wounds, fed soldiers, dispensed medication and assisted surgeons during operations and medical procedures like amputations” (Brooks). Wounded soldiers relied on the nurses, hoping that they would do whatever they can to get them back on the battlefield. Women who worked as, “Army nurses traveled from hospital to hospital, providing humane and efficient care for wounded, sick and dying soldiers” (“history.org staff”). Women helped the soldiers out a lot during the war caring for them when wounded or sick. Without women being Nurses, the soldiers would not be getting as much helped as they needed.

Retrieved November 29, 2017, from docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/velaquez/ill1.html Female Soldiers in the Civil War. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/female-soldiers-civil-war Gardner, J. (n.d.). Fredericksburg, Va. Nurses and officers of the U.S. Sanitary Commission [Digital image].

The war nurses

Furthermore, many women, especially in the North, filled roles as teachers and office workers. Women from both the North and South also became nurses during the war. Their goal was to help those who were injured to have a faster recovery from their injuries. Female nurses did also perform tasks such as cooking food and doing the laundry.

The Civil war brought large amounts of despair for people of both the North and the South. However, women during this time period were subject to a new sense of opportunity that would that would influence many to become leaders and take on important roles both on and off the battlefield. On the battle field many women were nurses and helped take care of soldiers who were wounded while others actually fought in the war disguised as men. Furthermore, women had important roles besides helping on the frontlines. Many took on new roles at home when the men in the family left to fight in the war.

In the mid-1800s, as America was growing, socially, and economically, there was a higher demand for nurses due to people getting hurt more often. During the Civil War of 1861 many soldiers, from both the Union and the south, were traumatically injured. An Abundance of nurses were needed to compensate the massive number of patients. One African American woman had a passion for people and the drive to make a difference. Mary Eliza Mahoney was born May 7, 1845.