The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States fought between northern and Pacific states (“the Union” or “the North”) and southern states that voted to secede and form the Confederate States of America (“the Confederacy” or “the South”). The central cause of the war was the status of slavery, especially the expansion of slavery into newly acquired land after the Mexican-American War.
Portraits of nurses during American Civil War
The war effectively ended on April 9, 1865. The Confederacy collapsed, slavery was abolished upon ratification of the thirteenth amendment, and four million enslaved Black people were freed.
In total the war left between 620,000 and 750,000 soldiers dead, along with an undetermined number of civilians. The Civil War remains the deadliest military conflict in American history, and accounted for more American military deaths than all other wars combined until the Vietnam War.
These amazing photos from The Library of Congress show the faces of the nineteenth century women who marshaled resources, medical skill, and courage to offer help in wartime. Florence Nightingale is credited with being the founder of modern nursing for her role in caring for wounded and dying soldiers in the Crimean War, serving as a model for the many women who provided medical care during the American Civil War.
Adeline Blanchard Tyler, also known as “Sister Tyler”, Civil War nurse in Baltimore, Chester, Pennsylvania, and Annapolis, Maryland
Alma S. Wolcott Bennett, U.S. Christian Commission nurse of Hospital No. 1, Nashville, Tennessee
Almira Fales, philanthropist and nurse during the Civil War
Ann Burtis, Civil War nurse, who worked as matron and head nurse at 1st Division U.S. General Hospital, Hampton, Virginia
Annie Etheridge, Civil War nurse of 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment, who served at battles including Bull Run, Williamsburg, Antietam, Fredricksburg, and Gettysburg and was awarded the Kearny Cross medal for bravery
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