Nurses Caring for Soldiers the Civil War

RESOURCE CENTER

Nurses Caring for Soldiers The Civil War

Elizabeth Ann Carlson

thought I would review books about nurses for this one of the nurses of prominence that Alcott knew of as column. The Wall Street Journal reviewed two part of the nurses’ corp. The reader is provided materi- books which brought them to my attention. The als from Alcott’s diary. The reader learns of Alcott’s loves one is Louisa on the Front Lines: Louisa May and how these men shaped her future writings. IAlcott in the Civil War by Samantha Seiple and the sec- Alcott becomes ill, nearly dying before her father is ond book is C lara Barton’s Civil War: Between Bullet summoned to bring her home in late January 1863. The and Hospital by Donald C. Pfanz. remainder of the book follows Louisa May Alcott’s life Louisa on the Front Lines: Louisa May Alcott in the including her work as a suffragette. On March 29, 1880, Civil War by Samantha Seiple, Seal Press-Hachette Louisa and 20 other women voted in the Concord elec- Book Group NYC 2019. 243 pages (197 text) tion for the new school committee, the fi rst time women Acknowledgments 199 Source Notes 201 to 224 Selected voted in Concord. I will not reveal the interesting twist Bibliography 225 to 228 Index 229 to 243. to this election to encourage you to read the book. Truthfully, I have never read a biography of Louisa Overall, I enjoyed reading this book although I thought May Alcott so I did not know that she served as a nurse it would have more of a focus on Civil War nurses. in the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott lived in Concord Truthfully, it is only moderately about Alcott as a nurse Massachusetts, which was known to be a town that had (around 6 months or so) and more about Alcott’s life but a large number of abolitionists who had assisted run- I found it was interesting especially if you read Alcott’s away slaves. In addition, one of the great philosophers book, Little Women . You see the people from her experi- and reformers of the time, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was a ences refl ected in this book and other writings. Concord resident and friend of the Alcott family. Louisa’s Clara Barton’s Civil War: Between Bullet and Hospital family lived on the edge of ruin because the father con- by Donald C. Pfanz (2018) Westholme Publishing LLC, sidered himself to be a great philosopher as well and Yardley, Pennsylvania. 228 pages. The book includes a pursed his philosophical dreams with complete disre- Preface, seven chapters, Appendix, Notes, Bibliography, gard for his family’s basic needs. Louisa May Alcott was Acknowledgements, and Index. $18.26 not from a typical family and she was not a conventional One of the most well-known Civil War nurses is Clara woman. She was a feminist, a “red-hot” abolitionist, an Barton. I remember reading about Clara Barton at a avid runner, and single at 28 when the Civil War began. very young age along with the fi ctional Sue Barton se- Louisa May Alcott saw herself as a writer and someone ries and the Cherry Ames series. As I read Clara Barton’s to drive the fi ght for human rights, as she and her family Civil War: Between Bullet and Hospital by Donald C. believed that men and women, regardless of race, de- Pfanz, I learned that some of what I had previously read served equal right and opportunities. about Clara Barton was also fi ctional. Alcott saw the fact that nurses were needed to care The author, Donald C. Pfanz is a historian at for soldiers during the Civil War as a way to push the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefi elds boundaries for women while gaining experiences that Memorial National Military Park. In the preface, he says would fuel her writing. Another compelling argument he fi rst became interested in Clara Barton while reading for Alcott was the pay she would receive for her work, a book about her actions in the Civil war. Barton was which she needed to support her family. Seiple thus be- described as a “heroine of mythical proportions, stand- gins Alcott’s decision to join the war as a nurse and a ing up to corrupt and incompetent offi cials, overcoming detailed description of the 6 plus months Louisa May obstacles that would have defeated others and saving Alcott served as a nurse for the Union Army. Seiple details who were allowed to serve as a nurse and the rules surrounding the nurses. Of interest are the Elizabeth Ann Carlson, PhD, RN, Professor, College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL. descriptions of the treatments and procedures used at the time and the eye-witness descriptions of how a Civil The author has disclosed no confl icts of interest. War hospital functioned. Dorothea Dix is mentioned as DOI: 10.1097/NOR.0000000000000626

Copyright © 2020 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. countless lives by her resourcefulness and determina- proximity to the battles. She had powerful men who tion” (p. ix). As the stories multiplied, he became suspi- not only gave her information but also requisitioned cious and looked at the footnotes, only to discover the horses and wagons for her use. majority were Barton herself. As a historian, this was Clara Barton certainly had an impact on the troops problematic and he began to look for original sources. during the Civil War, but her exploits grew and magni- He had read thousands of letters by Union soldiers fi ed with each retelling. Pfanz cites several discrepan- over the years and he did not remember Barton ever cies between what happened and what was reported or being mentioned in any letter. Pfanz discovered Barton written. Clara Barton was an expert at self-promotion was a remarkable nurse and did contribute but her role especially after the Civil War, as she traveled and spoke on the battlefi elds may have been less important and to groups that had supported her during the war. Pfanz infl uential as was the legend. Pfanz’s book is the result recounts her life post-war and her travels. He also in- of his inquiries. cludes some of Barton’s own writings—Clara Barton in Barton moved from her home town in Massachusetts her own words. It is very interesting reading and de- to Washington, District of Columbia, and was working scribes conditions that were awful. in the U.S. Patent Offi ce in April 1861 when Fort Overall, I really enjoyed readings this book and would Sumter was fi red upon. She began her association with highly recommend it. Pfanz does point out discrepancies the Massachusetts Militia units when she visited and situations that increased Barton’s reputation that wounded 6th Massachusetts soldiers at the Washington more likely were improbable, but the fact remains Clara Infi rmary after they were wounded defending the Barton did risk her life providing needed relief for troops capitol from Confederate troops. She saw the needs the during the Civil War. She also founded the Red Cross, men had for supplies and this was the beginning of her which continues today to provide needed relief to vic- mission to collect supplies for distribution to the tims of disasters. She is a nurse we all can and should be troops. During the Civil War, she was effective at rais- proud of and I encourage you to read this engaging book. ing money to buy supplies and did distribute them to I enjoyed reading both of these books so much so fi eld surgeries. Barton also understood the needs for that I have begun to read books about nurses during food and shelter for the soldiers who were not wounded World War II and will review those books in my next but hungry and tired. She became good friends with column. I strongly recommend both of these books, as Union General Rucker and Senator Henry Wilson, who they describe what nursing and medical care was dur- provided her with information about troop movements ing the Civil War thus explaining, in part, why so many so she could be in attendance with her supplies in close men and women died while serving.

© 2020 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses Orthopaedic Nursing • January/February 2020 • Volume 39 • Number 1 65 Copyright © 2020 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.