A Women's Role and Expectation
Important Women of the Civil War
Harriet Tubman (1820-1913)
Born in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1820, Harriet started her life as a slave. When she was born, her name was Araminta Ross but she would later take the name Harriet for her mother and marry a free black man with the last name of Ross. Harriet herself escaped slavery 1849, reaching Philadelphia and taking a job as a housemaid. It is of course known that Harriet Tubman was the conductor of the Underground Railroad where she helped hundreds of slaves reach freedom but it is less known that she worked for the Union as a nurse and Spy. In 1863, Harriet Tubman and several other former slaves were able to gather enough information regarding the movements of the Confederate Army in order to assist Colonel James Montgomery in a raid in South Carolina. After these series of raids, she returned as a nurse to the Union Army and even helped to combat Dysentery (Americancivilwar.com, Harriet Tubman). For more on Harriet Tubman's amazing life, visit the following website: http://americancivilwar.com/women/harriet_tubman.html
Born in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1820, Harriet started her life as a slave. When she was born, her name was Araminta Ross but she would later take the name Harriet for her mother and marry a free black man with the last name of Ross. Harriet herself escaped slavery 1849, reaching Philadelphia and taking a job as a housemaid. It is of course known that Harriet Tubman was the conductor of the Underground Railroad where she helped hundreds of slaves reach freedom but it is less known that she worked for the Union as a nurse and Spy. In 1863, Harriet Tubman and several other former slaves were able to gather enough information regarding the movements of the Confederate Army in order to assist Colonel James Montgomery in a raid in South Carolina. After these series of raids, she returned as a nurse to the Union Army and even helped to combat Dysentery (Americancivilwar.com, Harriet Tubman). For more on Harriet Tubman's amazing life, visit the following website: http://americancivilwar.com/women/harriet_tubman.html
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
Born the daughter of a preacher, Harriet is best known for her work "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which enlightened northerners to the condition on slavery in the south and greatly influenced succession talks and the abolitionist movement. During the war she visited with Abraham Lincoln and it is said that upon meeting her he remarked “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”
Born the daughter of a preacher, Harriet is best known for her work "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which enlightened northerners to the condition on slavery in the south and greatly influenced succession talks and the abolitionist movement. During the war she visited with Abraham Lincoln and it is said that upon meeting her he remarked “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”
Clara Barton (1821-1912)
Clara was perhaps one of the best known nurses of the Civil War and the good deeds that she did are still felt today as the organization she founded, The American Red Cross, is still providing life saving services today. At the start of the war, determined to help the troops, she would collect and distribute supplies but turned to nursing when she began desiring a more hands on position. She was known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," for her work. Following the war she worked closely with the war department to help lost soldiers get back to their families and went on to later found the American Red Cross in 1881, serving as its first president.
Clara was perhaps one of the best known nurses of the Civil War and the good deeds that she did are still felt today as the organization she founded, The American Red Cross, is still providing life saving services today. At the start of the war, determined to help the troops, she would collect and distribute supplies but turned to nursing when she began desiring a more hands on position. She was known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," for her work. Following the war she worked closely with the war department to help lost soldiers get back to their families and went on to later found the American Red Cross in 1881, serving as its first president.
There were also over 400 known women who fought in the Civil War as soilders, most disguised as men. Here are some of their pictures.
Jeanie Hodgers, who served under the name Albert Cashier (Jennie Hodgers, civilwar.com)
Sara Emma Edmonds, who served under the name Franklin Thompson (Sara Emma Edmonds, civilwar.com).
Loreta Janeta Valazquez, who served as Henry T. Vasquez (Loreta Janeta Valazquez, civilwar.com)
Sara Rosetta Wakeman, who served in the army as Lyons Wakeman (Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, civilwar.com)