Women in the Civil War

Women in the Civil War — page 5 — states would join over the next few months Now with the nation divided into North and South an attack seemed imminent After enduring 34 hours of continuous shelling Union major Robert Anderson STATES SECEDE surrendered Fort Sumter to Confederate Following Abraham Lincoln's election to the US brigadier general P G T Beauregard presidency in November 1860 Southern states began to secede from the Union over the next on April 13 In the hours that followed several months Confederate supporters gathered in South Carolina December 20 1860 Mississippi January 9 1861 Charleston South Carolina to celebrate Florida January 10 1861 and cheer as boats in the harbor blared Alabama January 11 1861 Georgia January 19 1861 their horns in support Louisiana January 26 1861 News of the surrender shocked Texas February 1 1861 Virginia April 17 1861 Northerners Still the mood in Northern Arkansas May 6 1861 cities was patriotic and upbeat President North Carolina May 20 1861 Abraham Lincoln immediately called for Tennessee June 8 1861 75 000 volunteer soldiers to join the fight against the Southern rebellion and Northerners responded quickly In Boston Massachusetts journalist Mary Livermore witnessed support for the men who agreed to serve She noted how windows were flung up and women leaned out into the rain waving flags and

Women in the Civil War — page 6 — Minnesota BRITISH NORTH AMERICA New Hampshire Vermont Maine Michigan Wisconsin Massachusetts New York Oregon Dakota Territory Washington Territory Rhode Island Connecticut Nebraska Territory Nevada Territory Iowa Pennsylvania Utah Ohio Illinois New Jersey Delaware Maryland Territory Colorado Indiana Territory Kansas West Virginia Virginia Missouri Kentucky California North Carolina Tennessee Indian Territory New Mexico Territory Arkansas Pacific Ocean South Carolina Georgia Florida Alabama Atlantic Texas Mississippi Louisiana Ocean THE BAHAMAS Union states without slavery Union states and regions with slavery Confederate states MEXICO Territories Guif of Medico South Carolina's secession in December 1960 divided the nation and led to ten more states seceding by the middle of 1961 handkerchiefs as volunteer soldiers made their way through the streets to report for duty

Women in the Civil War — page 7 — WOMEN STEP UP As men marched off to war women looked for ways they could contribute to the cause Many women on both sides of the conflict began gathering food clothing bandages and other supplies They stockpiled such items in their homes planning to send the goods to the troops as needed Women also began organizing aid societies These volunteer groups were dedicated to making much needed items for soldiers Southern groups included the Ladies Relief Society of Lynchburg Virginia and the Ladies Association in Aid of the Volunteers of the Confederate Army of Greenville South Carolina Northern organizations included the Ladies Aid Society of Columbus Ohio Sarah Emma Edmonds was one of al a least a few hundred women who fought in the Civil War

Women in the Civil War — page 8 — Thousands of women also volunteered as nurses They were inspired by stories of Florence Nightingale a British nurse famous for improving sanitary conditions and patient recovery rates in Europe and Asia during the Crimean War 1853 1856 These women left home to serve their militaries Northern women traveled to Washington DC and to Southern battlefields to care for the ill and wounded Southern women treated soldiers SEPARATE SOCIAL SPHERES on the battlefield or in makeshift hospitals The American Civil War erupted during the Victorian era 1837 1901 During this era in churches or private homes middle and upper class women and men A few women such as Edmonds went functioned in different areas of society an idea known as the doctrine of separate spheres Men as far as disguising themselves as men led public lives leaving home each day to make and fighting on battlefields Many fought money for the family Women stayed home to care for the children cook and dean These bravely alongside male soldiers who valued separate spheres made women subservient to their female comrades contributions men Still women discovered power in their These women soldiers often went socially defined sphere They used it to gain independence as they formed aid societies undetected until they were injured or killed which performed charitable work thatwas in battle considered part of their sphere Women had little time for socializing When they did socialize women were expected to follow a strict code ON THE HOME FRONT of conduct including ke eping their opinions to With battles sometimes waged in their themselves Also women were not allowed to vote and could not own property backyards Southern women endured

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