Women in the Civil War: Dorthea Dix, the Sanitary Commission, and Nurses

Before the Civil War, women's lives were shaped by certain cultural ideals and standards; "true women" devoted themselves to creating and maintaining their domestic spheres and homes as havens for their husbands and children. However, during the Civil War, American women began to turn their attention to the world outside of their homes. Many women on both sides of the war signed up as nurses; it was the first time in American history that women played a significant role in the war effort.

When the troops began to gather in the early stages of the War, women organized societies, campaigns, and fairs to raise money for supplies and necessities. They laundered uniforms, knitted socks, embroidered quilts, and baked/canned goods for the soldiers. While all these efforts were truly sincere and helpful, many women wanted to take a more active role in the war effort. Inspired by Florence Nightingale and other previous nurses, they tried to find a way to care for the sick and injured of the Union. Eventually in 1861, the federal government created a "hygenic and sanitary service for the benefit of the army" called the United States Sanitary Commission. The primary objective were to fight diseases and infections by improving conditions in army camps and hospitals, and to provide relief to the sick and wounded soldiers. By the end of the war, the Commission had provided more than $14 million in supplies to the Union army. 

Nearly 3,000 middle-class white women worked as nurses, with another 20,000  women (working-class white and enslaved or free African-American) worked as laundresses and cooks. Superintendent of Army nurses Dorthea Dix put out a call for responsible volunteers who would not distract the troops or behave in unseemly ways, and insisted that her nurses be "past 30 years of age, healthy, and plain almost to repulsion in dress and devoid of personal attractions". These army nurses traveled from hospital to hospital, providing much-needed care to the wounded and sick soldiers, perhaps even acting as mothers and angels to the desolate soldiers.

These women who volunteered to serve their country were incredible; they had the courage and resolution to help in any way possible and were determined to do their share in the war effort. Their efforts and services were incalculable to the soldiers serving, and reflected their personal commitment to the cause. 

First Modern War - Part II

The Civil War is considered to be the first modern war, due to both the technological advances in communication, weapons, ships, and transportation along with the casualties and desolation they caused. The second post following this theme will discuss two other inventions and innovations: naval warfare and firearm improvements. Unlike before, these items had a direct influence on the increase of casualties and destruction in the Civil War.

Naval Warfare: The naval sphere experienced a significant development which was well-used in the Civil War- the use of iron-clad ships. These ships were able to better withstand engagements, and became formidable adversaries for traditional wooden ships. When a previous Union ship known as the Merrimac was raised and outfitted with armor plating by the Confederates, it easily destroyed many of the Union wooden ships. Soon, the USS Monitor (the Union's first ironclad ship) engaged the vessel; the conflict ended in an unusual draw. However, it soon became clear that the wooden ship was soon to become obsolete. 

One of the main tactics of the Union offensive was to blockade Southern ports, and in response the Confederates developed a fleet of swift and nimble ships to run the blockades; these ships were known as blockade-runners and they had steam power in addition to traditional sails. The Confederates also developed the first naval mines in response to Union naval advances. When a ship contacted a mine it would explode and sink the hapless ship. These mines were promising and sank at least forty Union ships.


Firearm Improvements: Any ordnance improvements that occurred in the Civil War would not only bring about more bloodshed and destruction, but would also change the way in which the war was waged. In the beginning of the war, most infantryman were equipped with muskets that had to be muzzle-loaded; it was estimated that one could load, aim, and fire the weapon three times in one minute. Improved manufacturing and design methods allowed for rifles to replace muskets by the end of the war. Rifling increased the range and accuracy of firearms in a drastic way, and had a significant effect on the casualties of the war. Both B. Tyler Henry and Christopher Spencer revolutionized firearms design by using manufactured metal cartridges for ammunition, as well as drastically reducing musket loading time.

Throughout the Civil War, technological advances for increased weapons efficiency were constantly sought after. These innovations would effect the way in which war was waged, as well as how drastic the death toll would become. It could very well be argued that the casualty numbers wouldn't be as high without the advances in technology and warfare. Overall, the inventions on and off the battlefield would shape the very identity of the Civil War.

Women in the Civil War: On the Battlefield

Although women on both sides played a very pivotal domestic role in the Civil War, some took an even bolder step and enlisted. This post highlights significant women and their role in the conflict, as well as the overall effect the actions and mentality of these women had in shaping the conflict.

Enlistment of women was forbidden in both the Union and Confederate armies. Women were not seen as equals in any respect, which forced the women bold enough to enlist to assume masculine identities and disguise themselves as men. In the war, these women served just like any other soldier, in positions like scouts, spies, prison guards, or cooks. 

My two favorite examples of these incredible women are Jennie Hodgers and Frances Clayton.
 Jennie Hodgers fought as Albert Cashier in Illinois and fought the entire Civil War without being discovered. She ended up living out the rest of her life as a man, receiving a military pension and living in a veteran soldiers' home. The staff at the home kept her secret for quite sometime, even after they discovered that she was a woman. This is incredible- it seems that in this case that she was accepted among her peers, due to a loyalty that transcends gender and is based upon respect for service rendered.


Frances Clayton or Jack Williams, enlisted with her husband in the fall of 1861. She fought alongside him until he was killed in 1862 at the Battle of Stones. According to accounts, he was killed right in front of her and yet she stepped over his body, fixed her bayonet and charged with the other soldiers. Frances was noted to be a capital swordsman and a good fighting man. Because of her choice to serve, she helped in battles and served her country in a way that an estimate of only 400 other women did. Although wounded three times and taken prisoner once, she still remained Jack Williams; she worked hard in her duties as a soldier and sacrificed much to do so.


I believe that these women honestly wanted to fight in the war for similar reasons as men: patriotism, support for their cause, to earn money, to leave home, or to just simply have an adventure. Perhaps an even bigger reason may have been to escape home because they felt trapped or useless, and wanted to make a difference. This represents the mentality that many recruits may have felt, men or women, as well as the naiveness that the war would be majestic and short- it rarely is and certainly wouldn't be in this case. 

First Modern War - Part I

The Civil War is considered to be the first modern war, due to both the technological advances in communication, weapons, ships, and transportation along with the casualties and desolation they caused. The first post following this theme will involve three innovations: the telegraph, photography, and transportation. Although these inventions may have not increased casualties and destruction, they played a major role in the character of the Civil War. 

Transportation: The biggest innovation in this category is most definitely the railroads. Railroads could be used to transport supplies, troops, ammunition, and other supplies, which allowed for greater mobilization of troops.They also became central to the plans of  military campaigns, and would be constructed as the troops secured certain areas to increase mobility and convenience even further. Overall, this mode of  transportation allowed for a bigger war with increased access to supplies and troops.

Telegraph: The telegraph was invented in 1844 by Samuel F. B. Morse, and was soon adopted as the most important form of military communication in the Civil War. Telegraph lines and signal towers were quickly built which served military purposes only, and communication in this form, along with battle information, became increasingly important. Because the Civil War was the first war in which news media played a major role, it suddenly became necessary for the military to manage the media exposure. Maintaining public support was critical, which was partially shaped by telegraph communications. 

Photography: Mathew Brady was probably the most influential photographer of the Civil War, although his success did not occur until after his death. At the beginning of the war, Brady decided to make a record of the entire conflict, which he did along with twenty assistants. After investing a hefty sum in the project with certainty of later government purchase, Brady went bankrupt when the US Government showed no interest in the photos. Eventually, they were bought by the government, and would create an incredible and priceless record of the Civil War. Although the results of photography had no immediate affect on the war itself, it is impossible to imagine the Civil War without this memorable resource.

Could the Civil War have ended without the freeing of slaves?

The question of whether or not the Civil War could have ended without the freeing of slaves is based on many what-ifs and speculation. However, it is important to gauge how critical slavery was in the cause, continuation, and results of the Civil War. 

Despite his personal beliefs against slavery, President Lincoln was initially willing to let slavery remain at the cost of reuniting and preserving the Union. The Confederates had many chances to rejoin the Union and maintain their slave trade. If one of Lincoln's initial offers had been accepted, slavery may have very well continued in the South; entertaining a theory of an early Southern victory allows for too many theoretical possibilities, however. As the war progressed,  it became apparent that the  longer the war dragged on, slavery would become an even bigger issue. Lincoln made one final offer of acceptance, the Confederate states were given 100 days to surrender and come back and slavery wouldn't be touched. Again, the Civil War could have ended here and slavery would still be allowed to continue.

Frederick Douglass said: "Any attempt now to separate the freedom of the slave from the victory of Government; any attempt to secure peace to the whites while leaving the blacks in chains will be labor lost." Douglass was concerned that the North and South might end the war with a settlement that would allow slavery to continue. He wanted to make sure the issue of slavery defined the war and that a Union victory would result in the end of slavery in the US. 

Personally, I believe that the Civil War was fought for the protection of slavery, and there was very little room in the hearts of the Southern slave-holders for a peace without GUARANTEED freedom for slavery. I mean, did the South really think that if they came back, things would go back to normal and ALL slave trade could resume as before? No. Therefore, the Civil War was to be fought for the abolition of slavery (even if the North did not use it as a rallying cry in the early years of conflict). The Civil War played to the idea of abolition even before it became about the freeing of men, particularly after the releasing of the Emancipation Proclamation. After this transformation of cause and motivation for the War, I don't think that it could have ended without the freeing of slaves.