Nursing Behind the Lines
Washington, D.C. Patients in Armory Square Hospital.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Although nursing behind the battle lines seems pretty safe, there were several dangers, as listed before. Disease was just as dangerous in hospitals away from the battlefield. They were still looked upon with contempt for their unladylike volunteer work. More and more public hospitals were built to accommodate the large number of soldiers in need. These were generally dirty places that society assumed only low class men were fit to work in. The reasons women risked their lives to help these men include but are not limited to patriotism, social and economic independence, and sympathy for the wounded.
In the South, many women took wounded soldiers into their own homes to care for them. It was easier for them to do this than it was for Union women because there was more fighting near their towns. They often had slaves help them tend the injured and sick.
In Charlottesville, Virginia, many middle and upper class women took on nursing roles despite the stigma. There was debate over whether or not proper Southern white ladies should be allowed to work in the hospitals at all, but as the war dragged on and on and the numbers of available nursing men diminished, women were given tacit permission. Some of these women performed more limited nursing duties such as feeding soldiers and writing letters for them, and preparing food. Others, mainly from affluent families, served as hospital matrons who were more concerned with managing and supervising hospitals. Their responsibilities were more about carrying out physicians, orders, feeding patients, and cleaning. These women too, faced disease and attack from Union soldiers.
In the South, many women took wounded soldiers into their own homes to care for them. It was easier for them to do this than it was for Union women because there was more fighting near their towns. They often had slaves help them tend the injured and sick.
In Charlottesville, Virginia, many middle and upper class women took on nursing roles despite the stigma. There was debate over whether or not proper Southern white ladies should be allowed to work in the hospitals at all, but as the war dragged on and on and the numbers of available nursing men diminished, women were given tacit permission. Some of these women performed more limited nursing duties such as feeding soldiers and writing letters for them, and preparing food. Others, mainly from affluent families, served as hospital matrons who were more concerned with managing and supervising hospitals. Their responsibilities were more about carrying out physicians, orders, feeding patients, and cleaning. These women too, faced disease and attack from Union soldiers.