How Did Clara Barton Contribute To The Civil War

Many people will go down in United States history for their many accomplishments. Some for being great leaders, some for fighting injustices,some for standing up when other would not, and others for helping people. There are many nurses that helped during the American Civil War. They will be remembered for their willingness to help,how hard they worked, their dedication to what they were doing and their kindness during a time of war. Clara Barton was one of those great nurses that helped during the American Civil War. Clara Barton will be remembered in United States History because she was a charitable, courageous, and a diligent working woman during the American Civil War. Clarissa Harlowe Barton was born on December 25, 1821, in Oxford,

After General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, the United States Government contacted Barton and requested her to find missing soldiers. (Clara Barton) While looking for these missing soldiers, she found twenty-two thousand of them. They were either found living or dead. (Boylston 135) After Barton’s long search for the soldiers she ended up identifying and marking at a minimum of 13,000 graves at a Union Prison Camp of War. (Clara Barton) She would go on to establish the National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia.

During a battle, Barton saw that people needed help on the front line so decided to do whatever she could. She filled her arms with bandages, dressing equipment, and stimulant. She went through a corn maze. While running through the corn maze bullets were flying all around her. Still she yelled to the others, “Follow the cannon”. After running through the corn maze they met the artillery. (Boylsten 102) She was very courageous during this battle. Most people would have turned back after they had bullets flying all around them but, Barton kept going. At another battle, Barton was in was the Battle of Antietam. There are two examples of why she was courageous at the Battle of Antietam. After seeing these two events most people would have left but she kept going. The first is, while giving a man a drink Barton noticed a bullet hole in her sleeve. Not knowing where it came from Barton had looked down at the man she was helping and realized she had been shot, but the bullet missed her and fatally wounded the soldier. (Clara Barton at Antietam) The second thing she experienced at the Battle of Antietam was a piece of bullet shell exploded and screeched between her and the officer she was talking to. It did harm the officer not her. However, it did slice part of Barton dress and put a hole in the officer's coat. (Boylsten