The Civil War, fought mostly by men, is often referred to as the war of brother against brother. Although there were a few women who engaged in the battles alongside the men, the number was very small and their direct contribution to battle was probably not very significant. This is not to say that women were not important to the Civil War. Women were very influential in the national crisis and their contributions were arguably just as important as the male soldier’s on the battlefield. On both sides of the war, women employed their strength, intelligence, and compassion in the critical roles of abolitionists, civil right’s advocates, nurses and spies. One of the most famous and influential women and heroes of the Civil War was Harriet Tubman. Tubman worked as cook, nurse and spy for the Union. Her biggest contribution, however, came from her work as an abolitionist and “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. She was responsible …show more content…
Although, surprisingly, the majority of nurses were men, there were women nurses who made significant contributions to the war effort as well. Clara Barton’s impact on the war was profound and, as the founder of the American Red Cross, her work still impacts our world today. Clara Barton was a person dedicated to helping people in need. She intuitively recognized needs of people and created practical solutions to address them. Clara Barton was one of the first people to volunteer to help wounded soldiers. When she first arrived at a field hospital, with wagon full of supplies she had collected, an overwhelmed surgeon coined her nickname the “Angel of the Battlefield” (Langston). She served troops on the battlefields of Fairfax Station, Chantilly, Harpers Ferry, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Charleston, Petersburg and Cold Harbor. She was highly noted for her heroic rescues at the Battles of Antietam. She nursed, comforted and cooked for the soldiers in