How Did Clara Barton Contribute To The Civil War

I remeber Alice Magaw and Lavinia Lloyd Dock from the Nursing history books where we used to study. And also I must mention about Clara Barton who was known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” during the Civil War and assigned special duties by President Lincoln. Dorothea Dix who taught poor and neglected children, dedicated her time to social welfare in England, founded the first public mental hospital in America and became the Superintendent of Union Army Nurses and Mary Eliza Mahoney, who was the first African-American professional registered nurse. These figured have contributed alot to the Nursing

When Clara’s father died, she felt the need to go even further than the local Washington infirmary. It was time for her to travel to the

Maria Mitchell was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts on August 1, 1818, and was one of nine brothers and sisters. Her family were Quakers and believed in equal education for men and women. Maria attended local schools and was tutored by her father. He taught her how to use a telescope when she was twelve, and she helped him calculate exactly when the annual solar eclipse would be. By the time she was fourteen, she was writing directions for sailors’ whaling trips.

She was also one of the first volunteers to show up in the Washington Infirmary in 1861. Barton parted the city hospital after her father's death and went on to help the wounded on the battlefield. She wasn't pleased being on the sidelines, so she started serving as an independent nurse in early 1862 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Clara also took care of many other wounded soldiers in the Battle of Antietam. She had strong and healthy men help her carry water, and prepare food for the injured.

Later after returning home to the United States of America she started a new branch of the International Red Cross in 1881 the new branch was called the American Red Cross. She was the first president of the American Red Cross from 1881 to 1900. While she was the president they served in many natural disasters like Johnstown flood in 1889 and the Galveston flood in 1900. Still to day the American Red Cross are the first one there in a natural disasters, the American Red Cross is the longest lasting American relief organization. The Clara Barton Honor Award is the highest award given by the American Red Cross and it is given to the highest volunteer.

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 began her nursing legacy with her brother. When she was eleven, her brother fell from the roof of the barn (receiving a severe injury). In the face of chaos, she gathered her courage and took charge. Barton managed to stop the bleeding before the doctor came. Even after the doctor left, she

“After the war ended in 1865, Clara Barton worked for the War Department, helping to either reunite missing soldiers and their families or find out more about those who were missing” conforming to biography.com. Achieving all of that, being a woman during that time period, was extremely difficult, yet she persisted and began to educate others about her experience during the war. While in Europe, she worked with the International Red Cross, the relief organization in which she founded an American branch for and became the first president of. This became known as the American Red Cross Association that presently helps soldiers. In 1904, she stepped down from the American Red Cross but stayed active in her speeches and through her book, The Story of my Childhood.

Florence Nightingale led a team of nurses, which improved the unsanitary conditions at a British military hospital, during the Crimean War. The patriotism of Florence Nightingale influenced both Northern and Southern women in a similar way. For both Northern and Southern women, Lawrence Nightingale represented a woman who was doing more than just sitting on the sidelines of war waiting for the husband to come home.

She had four other siblings and grew up on a farm in Oxford. Clara had many strong influences in her life from a young age, including her mother who was a firm believer in equal rights for women and all others, her brothers Stephen and David, her sisters Sally and Dorothea, and the environment she grew up around living on the farm. She was expected to complete chores and help around the house as well as do good in school. Early on, Clara was exposed to helping the injured/wounded through taking care of ill animals on the farm and taking care of her brother, David, when he injured himself by falling off a barn roof. After gaining an education and passing the required examinations, she began working as a teacher during the Summer and was asked to work during the Winter, but refused to accept the offer unless the school would pay her equal to a man’s pay.

Clara once said “While our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand, feed and nurse them.” During the war Clara went to the railroad station when the victims arrived, and nursed 40 men. Clara distributed supplies and nursed the wounded soldiers. One time when she was bringing supplies to the battlefield a bullet came so close to her it pierced through the sleeve of her dress, and killed the soldier she was working on. Clara soon became in charge of all the army hospitals.

I knew her as the “Angel of the battlefield” because of her nursing care and giving supplies to the soldiers. She says, “A ball had passed between my body and the right arm which supported him (the wounded soldier), cutting through the sleeve and passing through his chest from shoulder to shoulder. There was no more to be done for him, and I left him to his rest. I have never mended that hole in my sleeve. I wonder if a soldier ever mends a bullet hole in his coat.″ Though it doesn't say much, it shows how horrific this battle was for everyone involved.

Before becoming a nurse, she was a teacher. Clara was against slavery throughout her life. Then later when the Civil War broke out, she was

Clara Barton made it possible to continue her mission even after her death by founding the American Red Cross. Her organization still helps people around the world, specializing in disaster relief, blood donations, and supporting military families. It is based entirely on volunteers, just as Clara Barton started. The Red Cross’ funds are completely on gratuity and as reported by the Red Cross’ Website, “90 cents of every dollar” is used to benefit society. The “Good Samaritans” help teach classes like CPR, babysitting, lifeguard training, nursing, etcetera.

Harriett Tubman and Florence Nightingale both brought great change is many people’s lives over the course of their life. Harriett Tubman was a slave on a Maryland plantation. No matter what life threw at her, such as being struck in the head by a weight causing severe head trauma, she persevered. She would make up to nineteen trips to the south to deliver slaves to the north and Canada through the Underground Railroad; earning her the nickname Moses the Deliverer. Florence Nightingale was born into wealth, but had always had a fascination with mending things.