Women of the Civil War

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) was one of the most influential writers of the nineteenth century. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin vividly portrayed the human suffering caused by slavery and helped galvanize anti-slavery sentiment in the North. The book became an international bestseller and played a major role in shaping public opinion in the years leading up to the Civil War. Through her writing and activism, Stowe helped bring the moral crisis of slavery into the national consciousness.

Sojourner Truth (c.1797–1883) was born into slavery in New York but escaped to freedom in 1826. She became a powerful speaker and advocate for abolition and women’s rights. During the Civil War she supported the Union cause, helped recruit African American soldiers, and worked with formerly enslaved people who had gained their freedom. Her speeches and activism made her one of the most influential reformers of the nineteenth century.

Julia Ward Howe (1819–1910) wrote the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, one of the most enduring songs of the Civil War. Inspired by the Union cause, her words captured the moral and religious fervor of the conflict. Howe later became a leading advocate for women’s rights and social reform, extending her influence far beyond the war years.

Sarah Parker Remond (1826–1894)  was a powerful abolitionist speaker who brought the cause of anti-slavery to international audiences. During the Civil War, she traveled extensively in Britain, delivering lectures that exposed the realities of slavery and encouraged support for the Union cause. As an African American woman speaking abroad, she challenged both racial and gender barriers. Her work helped shape global opinion and reinforced the moral case against slavery.

Anna Dickinson (1842–1932) was one of the most celebrated public speakers of the Civil War era. A passionate advocate for abolition and the Union, she gained national prominence while still in her early twenties. Dickinson addressed large audiences across the North and even spoke before Congress, urging continued commitment to the war effort and emancipation. Her eloquence and energy made her a powerful voice in shaping public opinion during the conflict.

Laura Matilda Towne (1825–1901) was an educator, abolitionist, and medical practitioner who played a vital role in the Port Royal Experiment in South Carolina. Educated in Philadelphia and inspired by anti-slavery activism, she was among the first volunteers sent in 1862 to assist formerly enslaved people on St. Helena Island. There, with fellow educator Ellen Murray, she founded the Penn School, one of the first institutions dedicated to the education of freed people. Devoting nearly four decades to this work, Towne became a beloved teacher and advocate, leaving a lasting legacy in the advancement of education for African Americans.

Martha Coston (1826–1904) was an inventor and entrepreneur whose innovations significantly aided Union naval operations during the Civil War. After the early death of her husband, she developed and patented a system of color-coded signal flares that allowed ships to communicate at night and in poor visibility. Adopted by the U.S. Navy, Coston’s signals became an essential tool in coordinating blockades and naval movements, contributing to the effectiveness of the Union Navy’s enforcement of the blockade of Southern ports and to operations such as the assault on Fort Fisher in 1865. Her system was later used internationally and remains the basis for maritime signaling today, with variations still employed by the U.S. Coast Guard and naval forces around the world.

Mary Boykin Chesnut (1823–1886) kept a detailed diary throughout the Civil War, recording political events, social life, and the realities of slavery in the Confederacy. As the wife of a prominent Confederate official, she had access to influential figures and important discussions. Her writings provide one of the most insightful firsthand accounts of life on the Confederate home front and remain an invaluable historical resource.

Clara Barton (1821–1912) became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” for her fearless work aiding wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Barton brought medical supplies to the front lines and personally cared for soldiers after major battles such as Antietam and Fredericksburg. After the war she helped locate thousands of missing soldiers. Her humanitarian work eventually led to the founding of the American Red Cross in 1881.

Dorothea Dix (1802–1887) served as Superintendent of Army Nurses for the Union during the Civil War. She organized and trained thousands of women to serve in military hospitals across the North. Dix helped establish standards for nursing service and worked tirelessly to improve conditions for wounded soldiers. Her leadership helped transform nursing into a more organized and professional role during wartime.

Susie King Taylor (1848–1912) escaped slavery as a young girl and later served with the Union Army’s 1st South Carolina Volunteers, one of the first African American regiments. Taylor worked as a nurse, laundress, and teacher for the soldiers, providing both medical care and education. After the war she became an educator and wrote a memoir describing her experiences, leaving an important firsthand account of African American service during the war.

Phoebe Yates Pember (1823–1913) served as the matron of Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, one of the largest military hospitals of the Civil War. Responsible for overseeing wards, supplies, and staff, she played a critical role in maintaining order and care in a massive and often chaotic medical system. After the war, she wrote a memoir describing her experiences, offering a rare and valuable perspective on hospital life in the Confederacy and the challenges faced by women in positions of authority.

Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) served as a Union nurse in Washington, D.C., where she cared for wounded soldiers under difficult conditions. Her experiences inspired her book Hospital Sketches, which vividly described life in military hospitals. Alcott later gained international fame as the author of Little Women, but her Civil War service deeply influenced her writing and perspective.

Mary Ann Bickerdyke (1817–1901) known as “Mother Bickerdyke,” served as a nurse and hospital organizer in the Union Army. She was deeply respected by soldiers for her dedication and willingness to challenge authority when necessary to improve conditions. Working closely with Union generals, she became one of the most beloved and effective medical figures of the war. 

Harriet Tubman (c.1822–1913) Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom and became one of the most courageous conductors of the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War she served the Union Army as a scout, spy, and nurse. Tubman also helped plan and guide the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina in 1863, which freed more than 700 enslaved people. Her extraordinary bravery and lifelong dedication to freedom made her one of the most important figures of the era.

Elizabeth Van Lew (1818–1900) operated one of the most effective Union spy networks inside the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. A Union loyalist living in the South, she secretly gathered intelligence from Confederate officials and prisoners of war and passed the information to Union commanders. Her network played a valuable role in supplying military intelligence during the conflict. Rose O'Neal Greenhow - Provided intelligence before the First Battle of Bull Run.

Rose O'Neal Greenhow (1817–1864)  was a prominent Confederate spy who operated in Washington, D.C. Using her social connections among political leaders and military officers, she gathered intelligence for the Confederacy. Her information helped Confederate forces achieve victory at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. After being imprisoned by Union authorities, she was eventually released and continued working on behalf of the Confederate cause.

Pauline Cushman (1833–1893) was an actress who became a Union spy after agreeing to gather intelligence while performing in Confederate territory. Discovered and arrested, she was sentenced to death, but was saved when Union forces captured the area before her execution could be carried out. After the war, Cushman became a celebrated figure, touring and speaking about her experiences. Her story highlights the dangers and intrigue of wartime espionage.

Belle Boyd (1844–1900) was one of the most famous Confederate spies. Operating from her home in Virginia, she gathered intelligence from Union officers and passed it to Confederate commanders. Boyd’s activities led to multiple arrests by Union authorities, yet she continued her efforts throughout the war. Her daring exploits and bold personality made her a well-known figure both during and after the conflict.

Cornelia Hancock (1840–1927) born in Haddonfield, NJ, was closely connected to the Philadelphia region and became one of the most dedicated volunteer nurses of the Civil War. Following the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, she traveled from the Philadelphia area to assist in overwhelmed field hospitals, where she cared for wounded soldiers under extremely difficult conditions. She later continued her service in military hospitals and worked with formerly enslaved people in the South during Reconstruction. Her letters provide vivid firsthand accounts of wartime medical care and reflect the important role that Philadelphia-area volunteers played in supporting the Union war effort.

Ann Preston (1813–1872) was a pioneering physician and dean of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. During the Civil War, she helped expand opportunities for women in medicine and supported the training of nurses needed for the war effort. Her work broke barriers in medical education and helped open the profession to women, leaving a lasting legacy in American medicine.

Elizabeth Duane Gillespie (1821–1901) was a Philadelphia civic leader who played a key role in organizing the Great Central Fair of 1864, one of the largest fundraising events for the Union war effort. The fair raised significant funds to support soldiers through the U.S. Sanitary Commission. As a great-granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin, Gillespie used her influence and organizational skills to mobilize public support for the Union cause.

The Great Central Fair - In June 1864, Philadelphia hosted the Great Central Fair, one of the largest fundraising events of the Civil War, organized to support the United States Sanitary Commission. Led in large part by women, including Elizabeth Duane Gillespie, the fair raised over $1 million to provide medical care and supplies to Union soldiers. The event demonstrated the extraordinary organizational leadership and civic influence of women on the home front.

Mary Morris Husband (c.1820-1884) was a nurse, called fondly "the woman with the apron" because she would fill her pockets with fruit or writing pads & pencils, or other small treats for her patients.  Started nursing in Philadelphia hospitals, but then served in field hospitals in Virginia, then matron on hospital ships.  Was enthusiastically hailed by marching Union troops in Richmond on April 5, 1865: "Huzzah for Mother Husband!"

Elizabeth Shindel Hutter (1821–1895) was a Philadelphia civic leader, Civil War nurse, and tireless advocate for soldiers and their families. In Philadelphia, she worked extensively at the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, helped care for wounded soldiers at local hospitals and at Gettysburg. She co-chaired the Labor, Income, & Revenue Committee a major fundraising committee for the Great Central Fair. Deeply committed to the welfare of children, she also founded the first Solders and Sailors' Orphans Home in Philadelphia in 1865, in 1866 was appointed by PA Governor to be Lady Inspector of Soldiers and Sailors Orphans School for the commonwealth, a position she held for the next 17 years.

Tillie Pierce Alleman (1848–1914) Tillie Pierce Alleman was a young resident of Gettysburg who witnessed the battle and its aftermath. She helped care for wounded soldiers and later wrote a detailed account of her experiences. Her story provides a powerful civilian perspective on one of the war’s most significant battles

Susan Miller (1830s–?) Wife of Union soldier James T. Miller. Susan Miller represents the many women who managed households while their husbands served in the army. Caring for children and coping with illness, uncertainty, and limited communication, she faced the daily realities of wartime life. Her correspondence reflects the emotional strain experienced by families on the home front and the vital role women played in sustaining them.

Amanda Featherstone (19th century) lived a life shaped by economic hardship in the aftermath of the Civil War. Without property or financial independence, she relied on extended family for support. Her experience reflects the challenges faced by many women whose lives were disrupted by the war and who struggled to rebuild in its wake.