A Woman’s Duty
Women and the Civil War When the Civil War is mentioned, many people first think of the men who lost their lives in the fight for freedom and the preservation of the Union. What isn’t taken into account is the women who risked their lives for these very same causes. Not only did these women fight in the front line for their beliefs, but they were also behind the scenes; as nurses, spies, and even just staying at home to take care of their families and their homesteads. Without women during the Civil War, the entire outcome of the entire war and Union would’ve been completely different, and most likely not for the better. As stated in the Women in America, “Without the hard work of women on both sides, the death toll would have …show more content…
Her husband was the first Southern senator to resign, and before long he had become a representative in the temporary Confederate Congress. As stated in Mary Boykin Chestnut, Chesnut’s home was very popular for Confederate officials’ gathering. Her living room was often used to socialize, exchange information, and hold political debates. Eventually, Chestnut decided to begin recording what she saw and heard during these meetings in a diary. Mary witnessed many of the major events in the Civil War. She recorded these in her diary as well. Some of these events include the bombing of Fort Sumter and the First Battle of Manassas. In 1864, Chestnut moved to Columbia, South Carolina, and helped out at an army hospital. (Hillstrom B) Obviously, Chestnut’s diaries have now been published, and they provide great insight into what the war was like, not only from a general view, but also a woman’s perspective. The roles of women in the Civil War had a vast variety. From being soldiers in the front line to spies completely hidden behind the scenes, the Civil War really opened up a new world to women. Not only were they now able to become more involved in working as a normal laborer, their roles in the war really allowed them to prove that they were worthy of working alongside men, and of gaining greater respect in a working
Women and the Civil War When the Civil War is mentioned, many people first think of the men who lost their lives in the fight for freedom and the preservation of the Union. What isn’t taken into account is the women who risked their lives for these very same causes. Not only did these women fight in the front line for their beliefs, but they were also behind the scenes; as nurses, spies, and even just staying at home to take care of their families and their homesteads. Without women during the Civil War, the entire outcome of the entire war and Union would’ve been completely different, and most likely not for the better. As stated in the Women in America, “Without the hard work of women on both sides, the death toll would have …show more content…
Her husband was the first Southern senator to resign, and before long he had become a representative in the temporary Confederate Congress. As stated in Mary Boykin Chestnut, Chesnut’s home was very popular for Confederate officials’ gathering. Her living room was often used to socialize, exchange information, and hold political debates. Eventually, Chestnut decided to begin recording what she saw and heard during these meetings in a diary. Mary witnessed many of the major events in the Civil War. She recorded these in her diary as well. Some of these events include the bombing of Fort Sumter and the First Battle of Manassas. In 1864, Chestnut moved to Columbia, South Carolina, and helped out at an army hospital. (Hillstrom B) Obviously, Chestnut’s diaries have now been published, and they provide great insight into what the war was like, not only from a general view, but also a woman’s perspective. The roles of women in the Civil War had a vast variety. From being soldiers in the front line to spies completely hidden behind the scenes, the Civil War really opened up a new world to women. Not only were they now able to become more involved in working as a normal laborer, their roles in the war really allowed them to prove that they were worthy of working alongside men, and of gaining greater respect in a working