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Faces of Civil War Nurses
During the American Civil War, women on both sides of the conflict, radiating patriotic fervor equal to their male counterparts, contributed to the war effort in countless ways: forming charitable societies, becoming nurses, or even marching off to war as vivandieres, unofficial attaches to the regiments.
In Faces of Civil War Nurses, Ronald S. Coddington turns his attention to the experiences of 77 women of all ages and walks of life who provided care during the war as nurses, aid workers, and vivandieres. Their personal narratives are as unique as fingerprints: each provides a distinct entry point into the larger social history of the brutal and bloody conflict. Coddington tells these determined women's stories through letters, diaries, pension files, and newspaper and government reports. Using identified tintypes and cartes de visite of women on both sides of the war, many of them never before published, Coddington uncovers the personal histories of each intrepid individual. Following their postwar stories, he also explains how the bonds they formed continued long after the cessation of hostilities.
The fifth volume in Coddington's series on Civil War soldiers, this captivating microhistory will appeal to anyone with an interest in the Civil War, women's studies, social history, nursing, or photography.
Praise for Ronald Coddington's Faces Series
"An engaging look at a neglected part of the history of the American Civil War."--Booklist
"Coddington has hit upon a unique and fascinating niche in the seemingly endless march of Civil War books."--C&RL News
"A lavishly produced visual record of southern Civil War soldiers... will appeal to serious photography enthusiasts and collectors, as well as those readers captivated by the personal stories of Civil War soldiers."--Civil War Books and Authors
"Coddington's prose is as unpretentious as the faces he shares, yet authoritative. It resurrects details that broaden our understanding of those sad times and sheds valuable light on the shape of modern culture."--Atlanta Constitution
"Even at a distance of over a hundred years, the faces staring out of these pages create an undeniable emotional connection with the reader. This book is highly recommended."--H-CivWar, H-Net Reviews
"A fascinating window into the war's impact on the individual soldier... well researched and engagingly written. Any teacher of the Civil War would do well to consult this volume and incorporate some of the captivating tales into lectures and readings."--Journal of Military History
In Faces of Civil War Nurses, Ronald S. Coddington turns his attention to the experiences of 77 women of all ages and walks of life who provided care during the war as nurses, aid workers, and vivandieres. Their personal narratives are as unique as fingerprints: each provides a distinct entry point into the larger social history of the brutal and bloody conflict. Coddington tells these determined women's stories through letters, diaries, pension files, and newspaper and government reports. Using identified tintypes and cartes de visite of women on both sides of the war, many of them never before published, Coddington uncovers the personal histories of each intrepid individual. Following their postwar stories, he also explains how the bonds they formed continued long after the cessation of hostilities.
The fifth volume in Coddington's series on Civil War soldiers, this captivating microhistory will appeal to anyone with an interest in the Civil War, women's studies, social history, nursing, or photography.
Praise for Ronald Coddington's Faces Series
"An engaging look at a neglected part of the history of the American Civil War."--Booklist
"Coddington has hit upon a unique and fascinating niche in the seemingly endless march of Civil War books."--C&RL News
"A lavishly produced visual record of southern Civil War soldiers... will appeal to serious photography enthusiasts and collectors, as well as those readers captivated by the personal stories of Civil War soldiers."--Civil War Books and Authors
"Coddington's prose is as unpretentious as the faces he shares, yet authoritative. It resurrects details that broaden our understanding of those sad times and sheds valuable light on the shape of modern culture."--Atlanta Constitution
"Even at a distance of over a hundred years, the faces staring out of these pages create an undeniable emotional connection with the reader. This book is highly recommended."--H-CivWar, H-Net Reviews
"A fascinating window into the war's impact on the individual soldier... well researched and engagingly written. Any teacher of the Civil War would do well to consult this volume and incorporate some of the captivating tales into lectures and readings."--Journal of Military History
- GenresHistory
424 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 1, 2022
I found my Great Great Grandmother and her daughter in this book. Perfect for our Ancestry search. Caroline Hagar.
September 25, 2020
Excellent if you're looking for a feel-good gloss of the experiences of 77 Civil War nurses, but if you're looking for the foregrounding of female voices or something that addresses the barriers that women faced in professionalizing nursing, this is not your book. Almost entirely uncritical and falls into the same pitfalls that many rhetors of the time did. Coddington praises women more often for self-effacement than for courage, competence, or resilience, and this seems reasonable in a narrative that leaves out hardship. This book introduces many little known women in history but does not offer a compelling social history.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews