Maria Abbey was a nurse during the American Civil War. In Mary G. Holland's collection of letters from Civil War nurses, titled Our Army Nurses: Stories from Women in the Civil War, Abbey recounts her experience as a wartime nurse.[1] She was called to the service after hearing Reverend H. W. Beecher speak of the duty of women to help during the war.[1] She heard this sermon in April 1861, the Sunday after the battle at Fort Sumter, and enlisted with six other women by the first day of May.[1][2] These women were some of the first to respond to the call for nurses.[2]
Her service began at Union Hospital at Georgetown. Immediately, Abbey noticed the lack of structure and organization of the hospital, largely due to the immense need for help.[1] Ultimately, the hospital environment proved to be too much physical and emotional stress for Abbey, who left September 3, 1861.[1][2]
This did not stop Abbey from aiding the war effort. Abbey opened her own home to be used as a private hospital for two years, maintained by herself. The house continued to operate as a hospital even after Abbey moved.[1] She reportedly never expected payment for her services.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Holland, Mary Gardner (2002). Our Army Nurses:Stories from Women in the Civil War. Roseville: Edinborough Press. p. 11. ISBN 9781889020044.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "A Veteran Nurse" (in en). https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SDU18980817.2.21.
The original article can be found at Maria Abbey and the edit history here.