” Clara Barton is noteworthy for doing humanitarian work at a time when few woman worked outside a home.” (wikipedia) The Civil War was a horrible, long-lasting war between the Confederate States Of America. In 1861, the Confederate states left the Union to form their own country, with slavery. However, the Union States were against this decision and more importantly they were against slavery. This was one of the reasons the Civil War began. There were many battles in the Civil War. Sadly, this was the bloodiest war in history and over 620,000 soldiers were killed. The Confederacy’s General, Robert E. Lee, surrendered on April 9, 1865 due to the Confederacy’s lack of supplies, soldiers, and power. That lead the Union to the victory of the Civil War. There were many heroes from this time frame. One, was Clara Barton. Clara Barton is a very important person in history, and to find out about her you need to know about her early life, her being ” Angel of the Battlefield”, and when she founded the American Red Cross.
Clara Barton was born on december 25, 1821 in Oxford, Massachusetts. Clara’s real name was Clarissa, but she preferred to be called Clara. Clara Barton discovered that she liked caring for others when she cared for her brother David. She attended collage to become a teacher, and graduated in 1851. As a child and teenager, Clara was an expert at horseback riding. ” Clara’s horseback riding skills reached a level that none of the boys could match. No one, not even Clara, doubted her physical strength and endurance.” ( Tilton, 16) On top of her horseback riding skills, she was one of the first woman to gain employment in the federal government. During the Civil War, very few woman had a job.
Next, Clara Barton was nicknamed ” Angel of the Battlefield” because she put her heart and soul into helping injured soldiers during the Civil War.” Barton went to the hospitals to help, but as battle after battle was fought, the stories told of suffering at the line of battle showed her a greater need” ( Tilton,30) Clara was always the first to go and help the soldiers. She carried a wagon full of medicine and other supplies, and she was very prepared. ” She wrote letters for the soldiers. She notified their mothers of their condition.” One day while helping a soldier, Clara was almost shot, but the bullet went through her her dress sleeve and hit the soldier. Barton was very caring and always made sure the soldiers were okay.
On top of caring for the wounded soldiers, Clara also started an amazing organization. When she went on a trip to Switzerland, she saw an organization, that was joined with many other nations too, called the International Association of the Red Cross. She said, ” As I journeyed and saw the work of these Red Cross societies in the field, accomplishing in four months under their systematic organization what we failed to accomplish if four years without it – no mistakes, no needles, no suffering, no starving, no lack of care, no waste, no confusion…” ( Tilton, 52). When she returned to the United States, she told about the great work the Red Cross did and decided to start the American Red Cross. ” She was excited to think that she could both bring help to soldiers and gain firsthand information she could use later for introducing the Red Cross to America.” ( Tilton, 52 ).
To conclude Clara Barton did a lot to help soldiers and she is very appreciated. “The founding of the Red Cross came as a crowning achievement of a woman with high ideals and intense energy.” ( Tilton, 9) Barton is not only recognized for founding the American Red Cross, but also for all the hard work she put into helping wounded soldiers. We will always remember Clara Barton for her incredible work!