www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Nuns in the Civil War

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Just on the off chance that anyone has ever thought about researching this: I'm looking for information on the involvement of Catholic nuns in the American Civil war. Specifically: the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph.
This is a role sadly under-represented in the reenacting field and I'm looking to at least have some info to spread around if not take on the impression myself.
God bless!
Sarah

Sarai,

Hope these help:

Essay on Sisters in the Civil War - Father Landry Genosky[/b] [history.alliancelibrarysystem.com]

[b] Nursing in the Civil War - Father Landry Genosky[/b] [history.alliancelibrarysystem.com]

[b] What Civil War Nurses Wore - Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul[/b] [edinborough.com]

[b] The Daughters of Charity at the Battle of Gettysburg[/b] [members.aol.com]

[b] Sisters of Charity & the Civil War[/b] [griffithsprayerchaplets.com]

[b] To Bind Up The Wounds: Catholic Sister Nurses in the Civil War[/b] [lsu.edu]

[b] Lincoln and the Nuns [history.alliancelibrarysystem.com]

[b] Nuns and Clergy in Re-Enactments[/b] [freespace.virgin.net]

[b] The North\'s Unsung Sisters of Mercy[/b] [womenshistory.about.com]

Many years,

Neil

Dear Neil,

I've always wondered about why, in Europe, nurses are still called "sisters!"

Thank you for those links!

Alex

Thanks so much for your help Neil.
God Bless!
Sarai

Glory to Jesus Christ!

As a parallel to your Civil War research, Sarah, you might also look into the presence of sisters, both Roman Catholic and Episcopalian, during the horrible yellow fever epidemic of 1878 in Memphis, TN. There are two monuments in the cemetaries in Memphis: one to the Roman Catholic Sisters who died nursing the sick, and another to the Episcopal Sisters of St. Mary. The Episcopal Sisters (Srs. Constance, Thecla, Ruth, and Frances) are buried at Elmwood Cemetary, and are commemorated on the American Episcopal calendar on Sept. 9 as "Constance, nun, and her companions, commonly called 'the martyrs of Memphis'. You can find out more about the Episcopal sisters in the book "Five For Sorrow, Ten For Joy," which is a history of the Sisters of St. Mary. It seems to be much harder to find out about the Roman Catholic sisters, but maybe Irish Melkite could help with that, too. <G>

In Christ,
Prof. J. Michael Thompson
Byzantine Catholic Seminary
Pittsburgh, PA

St. Mary Star of the Sea RC Church, a Jesuit parish in Key West, Florida, within their southeast province, once had an old victorian convent, Immaculate Heart, beside it with a long, broad front porch, and cupola atop the center. During the Civil War it was used as a hospital, but by the 1960s it had become too great a financial burden for the parish, and was torn down. I'm sure there's more to their story, but I don't have more information than that.

Sarai,

Just in case you find a kindred male spirit who would like to serve a chaplaincy role in a Civil War enactment, there are a series of well-written biographical vignettes about Catholic and Protestant Civil War chaplains, Union and Confederate, at Gettsyburg Campfires [gettysburgcampfires.com] .

Many years,

Neil, off to research the good Sisters of Memphis, since he can't resist a challenge

On a side note, unrelated to Sarai's search, but for any history buffs who find this general topic interesting, there was a two-part article a couple of years ago in Prologue [archives.gov] , the marvelous journal of the US National Archives and Records Administration [archives.gov] , on the contributions of nursing nuns during the Spanish-American War.

(Now that I think about it, Sarai, you may want to check these out - I think there is a bit of historical flashback in the first part that references the work of nuns in the Civil War).

Band of Angels - Part 1 [archives.gov]

Band of Angels - Part 2 [archives.gov]

Many years,

Neil

Thanks, Neil,

I am a history buff who finds this subject fascinating. Such brave women in times of war! I appreciate their heritage going back to the establishment of the Daughters of Charity by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, my favorite American saint. Am wondering whether they also served in W.W.I. and will be checking that sometime.

I know that during the Great War (W.W.I.) the English nurses were called "Sister" although they weren't nuns.

Mary Jo,

No. By the turn of the century, the Army Nurse Corps had been established (1901, if I remember correctly), so the need for volunteer and contract nurses came to an end.

Many years,

Neil

Professor,

The West Tennessee Catholic did a 10-part series on the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878, which details the work of the Catholic sisters. It can be found in the on-line Archives for 2003 [cdom.org] .

Unfortunately, there are no links from part to part, so one must individually select each edition, beginning with 8-28-03 and continuing (upward) through that for 11-6-03 (skipping the special papal anniversary issue of 10-23-03), to read all of the pieces. When you access the front page of each issue, scroll down, watching the list on the left side of the screen for the link to the feature article series. The articles were written from the perspective of one living at the time and are very interesting reading.

The Sisters of Saint Mary at Memphi...ring the Yellow Fever Season of 1878 [justus.anglican.org] details the work of the Episcopalian Sisters whom you mentioned. Notably, the description of the feast commemorating "Constance, nun, and her Companions" on several Episcopalian sites makes explicit, seemingly inclusive, reference to the 34 Catholic nuns who also perished caring for the sick and dying.

May the memory of these Sisters, Catholic and Episcopalian, together with that of the clergy of various Churches who selflessly gave their lives in this tragic time, be eternal and thrice-blessed.

Many years,

Neil