Mother's War: A Woman's Journey through the American Civil War

Mother's War is a book about a little-known American heroine who saved thousands of lives. Mary Ann Bickerdyke worked as a volunteer nurse with the armies of Generals Grant and Sherman in the Civil War. During a time when women held little power, she fought and won enormous battles with skill and strength. She overcame the obstacles of cultural expectations, military rigidity and medical incompetence. Familes all over the North knew her name because their sons returned alive from the war. Yet, she suffered greatly, fighting two wars simultaneously, one within and one on the field of battle. Shortly after the end of the Civil War her name virtually disappeared, depriving women of an important role model. Mother's War brings Mrs. Bickerdyke's story back to life. War is a time when average people do extraordinary things. Learn about how a mother of three who lived in a small town responded to a simple request for help. Stepping in to the unknown, Mary Ann Bickerdyke dedicated herself to care for the wounded, and in the process pieced together from almost nothing a structure for survival. This story is relevant today because it shows that a person's capacity for resilience can grow and thrive in the face of overwhelming challenges. Women everywhere will identify with her struggles and how she found her way through them with the hard edge of courage and the gentleness of a mother.