Mary Ann Bickerdyke, Civil War Nurse was known as “Mother” to the men she served and was one of thousands of women that volunteered as Nurses during the American Civil War. After delivery badly needed supplies to troops sick or injured in Cairo Illinois, Mary Ann was determined to not to abandon her “precious boys”. She was attached to General William Tecumseh Sherman army and witnessed the aftermath of 19 hard fought battles.
During the four years of the war, Bickerdyke was present at nineteen battles, tending the wounded on the field or in hospitals, directing diet kitchens, managing army laundries (which she introduced), and, in general, displaying extraordinary administrative ability and stamina. With no patience for red tape and bureaucracy, her only thought was for the welfare of the wounded. She earned the title of "Cyclone in Calico" because of her disregard for regulations.
Zealous in fighting for the enlisted man, she was the curse of incompetent officers, but generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman held her in the highest esteem. It is reported that Sherman once jokingly said that she outranked him. After the war ended, she was honored by being asked to ride at the head of the XV Corps in the Grand Review in Washington. She stayed on as an army nurse until she retired in March 1866.
Even after her retirement, she worked on behalf of the veterans. She helped them as well as nurses obtain federal pensions. When she moved to Kansas to be with her sons, she helped many veterans secure land and tools so they could settle there also. Until the very end, she dedicated her life to improving conditions for veterans. After suffering a stroke, she died in 1901 at the age of 84. "Mother to the Boys in Blue" is engraved on her tombstone.
Call us for our current presentation rate or e-mail us at:
cwhistoricwomen@gmail.com
