Unanswered Letters: a Civil War Nurse’s Love Story

Mary F. Belmont

Description

Reconstructed from actual letters and diaries, this is the story of four young people living in Philadelphia whose lives become intertwined when the American Civil War begins in 1861. Three become nurses, two serving in different armies, but each must care for soldiers without preference for which side they fought. All four reconnect through the Battle of Gettysburg.

Reconstructed from actual letters and diaries, this is the story of four young people living in Philadelphia whose lives become intertwined when the American Civil War begins in 1861. Jan is a German immigrant who begins his studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg. Emma is a Quaker who has learned survival skills growing up in a thick forest. Gabrielle, is a Southerner, was raised by her governess and wealthy Virginian father. Maura travels alone to America from Ireland to escape the potato famine and eventually enters the convent as a Sister of Mercy. Each girl grows up separated from her mother either through a natural or man-made disaster, and each is destined to choose nursing as a career. Many women served as trained nurses in both the Union and Confederate Armies caring for wounded soldiers without preference for which side they fought. It is a little known fact that many of the nurses working to save lives following the Battle of Gettysburg were Catholic nuns from the orders of Sisters of Mercy and Daughters of Charity. This is not a book about war: it is a story about love of God, love of family and friends, and love of country.

Sujets

• Civil War Period
• Historical
• Young Adult Fiction
• Nursing
• Wissahickon Creek
• Battle of Gettysburg
• American Civil War
• United States
• Sisters of Mercy
• Guerre de Sécession

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 11 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665742580
• Langue: English

Extrait

UNANSWERED LETTERS: A Civil War Nurse’s Love Story
 

 
MARY F. BELMONT
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2023 Mary F. Belmont.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4257-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4258-0 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023907416
 
 
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 05/05/2023
DEDICATION
To the nurses of the Union and Confederate Ar mies
who cared for all soldiers wounded in battle without prefer ence.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Prologue
1     Leaving Ireland
2     Emma
3     Yvette, Richard & Gabrielle
4     Jan Huber
5     Pennsylvania Railroad
6     Sister Maura
7     Stay Away
8     A Call to Arms Throughout the Country; All Plans Change
9     Emancipation Proclamation
10   You Are Not Welcome Here
11   A Warning Realized & The Battle of Gettysburg
12   The Aftermath of Battle
13   Unanswered Letters
Questions for Book Club Discussion
About the Author
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The idea for this book was encouraged by my friend and fellow nurse, Kim O’Nally Becker. Corey and Kara Petroske graciously allowed their three lovely young daughters, Cally, Alexa and Paige, to be my junior readers. Randy and Barbara Cleavenger edited and gave their expert advice about the Civil War and Pennsylvania history. Sr. Maureen O’Doonan and Sr. Anne Marie Bucher shared events of their religious calling and life without which I could not have written this story. My thanks to Merrily Brooks for continuing to listen to rewrites when everyone else has drifted off. It is a challenge and blessing to have the critique of two skilled writers, Dr. Christopher De Hamel and Doug Ingram, MD. Scott C. Schwartz, MD, is the man I am so lucky to have in my life.
INTRODUCTION
Several letters written by nurses who served in both the Union and Confederate Armies during the American Civil War were given to me as a gift. These nurses had known each other before the country divided and were able to get their messages passed through the lines of battle. Each letter included a question concerning the whereabouts of a missing soldier, perhaps to give hope to a family or loved one. If the soldier was no longer alive, the writer always included a hope that they did not suffer a painful death. While stationed at the United States Army War College in western Pennsylvania, I first heard the little-known fact that Catholic nuns were among the first nurses to care for soldiers wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg. If one could go back in time, I should like to speak to these nurses about their courage and faith. This is not a book about war: it is a story about love of country, love of family and friends, and love of God.
PROLOGUE

THE HABIT WORN BY AN IRISH NUN CIRCA 1865
As she carefully guided her steps over the granite walkway along the Donegal coast, she became lost in the memory of running barefoot over these same rocks as a little girl. A strong breeze from the North Sea lifts her skirt above worn leather shoes, reminding her that she has a decision to make.
“Pray for us now and at the hour of our death….” She lovingly moves her fingers along the ebony rosary beads that hang in the folds of the habit worn by each Sister of Mercy. Her mother, Bridgit, had kept each letter she had written since leaving for American fourteen years ago and gave them to her now. The letters were read to her mother many times, but never answered, since Bridgit had never learned to write.
In one hand, Sister Maura holds the black woolen veil of her religious order and in the other, the cream lace wedding veil worn by both her mother and grandmother. The decision made, she lifts both veils into the breeze, releasing just one to be carried out to sea and removed from her future.

BRIDGIT’S BRIDAL VEIL PRIVATE COLLECTION OF M. BEL MONT