Clara Barton: the Angel of the Battlefield

- Jack Anderson

Clara Barton, also known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” was an icon of the American Civil War for her work as a humanitarian and nurse and later cemented herself into history by founding the American Red Cross. Barton was born on December 25, 1821 in Oxford, Massachusetts to a farming family and was the youngest of five children. Barton’s older brother, David, severely injured himself falling off the roof of a barn, leading to Clara’s first experience as a nurse caring for him until he recovered. Growing up, Barton was a very shy and quiet girl. Her parents hired an esteemed phrenologist, L.N. Fowler, to evaluate and give their shy daughter direction in life. Barton’s parents “suggested” that Clara become a teacher based on Fowler’s recommendations. Thus, Clara enrolled in school and began her training to become a teacher. After becoming credentialed, she began teaching in her hometown and even opened a school for children of the workers at her brother’s mill. Barton eventually moved to New Jersey and established the town’s first free public school that was open to all students no matter their race or background. As her new school grew exponentially, they hired a male principal and paid him twice as much as she was paid. She then resigned saying she would never do the same work and get paid less than a man. It was at this time that she decided to move to Washington, DC.

Barton was working at the US Patent Office as a recording clerk at the onset of the Civil War, when she came across wounded troops sheltered at the Capitol Building. Pulling from her own stores, she provided aid and pleaded for more supplies to be given to the ailing soldiers, marking the beginning of her career as the “Angel of the Battlefield.” Throughout the course of the war, Barton established supply lines, created field hospitals in private homes, and volunteered as a battlefield nurse, sometimes staying up for days at a time caring for the wounded. Following the war, Ms. Barton, seeing families torn apart from the war with no semblance of closure, pleaded with the government to search for the countless number of missing soldiers. By directive from President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, she opened the “Missing Soldiers Office,” whereby she searched for the fate of hundreds of missing troops to provide closure to families that had been left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

By the order of her doctor, Barton traveled through Europe to regain her strength from her tireless efforts throughout the war. While there, she learned of an organization that played a vital role in the Franco-Prussian war, The International Red Cross. On her return to the US, she petitioned to form an American chapter of the Red Cross by giving lectures, handing out flyers, and even meeting with President Hayes, only to be denied. Through pure persistence, she continued to push for an American Red Cross chapter and in 1881, President Chester A. Arthur authorized the establishment of the American Red Cross and its first president, Miss Clara Barton. Her new chapter served to provide aid and support to soldiers and veterans, disaster relief, and all matters of humanitarian endeavors. Barton worked with the American Red Cross for over 20 years, laying the foundation to what is still a powerful symbol of hope to those in need.

Barton’s humanitarian efforts extended far beyond the American Red Cross, as she worked tirelessly to fight for equal rights for women. She attended numerous women's suffrage rallies and was elected vice president and spoke at the First International Women's Suffrage Conference in Washington, DC, all while continuing to provide aid to those affected by natural disasters. While providing aid during these troubled times, Barton saw there was a very big need to be better prepared for emergencies. Therefore, in 1904, at the tender age of 83, Barton established the National First Aid Association of America which developed first aid kits and was a leader in emergency preparedness. These kits contained surgical instruments and wrappings along with charts and references to the most common injuries in order for the user to provide the fastest level of relief.

Clara Barton was one of the most selfless and caring individuals in American history. Her legacy of service provides a beacon of hope for all that come after her that we can make the world a better place. Her contributions to humanitarian aid in nursing, disaster relief, and human rights will continue to make an impact for years to come.

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Works Cited

“Clara Barton Chronology 1861-1869.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/clba/learn/kidsyouth/chron2.htm. Accessed 14 Sept. 2023.

Michals, Edited by Debra. “Biography: Clara Barton.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/clara-barton. Accessed 14 Sept. 2023.