A Woman of Valor

Clara Barton and the Civil War

By: Stephen B. Oates

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

When the Civil War broke out, Clara Barton wanted more than anything to be a Union soldier, an impossible dream for a 39-year-old woman who stood a slender five feet tall. Determined to serve, she became a veritable soldier, a nurse, and a one-woman relief agency operating in the heart of the conflict. Now, award-winning author Stephen B. Oates, drawing on archival materials not used by her previous biographers, has written the first complete account of Clara Barton's active engagement in the Civil War.

By the summer of 1862, with no institutional affiliation or official government appointment, but impelled by a sense of duty and a need to heal, she made her way to the front lines and the heat of battle. Oates tells the dramatic story of this woman who gave the world a new definition of courage, supplying medical relief to the wounded at some of the most famous battles of the war-including Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Battery Wagner, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Petersburg. Committed to healing soldiers' spirits as well as their bodies, she served not only as nurse and relief worker but as surrogate mother, sister, wife, or sweetheart to thousands of sick, wounded, and dying men.

©1994 Stephen B. Oates (P)2020 Tantor

I enjoyed this immensely……was sad to see it end.

Such a great presentation of Clara Barton during her service in the Civil War. I knew about her, but not to the detail this book brought out, especially her love and devotion to the Union soldiers of the Civil War. She was an extraordinary lady, and this book brings that knowledge to the forefront. Excellent book! I highly recommend.

Outstanding and Fascinating Book!

This biography of Clara Barton, focusing on the Civil Year years, is a tightly written and entertaining read. The narrator does a great job and is easy to follow. Highly recommended.

Learning about Clara’s powerful role impact

I found it all very interesting. And would recommend it to others wanting to learn more about how women like Clara had a significant influence during and after the Civil war

Wow! Be prepared for thorough description of war

This is such an incredible thorough account of Clara Barton’s war-time life, and what she experienced in the war that spurned her decision to start the Red Cross. Inspiring, and also jarring. Her descriptions are not for the faint of heart. Use caution when listening to her description of the war, specifically, the living conditions, and the gore of wounded.

An amazing documentary of a woman’s contribution in war.

This was an inspiring documentary of a woman who touched so many lives despite many obstacles.

Great book, well written

Book was excellent. Only reason why I didn’t give it 5/5 was the drop in story telling in the later years. Writer got a bit tired during a climactic time of Clara’s life.

Clara's Start

gets a little muddy and boged down on the details of the Civil War rather than give more specifics of how Clara got her start before the Red Cross.