With Courage and Delicacy: Civil War on the Peninsula: Women and the U.S. Sanitary Commission [Hardcover]

Nancy Scripture Garrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 1999

The U.S. Sanitary Commission was a volunteer medical and relief organization during the Civil War, in which women played a significant role. The author draws on the letters of women serving in McClellan's Peninsula campaign of 1862 to integrate social, cultural and military history into a gripping narrative.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (November 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882810392
• ISBN-13: 978-1882810390
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,784,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Perspective, February 25, 2002

By 

Nancy Garrison (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With Courage and Delicacy: Civil War on the Peninsula: Women and the U.S. Sanitary Commission (Hardcover)

I appreciate Sister Estelle's review. Please read it...

In the case of nurses Wormeley, Woolsey and Howland, we have to believe that indeed they did not "pick up a musket, drenched in sweat and driven by the Glory of God drive a bayonet deep into a Rebel chest." Sweaty these women were; but not through the use of arms. That some women did resort to violence, I have no doubt; although I question whether "the Glory of God" had anything to do with it.

"With Courage and Delicacy" is a history, not a romance, and as a historian I was obligated to "tell it like it was." These nurses did not respond to their circumstances with violence, but rather with compassion - and they did not seek glory. If they chose to serve through nursing, not riding and fencing, so be it. I respectfully take issue with Sister when she suggests that writing the truth "perpetuates a stereotype".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing glimpse into the lives of three brave women, September 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: With Courage and Delicacy: Civil War on the Peninsula: Women and the U.S. Sanitary Commission (Hardcover)

"With Courage and Delicacy" is an amazing glimpse into the lives of three brave women who contributed to the health and care of Civil War casualties. Their tale is recounted with a modern perspective that will please any reader interested in the historical issues this book brings to life.

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical perspective of women in the Civil War, July 26, 2010

By 

Kathleen Pickrell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: With Courage And Delicacy: Civil War On The Peninsula: Women And The U.s. Sanitary Commission (Classic Military History) (Paperback)

I purchased this book because of interest in the role of Civil War nurses, in general, and the Sanitation Commission's role, in particular. I found the book to be informative from the perspective of women who participated. The most interesting information came from the women themselves. While we read about the preparations, the men, and the subsequent battles, we do not have a clear behind-the-scenes picture. This book presents that perspective. The only criticism I have of the book is the writing style. It suffers from "which syndrome." Too much use of "which" became an obstacle for me. I pulled out my old copy of Strunk & White to see if this was just my problem and found support for the argument that too many "whiches" may have spoiled this broth. I recommend this book for reading for the material it presents.