Capital Dames LP: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868, by Cokie Roberts
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Capital Dames LP: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868, by Cokie Roberts
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In this engrossing and informative companion to her New York Times bestsellers Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty, Cokie Roberts marks the sesquicentennial of the Civil War by offering a riveting look at Washington, D.C. and the experiences, influence, and contributions of its women during this momentous period of American history.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, the small, social Southern town of Washington, D.C. found itself caught between warring sides in a four-year battle that would determine the future of the United States.
After the declaration of secession, many fascinating Southern women left the city, leaving their friends—such as Adele Cutts Douglas and Elizabeth Blair Lee—to grapple with questions of safety and sanitation as the capital was transformed into an immense Union army camp and later a hospital. With their husbands, brothers, and fathers marching off to war, either on the battlefield or in the halls of Congress, the women of Washington joined the cause as well. And more women went to the Capital City to enlist as nurses, supply organizers, relief workers, and journalists. Many risked their lives making munitions in a highly flammable arsenal, toiled at the Treasury Department printing greenbacks to finance the war, and plied their needlework skills at The Navy Yard—once the sole province of men—to sew canvas gunpowder bags for the troops.
Cokie Roberts chronicles these women's increasing independence, their political empowerment, their indispensable role in keeping the Union unified through the war, and in helping heal it once the fighting was done. She concludes that the war not only changed Washington, it also forever changed the place of women.
Sifting through newspaper articles, government records, and private letters and diaries—many never before published—Roberts brings the war-torn capital into focus through the lives of its formidable women.
Capital Dames LP: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868, by Cokie Roberts - Amazon Sales Rank: #956756 in Books
- Brand: Roberts, Cokie
- Published on: 2015-05-12
- Released on: 2015-05-12
- Format: Large Print
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.00" h x 1.50" w x 6.00" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 752 pages
Capital Dames LP: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868, by Cokie Roberts Review “Cokie Roberts regularly dissects the power dynamics of modern-day Washington. As an author, though, she’s demonstrated a special regard for the farther reaches of American history and its behind-the-scenes players.” (New York Times Book Review)“Roberts is a gifted narrator of Civil War history, weaving the experiences and perspectives of the women into a fresh and illuminating account of key battles and events, from John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry to the assassination of the president.” (Washington Post)“An engaging narrative…. Roberts documents the struggles of many women to overcome their second-class status.… [she] does not ignore the experiences of ‘ordinary’ women.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)“Helping to reverse...cultural ignorance in American history...Roberts again combines her historical interest and long personal knowledge of Washington politics... [and] unearths the important and unique role of women during the US Civil War.” (Christian Science Monitor)“An enlightening account detailing how the Civil War changed the nation’s capital while expanding the role of women in politics, health care, education, and social services. ” (Kirkus Reviews)“Another splendid female-centric slice of history. . . . Roberts illuminates how the harsh realities of the war changed the course of individual lives and permanently altered the course of American women’s history.” (Booklist)“The author’s extensive research...gives this fresh look at Washington, DC during the Civil War era a sense of intimacy, immediacy, and originality.... [A] well-written, readable study. . . . Informative and accessible.” (Library Journal)
From the Back Cover
Cokie Roberts, author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Founding Mothers and Ladies of Liberty, turns her attention to the Civil War in a riveting exploration of the ways in which the conflict transformed not only the lives of women in Washington, D.C., but also the city itself. Her engrossing, well-researched narrative is an inspiring work about increasing independence and political empowerment, honoring the indispensable role of Washington, D.C.'s women in strengthening the city while keeping the lines of communication open with their Southern sisters, and in facilitating healing once the fighting was done. Compelling social history at its best, Capital Dames concludes that the war not only changed Washington; it also forever changed the role of women in American society.
About the Author
Cokie Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News and NPR. She has won countless awards and in 2008 was named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress. She is the author of the New York Times bestsellers We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters, Founding Mothers, Ladies of Liberty, and, with her husband, the journalist Steven V. Roberts, From This Day Forward and Our Haggadah.
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Most helpful customer reviews
51 of 54 people found the following review helpful. √ Inspiring Stories of Brave & Good Women By Bassocantor CAPITAL DAMES presents an exciting narrative of U.S. events in Washington, D.C., around the time of the Civil War. Even though the focus of the book is Washington women, the author does a good job of reminding the reader of various important events at that time. I had forgotten, for instance, that Abraham Lincoln had actually been defeated at one time in a run for the US Senate.I found the historical references especially interesting. I am reminded of how young are nation really is - especially the western part of America. For example, in describing a sea voyage to San Francisco, the author describes that city as only having "three or four regularly built houses," and that there were only sixteen women in all of San Francisco society.Cokie describes some events which are similarly hard to imagine today. In the famous debates between Douglas and Lincoln, the author notes that "The combatants remained cordial," with Abe and Douglas's wife, Adele "even enjoying a train ride together on the way from one debate to the next." It's hard to imagine the contenders for U.S. president being chummy, with the wife of one taking a train ride with her husband's opponent. (However, I am reminded of two young congressmen--JFK and Richard Nixon, sharing a train car when they were young politicians.) Another historical curiosity mentioned is the infamous raid of John Brown on Harpers Ferry. Probably most readers do not realize that the army officer who captured Brown was none other than Robert E Lee--a colonel at the time.The author sets the stage for the reader by describing the panicky and hostile environment in Washington around the time Lincoln was elected president. Fearful of violence, the newly elected Lincoln surreptitiously came into town, presenting a "ludicrous image of a panicky president sneaking into town in Scotch cap and cloak."We are reminded that the Union assumed the war would be quickly won: "As troops advanced on Manassas, Virginia, they were accompanied by hundreds of civilians who thought the whole thing was a lark. Expecting an easy victory, they brought picnic baskets for a day in the country, while they watched the action through opera glasses as if it were a play." This "picnic" was spoiled by the Confederate spy Rose Greenhow. Pretending to hobnob with powerful politicians in Washington DC, she actually passed on critical order of battle information to the Confederacy. Rose was ultimately arrested by the famous detective Allan Pinkerton, but amazingly, that didn't stop Rose. Even under house arrest, she still was sending vital information to the Confederacy: "Rose kept finding ways to receive and review information even while confined to her home prison."All of the women in CAPITAL DAMES are fascinating, but one of the most inspiring figures is Dorothea Dix. She was a tireless proponent for the mentally ill, "Establishing hospitals where there were none and inspecting the hospital was born out of her efforts. She was so admired that she was given free passes for a transportation and had access to the powerful the world over, including the Pope." During the war, Dix was a leader in recruiting nurses to help the wounded. The author notes that Dorothy had strict job qualifications, including: "No Catholic nuns; no young, good looking women need apply." In order to avoid impropriety, first priority would be given to "matronly persons."Another inspiring figure in this book is Dr. Mary Walker. She was the first female surgeon in America and actually only the second woman to graduate from medical school. Cokie notes one oddity about Dr. Walker: "She always wore men's clothes, something that caused her to be arrested from time to time." Dr. Walter was eventually captured and held prisoner under terrible conditions. After the war she received the Medal of Honor--the only woman to receive that honor. This was all new to me--very interesting!This review would be incomplete without mention of the most inspirational figure of all--Clara Barton. Clara was tireless and fearless in helping thousands of wounded men. She found her way to the front lines--an unheard of place for a woman, where she sometimes worked without sleep for several days, helping treat the wounded. At one point, Clara stayed right until the rebel forces came upon her: "Luckily she and her co-workers managed to get the last man on the train and boarded themselves just as rebel soldiers rode in and set fire to the station." Of course, the author notes, Clara Barton would later being the American division of the Red Cross, as well as fight to have the United States recognize the Geneva Convention.Finally, in "Author's Notes and Acknowledgements," Roberts describes the terrific tragedy of the Civil War. Anyone reading of the death and suffering described here will surely be moved. As the author succinctly describes, "The southern politicians decision to secede was one of the most profound tragedies ever brought on by human beings." Of course, this decision led to the deaths of 600,000 Americans.The author describes her own personal feelings about her family history in the war, when a young boy asked which side their family was on. The author's daughter replied, "Well everyone in our family fought for the South, but it was good for the country that the North won." Nicely stated.√ CAPITAL DAMES does a great service in highlighting the lives of remarkable women who lived during the darkest period in America's past. These were courageous, bold, and just flat-out GOOD women. After reading about the terrible loss of life and massive suffering during this terrible time, I was glad to read about the many heroes (and a few scoundrels) that lived during that time.Highly Recommend!Advance copy for review courtesy of Edelweiss.
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful. Lots of details By Jim Morris After hearing Cokie Robert's interview with Diane Rehm about her latest book."Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868″ I couldn't wait to read it.Unfortunately the book is hard to follow. Roberts jumps from one Dame to another; the vignettes are engaging but often random. The absence of an index doesn't help.Roberts did an impressive amount of research; almost every page includes multiple quotes from primary sources. They give the book a certain credibility; but in the end all the quotes made for a choppy read.I strongly recommendCatherine Clinton's book: Mrs. Lincoln, A Life,and Elizabeth Keckley, Behind The Scenes, or Thirty Years a Slave and Four years in the White House
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful. Interesting, educational, and truly remarkable By TicToc Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Capital Dames,' A Glance at the Women of the Civil War by Cokie Roberts.The Civil War was a time in history where women were finding their own allegiances, a time of war and treason, heartache and treachery. The Years of 1848-1968 were defining years both for the emancipation of slavery but for the women who chose their own involvement in working for their beliefs and that of their husbands and families.In Capital Dames by Cokie Roberts we are taken into the parlors and the Whitehouse during a time when unrest was at its height. We are introduced to the women behind the great names in the histories of the colonies, and educated as to the real lives that were led by the men and their leading ladies.Whether they were the communicators, the spies or the informers, each had a strong belief in what they were doing. We meet the First Lady of the White House, as well as the belles of both the north and the south. There is an amazing array of information gleaned from writing, diaries and news of the time and Cokie has taken the opportunity to shine a light on the women behind the history of the Civil war.What I enjoyed about this particular telling is that Roberts tells the history as it unfolds, not just the woman, but also the men as they too play their part in history. While the emphasis is on the woman, it is the history and the making of it that seems to be the guide. I have always been interested in history and yet found myself in awe by some of the happenings. Many I did not know, and do not recall coming up in history lessons in school.Often the woman had to speak for the men, they were away at war, and information deemed important would often make its way through the woman, and their own visits with Generals and the White House as they tried to find a way to work the system to the best advantage of their own particular husband, family or belief.It is an amazing array of bravery and fortitude that holds you enthralled in the reading as you find yourself wondering just how you would handle some of the same issues. The war also brought to light the suffering and the need for hospitals, and we also meet the women who worked tirelessly to bring the Red Cross to light.If you enjoy history and want to know more behind the written facts, you will find the information garnered here through numerous records, many never before published, to be interesting and heartbreaking. You may also learn a bit more about this time in history, especially the part played by the woman as their men did their best to bring an end to war.This would be a great work for a reading or book club. The information is priceless, and the debatable material would keep a group talking long after hours.
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