Cordelia Harvey

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Civil War Angel

Bob Kann

Travel with Cordelia Harvey as she goes up and down the Mississippi visiting wounded Wisconsin soldiers during the Civil War and dedicating her life to ensuring their well-being.

128 pages, 7 x 9, 62 b&w photos
Paperback: $12.95 | ISBN: 978-087020-458-6
Ebook: $9.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-664-1
Publication Date: 2/23/2011

Reading Level: Ages 8–14, Grades 3–8

BUY

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Description

How would you serve your country if you could not fight on a battlefield? Cordelia Harvey cared deeply about the men and boys fighting far from home in support of the Union during the Civil War. As a woman she could not fight, and in Wisconsin, she was far from where battles were taking place. Her husband, Louis Harvey, was the governor of the state, and after he died tragically on his way back from visiting the troops, the new governor offered Cordelia a job that would allow her to help the soldiers directly: working as the sanitary agent for Wisconsin. She jumped at the chance. In this position, Cordelia could fight for the well-being of the men and boys wounded in battle. Cordelia Harvey: Civil War Angel tells the story of this heroic but unsung figure from Wisconsin’s Civil War history.

Young readers will follow Cordelia on her journeys along the Mississippi River to visit Wisconsin soldiers in military hospitals. In her efforts to make sure soldiers were well cared for, Cordelia wrote to the governor about the need for wholesome food, clean supplies, and fresh air. Eventually, she traveled to Washington to plead with President Lincoln for a Soldier’s Home hospital in Wisconsin. When Cordelia returned after the war, she continued her humanitarian work by starting an orphanage for the children of fallen Civil War soldiers.

Cordelia Harvey: Civil War Angel includes sidebars on medical care, early nursing, and military prisons. A timeline, glossary of terms, and suggestions for activities and discussion round out this spirited narrative.

Author Bios

Bob Kann

Bob Kann has a PhD in education and is a professional storyteller, entertainer, and juggler who performs for audiences of all ages. He is the author of several biographies for young readers, including Bob and Belle La Follette: Partners in Politics; Cindy Bentley: Spirit of a Champion; and Joyce Westerman: Baseball Hero. Kann lives in Madison, Wisconsin.