The Youngest Nurse at Annapolis Based on the Civil War Letters of Helen Noye Hoyt

1. The Youngest Nurse at AnnapolisBased on the Civil War Letters of Helen Noye Hoyt By Ellen Oliver Smith, Ph.D. Good day to you. I am Mahala Ellen Oliver Hudson, and I come to you today to speak about the practice of medicine during the American Civil War. My talk today will attempt to discuss the conditions for the care of wounded and ill soldiers during the War of the Rebellion. When I am finished with the prepared portion of this talk, you will have an opportunity to ask questions about other medical practices of the nineteenth century.Good day to you. I am Mahala Ellen Oliver Hudson, and I come to you today to speak about the practice of medicine during the American Civil War. My talk today will attempt to discuss the conditions for the care of wounded and ill soldiers during the War of the Rebellion. When I am finished with the prepared portion of this talk, you will have an opportunity to ask questions about other medical practices of the nineteenth century.

2. Acknowledgements Clements Library Director & Staff Peter Petrovich Charles Hoyt I wish to thank the director and staff of the Clements Library located on the U of M campus for all of their assistance in this project. Their patience and knowledge made my experience without equal. I also wish to thank my sister, Janet Oliver Haynes, for teaching me the �genealogy� skills and methods I used to find background information on the Hoyt and Noye families and pursue service records at the National Archives. Finally I wish to acknowledge my six relatives who served in the Union Army. Following the histories of their regiments got me well and truly hooked on learning about the War of the Rebellion (or War of Northern Aggression), depending on your loyalties. I wish to thank the director and staff of the Clements Library located on the U of M campus for all of their assistance in this project. Their patience and knowledge made my experience without equal. I also wish to thank my sister, Janet Oliver Haynes, for teaching me the �genealogy� skills and methods I used to find background information on the Hoyt and Noye families and pursue service records at the National Archives. Finally I wish to acknowledge my six relatives who served in the Union Army. Following the histories of their regiments got me well and truly hooked on learning about the War of the Rebellion (or War of Northern Aggression), depending on your loyalties.

3.  Books, photographs and artifacts fromcollection of Ellen Oliver Smith, Ph.D.Additional photographs fromcollection of Peter Petrovich

4. Helen Marie �Nellie� NoyeDecember 26, 1839-February 7, 1926The Youngest Nurse at Annapolis Native of Buffalo, NY Close friend, colleague of Maria Hall Served August, 1863 to July 1864 Unpaid volunteer

5. Scene fromSection 5 Supervised Section 5, U. S. Army GeneralHospital No. 1, (Naval AcademyHospital), Annapolis, MD Established bedside prayer meetings In the last paragraph of one of her early letters Nellie says, �Will you save all my letters together which I write while I am away. I think they will be interesting to look over at some future time.� These are two photos from the collection containing her letters. In the upper picture, Nellie is shown at the Supply Tent, together with the hospital chaplain and the supply sergeant. The second, also taken by the hospital photographer, show Nellie and some of the other nurses assigned to section 5. Ward 5 was located on the Academy Parade Ground. The tents were pitched on wooden platforms, keeping both patients and caregivers out of the mud. Heat during the winter months was supplied by a wood burning stove in each tent. If a tent was not needed for patients, it could therefore be folded and stored out of the way. Nellie reported that the patients housed in tents seemed to recover faster than those in the buildings that surrounded the parade ground. Probably less chance of spreading infection by aerosols created during wound care, etc. In the last paragraph of one of her early letters Nellie says, �Will you save all my letters together which I write while I am away. I think they will be interesting to look over at some future time.� These are two photos from the collection containing her letters. In the upper picture, Nellie is shown at the Supply Tent, together with the hospital chaplain and the supply sergeant. The second, also taken by the hospital photographer, show Nellie and some of the other nurses assigned to section 5. Ward 5 was located on the Academy Parade Ground. The tents were pitched on wooden platforms, keeping both patients and caregivers out of the mud. Heat during the winter months was supplied by a wood burning stove in each tent. If a tent was not needed for patients, it could therefore be folded and stored out of the way. Nellie reported that the patients housed in tents seemed to recover faster than those in the buildings that surrounded the parade ground. Probably less chance of spreading infection by aerosols created during wound care, etc.

6. Scene fromSection 5 Sang to patients, substitute organist in Chapel Wrote for �The Crutch� (hospitalnewspaper) Edited hospital Lyceum Lectures In the last paragraph of one of her early letters Nellie says, �Will you save all my letters together which I write while I am away. I think they will be interesting to look over at some future time.� These are two photos from the collection containing her letters. In the upper picture, Nellie is shown at the Supply Tent, together with the hospital chaplain and the supply sergeant. The second, also taken by the hospital photographer, show Nellie and some of the other nurses assigned to section 5. Ward 5 was located on the Academy Parade Ground. The tents were pitched on wooden platforms, keeping both patients and caregivers out of the mud. Heat during the winter months was supplied by a wood burning stove in each tent. If a tent was not needed for patients, it could therefore be folded and stored out of the way. Nellie reported that the patients housed in tents seemed to recover faster than those in the buildings that surrounded the parade ground. Probably less chance of spreading infection by aerosols created during wound care, etc. In the last paragraph of one of her early letters Nellie says, �Will you save all my letters together which I write while I am away. I think they will be interesting to look over at some future time.� These are two photos from the collection containing her letters. In the upper picture, Nellie is shown at the Supply Tent, together with the hospital chaplain and the supply sergeant. The second, also taken by the hospital photographer, show Nellie and some of the other nurses assigned to section 5. Ward 5 was located on the Academy Parade Ground. The tents were pitched on wooden platforms, keeping both patients and caregivers out of the mud. Heat during the winter months was supplied by a wood burning stove in each tent. If a tent was not needed for patients, it could therefore be folded and stored out of the way. Nellie reported that the patients housed in tents seemed to recover faster than those in the buildings that surrounded the parade ground. Probably less chance of spreading infection by aerosols created during wound care, etc.

7. U.S. General Hospital No.1Annapolis, MD In mid August 1863 23-year old Nellie journeyed to Baltimore, then Annapolis, accompanied by her father. Gently reared young women of the era simply did not travel alone, so Papa Noye not only provided escort, but was able to assess the atmosphere and facilities where his young daughter would be working. Nellie describes the journey with her father in her first letter written upon her arrival in Baltimore: �We had the same car, and a handsome one too, through from Williamsport. We were glad enough to get in the city, and I doubt if we would have left if we could last night, although Papa thought if we could go by water, we would, which would be much relief. However we came here and after converting my self from a contraband into a Nellie Noye we had a refreshing supper. . .� This illustration was the letterhead for hospital stationary. It shows the academy buildings, parade ground ward and wharf for the arrival of new patients. In mid August 1863 23-year old Nellie journeyed to Baltimore, then Annapolis, accompanied by her father. Gently reared young women of the era simply did not travel alone, so Papa Noye not only provided escort, but was able to assess the atmosphere and facilities where his young daughter would be working. Nellie describes the journey with her father in her first letter written upon her arrival in Baltimore: �We had the same car, and a handsome one too, through from Williamsport. We were glad enough to get in the city, and I doubt if we would have left if we could last night, although Papa thought if we could go by water, we would, which would be much relief. However we came here and after converting my self from a contraband into a Nellie Noye we had a refreshing supper. . .� This illustration was the letterhead for hospital stationary. It shows the academy buildings, parade ground ward and wharf for the arrival of new patients.

8. HOW TO BECOME ACIVIL WAR NURSE Nursing became an honorable and suitable profession for gently reared women during the War of the Rebellion (or War of Northern Aggression, as the case may be). Using Florence Nightingale�s �Notes on Nursing� as guidelines, women trained for their duties about a month before leaving for the field.

9. HOW TO BECOME ACIVIL WAR NURSE Women could become nurses during the Civil War by doing one of the following: Join Dorothea Dix�s nursing corps (if over 30 year of age and homely). Enlist through the Sanitary or Christian Commission. Be member of a nursing order of nuns (Sisters of Charity, Sisters of Mercy). Be requested by a particular surgeon for duty at his hospital.

10. Adeline Blanchard TylerHospital MatronSupervisor of Nurses

11. Women of the Warby Frank Moore (1866) This account of women�s service during the war documents the activities and sacrifices of many women during the war through brief biographical sketches. Though many of the individuals mentioned served as nurses, others were active at home with Sanitary Commission fund raising. Maria Hall and Helen Noye are both mentioned. Source: Smith Collection

12. Civil War Era Hand-blownGlass Urinal

13. Birney Hoyt1842-1900Model Patient Native of Grand Rapids, MI 6th Michigan Cavalry (MI Cavalry Brigade with G. A. Custer) Mustered out Ft. Leavenworth (1865) Admitted to MI Bar (1866) Married H. Noye (June, 1867) Attorney & judge (Kent Co., MI)

14. Civil War Mini� Balls(Petersburg, VA Battlefield) Source: Smith Collection

15. Birney Hoyt War Wound Wounded and captured (Sept. 21, 1863) Transferred to Annapolis (Sept. 29, 1863) Mentioned by name in Nellie�s letter dated Mar. 30, 1864 Returned to active duty (July, 1864)

16. Birney Hoyt War Wound Arm permanently disabled Documented in Pension File with these pictures Died of Bright�s Disease, a kidney inflammation resulting from chronic infection in wound