When the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, more than 3 million Union and Confederate soldiers prepared for battle. Men across America were called upon to support their side in confrontation. Although their battles have been well documented and historically analyzed for over a hundred years, there is one aspect missing, one dark spot: the role of women in the American Civil War. Whether they stayed home to care for children or disguised themselves as men to fight on the battlefield, women contributed in many ways to the war effort on both sides. Although very few women are recognized for their vital contributions, there are still fewer of them. During the war, women felt obligated to help in one form or another. Many stayed home to watch over children, while others felt a more direct or indirect approach was needed. Among the most common routes women took to support the war, many "served as clerks...filling ammunition cartridges and artillery shells with powder in armories, working at this dangerous and demanding task for low wages. Both sides used women in these roles. (Vol 170)." The women who stayed away from the battlefields supported their respected armies by taking the jobs the men left behind. They were the grease in the gears of war, the individuals working behind the scenes to keep men prepared, ready to fight with working weapons and operational equipment. Many women decided not to stay at home and instead accompany their husbands or male relatives. army They "traveled with the army to sew, care and wash clothes (Volo 170) Again, the women did the dirty work to ensure that the men were always relatively ready for battle. who traveled provided a...... middle of paper...... faith and hope were the same; they both trusted in the same Savior for salvation (Edmonds 89). not on our ilearn site (in other words, a source must be material that you have found). The sources you use should be listed in your first bibliography. Edmonds, Emma Nurse and Spy In The Union Army: WS Williams et. Co, 1865.Print.Eggleston, Larry. Women in the North Carolina Civil War: McFarland and Company, 2003.Print.Schwartz, Gerald. Esther Hill Hawks' Diary of One Woman's Civil War, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. . Print.Volo, Dorothy Denneen and James Volo Civil War Connecticut America: Greenwood Press, 1998..