Maria Abbey

Maria Abbey was a nurse during the American Civil War. In Mary G. Holland's collection of letters from Civil War nurses, titled Our Army Nurses: Stories from Women in the Civil War, Abbey recounts her experience as a wartime nurse. She was called to the service after hearing Reverend H. W. Beecher speak of the duty of women to help during the war. She heard this sermon in April 1861, the Sunday after the battle at Fort Sumter, and enlisted with six other women by the first day of May. These women were some of the first to respond to the call for nurses.

Her service began at Union Hospital at Georgetown. Immediately, Abbey noticed the lack of structure and organization of the hospital, largely due to the immense need for help. Ultimately, the hospital environment proved to be too much physical and emotional stress for Abbey, who left September 3, 1861.

This did not stop Abbey from aiding the war effort. Abbey opened her own home to be used as a private hospital for two years, maintained by herself. The house continued to operate as a hospital even after Abbey moved. She reportedly never expected payment for her services.