Elida Rumsey

Elida B. Rumsey (also referred to by her married name, Elida Fowle) was a Union nurse during the American Civil War. Too young to serve under Dorothea Dix's nursing service, Rumsey volunteered alongside her husband for three years of the war.

Early life
Rumsey was born in New York City on June 6, 1842. As a child, Rumsey's parents moved to Washington, D.C. which began Rumsey's interest in political action. At the time of southern secession, Rumsey was engaged to John A. Fowle who was employed in the Navy. Because of their closeness to the capital and Fowle's work, the couple was interested in serving in the Civil War, particularly in a philanthropic manner.

Civil War Service
In November of 1861, Rumsey began her hospital service. She worked for the Union Army specifically, but was known to help and serve any injured soldier regardless of their loyalties. Rumsey decided, in addition to nursing, to use her superb singing voice towards the war effort as well. She sang to a crowd of soldiers at a prisoner exchange, in an effort to lift their spirits, as well as at Sunday evening prayer groups to help fundraise money for the Soldiers' Free Library. Rumsey would often stand on the rebel flag while singing the Star Spangled Banner in an effort to rouse the audience.

Rumsey's service as a nurse was quite varied. For instance, she made crutches and canes for free for wounded soldiers which were stored in the Soldiers' Free Library (the same library she helped fund). She also took supplies and over four hundred loaves of bread to the Second Battle of Bull Run. En route to the battle, she and her husband came across a small cabin which they decided to use as a hospital. Rumsey, like countless other nurses, faced numerous difficulties during her service. She had to carry water for the patients from over two miles away. Rumsey left the war with her own scars from blood poisoning. In sum, Rumsey served in numerous hospitals in the D.C. area for a total of three years.