Mary Walker

By Ryan

Mary Edwards Walker a surgeon, a spy, and Medal of honor winner: Mary was born in Oswego, New York. As Mary grew up in rural New York, she attended and graduated from Syracuse Medical College. After Mary had graduated, she set up a office in Rome, New York and married one of her fellow students, Albert Miller. Throughout their thirteen years of marriage, she kept her own name of Mary Walker.

In 1861, as the North and South still argued over issues in the U.S. a war erupted. Mary applied for a surgeon position in the Union army despite having very little surgery training. The Surgeon General rejected Mary’s petition. Being a woman was hard because most women were seen as nurses not doctors. So Mary volunteered as a nurse in an army hospital. In 1864, Mary Walker petitioned to President Lincoln that she should be in a female ward, but would rather have a surgeon commission so she could travel from battle to battle. Lincoln agreed that she should be able to become a surgeon in the union army.

When the battle of Chickamauga came around, Mary was out there aiding the Confederate troops along with the Union troops. While Mary was going from side to side, she would gather information from the south such as attack plans and other helpful clues for the Union to use. Being caught once by the south, Mary Edwards Walker survived and was one of the only nurses to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bibliography

1.www.ask.com "Who Is Mary Walker"-Pictures and info.

2.www.ask.com "How did Mary Walker Contribute to the Civil War"