Hospital Sketches

A young woman in 1863 finds herself swept up by the restless energy of the Civil War, determined to turn a restless “I want something to do” into a purpose that matters. Encouraged by a chorus of family members—each offering a different path from teaching to marriage—she settles on nursing, a choice that feels both urgent and oddly theatrical. Her decision sparks a flurry of letters, hopeful plans, and a spirited march through snowy Boston streets as she announces her enlistment to a bewildered household.

The narrative follows her first weeks as she navigates the chaotic world of wartime hospitals, from the enthusiastic recruitment meetings to the unexpected disappointment of a filled ward and a last‑minute reassignment to a bustling makeshift infirmary. Along the way, she confronts the practical challenges of supplies, the quirks of fellow volunteers, and the oddly comic rituals that arise when civilian life collides with military order. Listeners will be drawn into a vivid, humor‑tinged portrait of a determined heroine learning the ropes of care amid the turmoil of war.