When the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, over 3 million Union and Confederate soldiers prepared for battle. Men from all over America were called upon to play their part in the battle. Although their battles have been well documented and historically analyzed for over a hundred years, there is one aspect, one dark point that is missing from the picture: the role of women in the American Civil War. From staying home to care for children to dressing up as men to fight on the battlefield, women contributed in many ways to the war effort on both sides. While very few women are recognized for their vital contributions, even fewer are. Women during the war felt an obligation to provide assistance in one form or another. Many remained at home to care for the children, while others found a more direct or indirect approach necessary. Among the most common paths women took to support the war, many “served as clerks…powder-filled ammunition cartridges and artillery shells in armories, working at this dangerous and demanding task for low wages . Both sides used women in these capacities (Flight 170)." Women who stayed away from the battlefields supported their respected armies by filling the jobs vacated by men. They were the grease in the wheels of war, the individuals who worked behind the scenes to ensure that men were prepared, ready to fight with working weapons and operational equipment. Many women decided not to stay at home and, rather, accompany their husbands or male relatives with the army. They "traveled with the Army to sew, breastfeed, and wash clothes (Flight 170)." Once again women did the dirty work to ensure that men were always relatively ready for battle. The traveling women provided clear paper… half paper… faith and hope were the same; both trusted in the same Savior for salvation (Edmonds 89). “Option #1 – Convert your bibliography to an eight-page document (minimum), drawing extensively from at least two critical sources. One of these sources must be material that was not on our ilearn site (in other words, a source must be the material you found.) The sources you use must be listed in your first bibliography Edmonds, Emma Nurse and Spy In The Union Army: WS Williams and Co, 1865.Print.Eggleston, Larry Women in the Civil War: McFarland and Company, 2003.Print.Schwartz, Gerald's Civil War Esther Hill Hawks Diary: University of South Carolina Press Print.Volo, Dorothy Denneen and James Volo American Civil War: Greenwood Press, 1998.