The year is 1861, and the American Civil War has just begun. Almost immediately, a hero arrives in the form of Clara Barton, a nurse from Massachusetts. Over the next four years, Barton will become a prominent figure, and her experiences on the front of the war will shape the future formation of an important health organization.

Clara Barton was born in December of 1821 in North Oxford, Massachusetts to Sarah and Stephen Barton, the latter of whom was a state legislator and veteran. As a child, Barton was sensitive and shy, but had a bit of a temper, and since she was ten years younger than her youngest older sibling, she had no one to play with [1]. Her father would often tell her stories about his experiences in battle, which offered