Lovina McCarthy Streight

This week’s #FeministFriday features the life of a one-of-a-kind woman, Lovina McCarthy Streight, who served as a nurse during the Civil War. When her husband was named the commander of the 51st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, she took it upon herself to go with him. She spent her time nursing wounded soldiers back to health and was given the title “The Mother of the 51st”. In 1862, Streight was captured three times by Confederate soldiers. Twice she was exchanged for prisoners, and the last time, she took matters into her own hands and escaped. Both she and her husband survived the war and relocated to Indianapolis where she facilitated an annual reunion of the regiment. After her passing, most of her estate went toward establishing a home for elderly women.