Capital Dames

In this compelling companion to her bestsellers, Cokie Roberts explores the pivotal role of women in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War, marking its 150th anniversary. As the capital became a battlefield and a hospital, women like Adele Cutts Douglas and Elizabeth Blair Lee navigated the tumult of war, contributing as nurses, supply organizers, and even munitions makers. Drawing from a wealth of primary sources, Roberts highlights how these women's experiences reshaped their independence and political presence, altering their status in society forever.