Sarah Palmer Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah A. Graham Palmer Young
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| Born |
Sarah A. Graham
August 19, 1830 Ithaca, NY
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| Died | April 6, 1908 (aged 77) Des Moines, Iowa
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | "Aunt Becky" |
| Occupation | Nurse |
Sarah Graham Palmer Young (born August 19, 1830, died April 6, 1908) was a brave nurse during the American Civil War. She helped many soldiers who were hurt or sick. In 1867, she wrote a book about her experiences called The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Sarah A. Graham was born in Ithaca, New York.
She married Abel O. Palmer, but he passed away before 1862. After the Civil War, on April 6, 1867, she married David C. Young.
Nursing During the Civil War
Sarah Palmer began her nursing journey on September 3, 1862. She left her two daughters with relatives and followed the 109th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment to Laurel, Maryland.
The regiment first worked near Annapolis Junction, Maryland. Their job was to guard the railroad that led to Washington, D.C.
Helping Soldiers at Petersburg
During the Siege of Petersburg, Sarah Palmer showed how determined she was. She wanted to send a very sick soldier to Washington, D.C., for better care. However, the doctor in charge said no.
Sarah found a way to get a ticket for the soldier anyway and sent him off. The next day, the doctor was very angry. Sarah later told this story, saying that she helped many patients this way. She even claimed the doctor complained to General Ulysses S. Grant. According to Sarah, General Grant just laughed and said, "I've got nothing to say. Aunt Becky outranks me!"
How She Became "Aunt Becky"
Sarah Palmer earned the nickname "Aunt Becky" during the war. It's not clear if she had this nickname before. Some people say her patients often called her "Mother," but she didn't like that name. A soldier once suggested she looked like his "Aunt Becky," and she encouraged others to use that nickname instead.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, Sarah Palmer Young continued to care about soldiers.
Writing Her Book
Her book, The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life, was written with Sylvia Lawson Covey. Sarah had kept a detailed diary of her nursing experiences. Sadly, most of her diary was lost. So, she mostly told her story from memory.
Moving to Iowa and Helping Again
After she remarried in 1867, her family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, the next year. When the Spanish–American War started, Sarah quickly got involved. She raised money for the Iowa Sanitation Commission. This group provided important medical supplies for soldiers. Sarah became the president of the Commission.
Sarah Graham Palmer Young passed away on April 6, 1908. This day was also her 41st wedding anniversary. She was buried in Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines.
