Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial

Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial

National Park Service photo by Mike Litterst

Quick Facts

Location:

Washington, DC

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Public Transit

One of the few Civil War monuments to commemorate women’s roles during the Civil War, the Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial honors the dedication and compassion of the women of various religious orders who served as nurses for both North and South during the American Civil War.

Standing at the busy intersection of Rhode Island Avenue, M Street, and Connecticut Avenue NW, across from St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the memorial was championed by Ellen Ryan Jolly, president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of America. The organization spent more than a decade advocating for the monument’s approval by Congress and then raising private funds for its construction once it was authorized in 1918.

Irish sculptor Jerome Connor created the memorial, which features a large bronze bas‑relief panel set into a rectangular granite slab and base. The relief depicts 12 nuns wearing the distinctive habits of the various orders that served as nurses during the war, symbolizing diversity of service and shared sacrifice.

Flanking the central panel are two bronze allegorical figures. On one end sits a winged figure in helmet and robes representing the Angel of Patriotism, unarmed to emphasize peaceful service; on the other is the Angel of Peace, a winged female figure in flowing dress whose calm pose conveys the healing mission of these women. The figures reinforce the dual themes of national service and humanitarian compassion.

Above the relief is the inscription: “They comforted the dying, nursed the wounded, carried hope to the imprisoned, gave in His name a drink of water to the thirsty.” Below, wording honors the various orders of sisters who served on battlefields and in hospitals during the Civil War. A separate inscription notes the memorial was erected by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians by authority of the U.S. Congress.

Dedicated on September 20, 1924, the Nuns of the Battlefield Memorial remains a distinctive testament to the selfless care provided by religious women in wartime—care that was essential, perilous, and often overlooked.