Mary Ellis

Mary Ellis was a Union nurse during the American Civil War.

Biography Ellis assisted her husband in raising the 1st Missouri Cavalry regiment, and went to the field along with them. The regiment went to camp on August 1, 1861, and Ellis began nursing immediately when there was a measles outbreak in camp. The regiment surgeon came to resent Ellis after this event, though Ellis was certain that the rest of the unit supported her.

In time, Ellis was requested by the chief of the Government Detective Force to act as a detective for the Union Army.

Ultimately, Ellis fell ill and was taken to St. Louis to recover. Unfortunately, Ellis did not recover well enough to return to her service as a nurse. As a volunteer, Ellis was never paid for her work.