Clara Barton's Missing Soldiers Office

When the American Civil War ended, the fighting was over—but for thousands of families, the agony had only just begun. Sons, husbands, and brothers had vanished without a trace, leaving loved ones desperate for answers the government could not provide. In this episode of History Shorts, we tell the remarkable story of Clara Barton and her creation of the Missing Soldiers Office in Washington. Best known today as the founder of the American Red Cross, Barton first devoted herself to one of the Civil War's most heartbreaking challenges: identifying the missing. Working from a modest office, she answered tens of thousands of letters, searched military records, corresponded with former soldiers, and helped families discover the fate of loved ones who had simply disappeared into the chaos of war.   SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise   LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now