Crusader and feminist

Jane Grey Swisshelm (1815-1884) was an antislavery advocate, newspaper editor, lecturer, crusader, feminist, and Civil War nurse. She edited two newspapers in Minnesota during the period 1858-1865, when these letters were written: first, the St. Cloud Visiter [sic] and, afterward, the St. Cloud Democrat. The Minnesota Historical Society collected and compiled the series of articles and letters written for the St. Cloud Democrat, publishing them as a book in 1934. In her articles and letters, Swisshelm addresses many of the important issues of her time, including women's rights, slavery, and the frontier conflict between Indians and white settlers. She crusaded for a woman's right to own property, speak in church, and vote. She was an avid antislavery advocate who spoke out against the abusive treatment of slaves and their legal standing as chattel. She advocated harsh treatment toward the Sioux in the aftermath of the 1862 uprising, considering the settlers to be aggrieved victims in this case. That Swisshelm was a prominent figure of her time is demonstrated by her familiarity with influential leaders such as Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Her book also contains articles she wrote as she traveled around southern Minnesota, some of which describe her experiences with the First Minnesota Regiment at Fort Snelling.