“Do come up Martha”

Chapter 11 focuses upon the relationship between Martha and her close friend, and relative, Anna McLaren, the wife of Robert McLaren, the commander of Fort Snelling. It reminds the reader that female friendship played an important role on the home front by helping women to change their home environment to cope with the contingencies of war and to alleviate some of the hardship and suffering caused by the war. Resident at Fort Snelling, Anna was faced with the difficult task of making a comfortable home for her young family in a harsh military environment. Martha helped her friend achieve this goal by visiting her regularly with her female friends. Together they planned social activities and cultural pursuits. Martha’s regular correspondence helped Anna cope with the dull tedium of the male dominated Fort environment. Aware that the war had interrupted courtship rituals, Anna aspired to help Martha find a suitable partner. When Martha’s beau died on active service, Anna was there to comfort her. The war also afforded Martha with new opportunities to change her domestic environment. The absence of Benjamin and Daniel enabled her to refurbish and renovate the family home according to her own taste and desires.