“Mercy Street” explores conflicts between nurses on opposite sides of the Civil War

Mercy Street, a six-part drama series is set in Alexandria, Va., in 1862 and follows two volunteer nurses on opposing sides of the Civil War. New Englander Mary Phinney (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Confederate supporter Emma Green (Hannah James) have an ideological clash at the Union Army’s Mansion House Hospital, formerly the Green family’s luxury hotel. Inspired by real accounts from Mansion House doctors and nurses, Mercy Street also stars Josh Radnor, Gary Cole, Peter Gerety, Norbert Leo Butz, McKinley Belcher III and Shalita Grant. Mercy Street premieres on PBS Sunday, Jan. 17, at 10pm ET/PT following Downton Abbey (check local listings).

Photo: Credit: Courtesy of Antony Platt/PBS