With thousands of men off fighting in the Civil War, the government hired women and girls--some as young as ten--to make millions of rounds of ammunition. Poor immigrant girls and widows paid the price for carelessness at three major arsenals. Many of these workers were killed, blown up and burned beyond recognition.

Part I :Catastrophe at the Allegheny arsenal Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania-September 17, 1862 : -- All in a day's work at the arsenal ; The bloodiest day of the war ; What went wrong: the investigation -- -- Part II : A horrible accident at the Confederate States laboratory Richmond, Virginia-March 13, 1863 : -- A Friday the thirteenth ; The investigation & outpouring of support -- Part III : Stars and fire at the Washington arsenal Washington, D.C.-June 17, 1864 : -- Government girls in the nation's capital ; A capital disaster ; An immediate investigation; Of death and decorum.