Walt Whitman's first book of poetry was Leaves of Grass, although he revised and expanded many times, the last shortly before his death. During his career, he held many jobs, traveled, and wrote for newspapers all over the nation. During the Civil War, after venturing to a Virginia battlefront, he found his brother George, who had been wounded. He then went to Washington, where he worked in various government departments and served as a volunteer nurse to soldiers from both sides. Suffering a severe stroke at the age of 54, he moved to New Jersey to be near his mother. He later was able to write again and did so for newspapers and magazines.