CONTENTS.
| Page | |
| DEDICATION. | [19] |
| PREFACE. | [21] |
| TABLE OF CONTENTS. | [25-51] |
| INTRODUCTION BY HENRY W. BELLOWS, D. D. | [55] |
| INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. | |
| Patriotism in some form, an attribute of woman inall nations andclimes—Its modes of manifestation—Pæans forvictory—Lamentationsfor the death of a heroic leader—Personal leadership bywomen—Theassassination of tyrants—The care of the sick and wounded ofnationalarmies—The hospitals established by the Empress Helena—TheBeguinesand their successors—The cantiniéres, vivandiéres,etc.—Other modes inwhich women manifested their patriotism—Florence Nightingale andherlabors—The results—The awakening of patriotic zeal amongAmericanwomen at the opening of the war—The organization of philanthropiceffort—Hospital nurses—Miss Dix's rejection of greatnumbers ofapplicants on account of youth—Hired nurses—Their servicesgenerallyprompted by patriotism rather than pay—The State relief agents(ladies) at Washington—The hospital transport system of theSanitaryCommission—Mrs. Harris's, Miss Barton's, Mrs. Fales', MissGilson's,and other ladles' services at the front during the battles of1862—Servicesof other ladies at Chancellorsville, at Gettysburg—TheField Relief of the Sanitary Commission, and services of ladies in thelater battles—Voluntary services of women in the armies in thefield atthe West—Services in the hospitals of garrisons and fortifiedtowns—Soldiers'homes and lodges, and their matrons—Homes forRefugees—Instructionof the Freedmen—Refreshment Saloons at Philadelphia—Regularvisiting of hospitals in the large cities—The Soldiers' AidSocieties, and their mode of operation—The extraordinary laborsof themanagers of the Branch Societies—Government clothingcontracts—Mrs.Springer, Miss Wormeley and Miss Gilson—The managers of the localSoldiers' Aid Societies—The sacrifices made by the poor tocontributesupplies—Examples—The labors of the young and theold—Inscriptionson articles—The poor seamstress—Five hundred bushels ofwheat—Thefive dollar gold piece—The army of martyrs—The effect ofthisfemale patriotism in stimulating the courage of the soldiers—Lackofpersistence in this work among the Women of the South—Present andfuture—Effect of patriotism and self-sacrifice in elevating andennobling the female character. | [65-94] |
| PART I. SUPERINTENDENT OF NURSES. | |
| MISS DOROTHEA L. DIX. | |
| Early history—Becomes interested in thecondition of prison convicts—Visitto Europe—Returns in 1837, and devotes herself to improving thecondition of paupers, lunatics and prisoners—Her efforts for theestablishment of Insane Asylums—Second visit to Europe—Herfirstwork in the war the nursing of Massachusetts soldiers inBaltimore—Appointmentas superintendent of nurses—Her selections—Difficulties inher position—Her other duties—Mrs. Livermore's account ofher labors—Theadjutant-general's order—Dr. Bellows' estimate of herwork—Herkindness to her nurses—Her publications—Her manners andaddress—Laborsfor the insane poor since the war. | [97-108] |
| PART II. LADIES WHO MINISTERED TO THESICK AND WOUNDED IN CAMP, FIELD,AND GENERAL HOSPITALS. | |
| CLARA HARLOWE BARTON. | |
| Early life—Teaching—The Bordentownschool—Obtains a situation in thePatent Office—Her readiness to help others—Her nativegenius fornursing—Removed from office in 1857—Return to Washington in1861—Nursingand providing for Massachusetts soldiers at the Capitol inApril, 1861—Hospital and sanitary work in 1861—Death of herfather—Washingtonhospitals again—Going to the front—Cedar Mountain—Thesecond Bull Run battle—Chantilly—Heroic labors atAntietam—Softbread—Three barrels of flour and a bag of salt—Thirtylanterns forthat night of gloom—The race for Fredericksburg—Miss Bartonas ageneral purveyor for the sick and wounded—The battle ofFredericksburg—Underfire—The rebel officer's appeal—The "confiscated"carpet—Afterthe battle—In the department of the South—The sands ofMorris Island—Thehorrors of the siege of Forts Wagner and Sumter—The reason whyshewent thither—Return to the North—Preparations for the greatcampaign—Herlabors at Belle Plain, Fredericksburg, White House, and CityPoint—Return toWashington—Appointed "General correspondent for the friendsof paroled prisoners"—Her residence atAnnapolis—Obstacles—TheAnnapolis plan abandoned—She establishes at Washington a "Bureauofrecords of missing men in the armies of the United States"—Theplan ofoperations of this Bureau—Her visit to Andersonville—Thecase ofDorrance Atwater—The Bureau of missing men an institutionindispensableto the Government and to friends of the soldiers—Her sacrificesinmaintaining it—The grant from Congress—Personal appearanceof MissBarton. | [111-132] |
| HELEN LOUISE GILSON. | |
| Early history—Her first work for thesoldiers—Collecting supplies—Theclothing contract—Providing for soldiers' wives anddaughters—Applicationto Miss Dix for an appointment as nurse—She is rejected astoo young—Associated with Hon. Frank B. Fay in the AuxiliaryReliefService—Her labors on the Hospital Transports—Her manner ofworking—Herextraordinary personal influence—Her work atGettysburg—Influenceover the men—Carrying a sick comrade to the hospital—Hersystem andself-possession—Pleading the cause of the soldier with thepeople—Her servicesin Grant's protracted campaign—The hospitals atFredericksburg—Singing to the soldiers—Her visit to thebarge of"contrabands"—Her address to the negroes—Singing tothem—The hospitalfor colored soldiers—Miss Gilson re-organizes and re-models it,makingit the best hospital at City Point—Her labors for the spiritualgood ofthe men in her hospital—Her care for the negro washerwomen andtheirfamilies—Completion of her work—Personal appearance of MissGilson. | [133-148] |
| MRS. JOHN HARRIS. | |
| Previous history—Secretary Ladies' AidSociety—Her decision to go tothe "front"—Early experiences—On the HospitalTransports—Harrison'sLanding—Her garments soaked in humangore—Antietam—French's DivisionHospital—Smoketown General Hospital—Return to the"front"—Fredericksburg—Falmouth—She almost despairsof the success of ourarms—Chancellorsville—Gettysburg—Following thetroops—Warrenton—Insolenceof the rebels—Illness—Goes to theWest—Chattanooga—Seriousillness—Return to Nashville—Labors for therefugees—Called home towatch over a dying mother—The returned prisoners fromAndersonville andSalisbury | [149-160] |
| MRS. ELIZA C. PORTER. | |
| Mrs. Porter's social position—Herpatriotism—Labors in the hospitalsat Cairo—She takes charge of the Northwestern Sanitary CommissionRoomsat Chicago—Her determination to go, with a corps of nurses, tothefront—Cairo and Paducah—Visit to Pittsburg Landing afterthe battle—Shebrings nurses and supplies for the hospitals from Chicago—AtCorinth—At Memphis—Work among the freedmen at Memphis andelsewhere—Effortsfor the establishment of hospitals for the sick and woundedin the Northwest—Co-operation with Mrs. Harvey and Mrs.Howe—TheHarvey Hospital—At Natchez and Vicksburg—Other appeals forNorthernhospitals—At Huntsville with Mrs. Bickerdyke—AtChattanooga—Experiencesin a field hospital in the woods—Following Sherman's armyfrom Chattanooga to Atlanta—"This seems like having motherabout"—Constantlabors—The distribution of supplies to the soldiers ofSherman's army near Washington—A patriotic family. | [161-171] |
| MRS. MARY A. BICKERDYKE. | |
| Previous history of Mrs. Bickerdyke—Herregard for the privatesoldiers—"Mother Bickerdyke and her boys"—Her work atSavannah afterthe battle of Shiloh—What she accomplished atPerryville—The GayosoHospital at Memphis—Colored nurses and attendants—A modelhospital—Thedelinquent assistant-surgeon—Mrs. Bickerdyke'sphilippic—Sheprocures his dismissal—His interview with GeneralSherman—"She ranksme"—The commanding generals appreciate her—Convalescentsoldiersvs. colored nurses—The Medical Director's order—Mrs.Bickerdyke'striumph—A dairy and hennery for the hospitals—Two hundredcows and athousand hens—Her first visit to the Milwaukee Chamber ofCommerce—"Goover to Canada—This country has no place for suchcreatures"—AtVicksburg—In field hospitals—The dresses riddled withsparks—The boxof clothing for herself—Trading for butter and eggs for thesoldiers—Thetwo lace-trimmed night-dresses—A new style of hospital clothingfor wounded soldiers—A second visit to Milwaukee—Mrs.Bickerdyke'sspeech—"Set your standard higher yet"—In the HuntsvilleHospital—AtChattanooga at the close of the battle—The only woman on theground forfour weeks—Cooking under difficulties—Her interview withGeneralGrant—Complaints of the neglect of the men by some of thesurgeons—"Goaround to the hospitals and see for yourself"—Visits Huntsville,Pulaski, etc.—With Sherman from Chattanooga toAtlanta—Making dishesfor the sick out of hard tack and the ordinary rations—AtNashville andFranklin—Through the Carolinas with Sherman—Distribution ofsuppliesnear Washington—"The Freedmen's Home and Refuge" at Chicago. | [172-186] |
| MARGARET ELIZABETH BRECKINRIDGE. ByMrs. J. G. Forman. | |
| Sketch of her personal appearance—Hergentle, tender, winning ways—TheAmerican Florence Nightingale—What if I do die?—TheBreckinridgefamily—Margaret's childhood and youth—Her emancipation ofher slaves—Workingfor the soldiers early in the war—Not one of the HomeGuards—Herearnest desire to labor in the hospitals—Hospital service atBaltimore—At Lexington, Kentucky—Morgan's firstraid—Her visit to thewounded soldiers—"Every one of you bring a regiment withyou"—Visitingthe St. Louis hospitals—On the hospital boats on theMississippi—Perilsof the voyage—Severe and incessant labor—The contrabands atHelena—Touching incidents of the wounded on the hospitalboats—"Theservice pays"—In the hospitals at St. Louis—Impairedhealth—She goeseastward for rest and recovery—A year of weakness andweariness—Inthe hospital at Philadelphia—A ministering angel—ColonelPorter herbrother-in-law killed at Cold Harbor—She goes to Baltimore tomeet thebody—Is seized with typhoid fever and dies after five weeksillness. | [187-199] |
| MRS. STEPHEN BARKER. | |
| Family of Mrs. Barker—Her husband Chaplainof First Massachusetts HeavyArtillery—She accompanies him to Washington—Devotes herselfto thework of visiting the hospitals—Thanksgiving dinner in thehospital—Sheremoves to Fort Albany and takes charge as Matron of the RegimentalHospital—Pleasant experiences—Reading to thesoldiers—Two years oflabor—Return to Washington in January, 1864—She becomes oneof thehospital visitors of the Sanitary Commission—Ten hospitals aweek—Remittingthe soldiers' money and valuables to their families—Theservice of Mr. and Mrs. Barker as lecturers and missionaries of theSanitary Commission to the Aid Societies in the smaller cities andvillages—The distribution of supplies to the disbandingarmies—Herreport. | [200-211] |
| AMY M. BRADLEY. | |
| Childhood of Miss Bradley—Her experiencesas a teacher—Residence inCharleston, South Carolina—Two years of illness—Goes toCosta Rica—Threeyears of teaching in Central America—Return to the UnitedStates—Becomes corresponding clerk and translator in a largeglassmanufactory—Beginning of the war—She determines to go as anurse—Writesto Dr. Palmer—His quaint reply—Her first experience asnursein a regimental hospital—Skill and tact in managingit—Promoted byGeneral Slocum to the charge of the Brigade Hospital—HospitalTransportService—Over-exertion and need of rest—The organization oftheSoldiers' Home at Washington—Visiting hospitals at herleisure—CampMisery—Wretched condition of the men—The rendezvous ofdistribution—MissBradley goes thither as Sanitary Commission Agent—Her zealous andmultifarious labors—Bringing in the discharged men for theirpapers—Procuringthe correction of their papers, and the reinstatement ofthe men—"The Soldiers' Journal"—Miss Bradley's object initsestablishment—Its success—Presents to MissBradley—Personalappearance. | [212-224] |
| MRS. ARABELLA GRIFFITH BARLOW. | |
| Birth and education of Mrs. Griffith—Hermarriage at the beginningof the war—She accompanies her husband to the camp, and whereverit is possible ministers to the wounded or sick soldiers—JoinstheSanitary Commission in July, 1862, and labors among the sick andwoundedat Harrison's Landing till late in August—Colonel Barlow severelywounded at Antietam—Mrs. Barlow nurses him with great tenderness,andat the same time ministers to the wounded of SedgwickHospital—AtChancellorsville and Gettysburg—General Barlow again wounded, andinthe enemy's lines—She removes him and succors the wounded in theintervals of her care of him—In May, 1864, she was activelyengaged atBelle Plain, Fredericksburg, Port Royal, White House, and CityPoint—Herincessant labor brought on fever and caused her death July 27,1864—Tribute of the Sanitary Commission Bulletin, Dr. Lieber andothers, to her memory. | [225-233] |
| MRS. NELLIE MARIA TAYLOR. | |
| Parentage and early history—Removal to NewOrleans—Her son urged toenlist in the rebel army—He is sent North—The rebelspersecute Mrs.Taylor—Her dismissal from her position as principal of one of thecityschools—Her house mobbed—"I am for the Union, tear my housedown ifyou choose!"—Her house searched seven times for theflag—The Judge'sson—"A piece of Southern chivalry"—Her son enlists in therebel armyto save her from molestation—New Orleans occupied by the Unionforces—Mrs.Taylor reinstated as teacher—She nurses the soldiers in thehospitals, during her vacations and in all the leisure hours from herschool duties, her daughter filling up the intermediate time with herservices—She expends her entire salary upon the sick andwounded—Writeseleven hundred and seventy-four letters for them in oneyear—Distributesthe supplies received from the Cincinnati Branch of SanitaryCommission in 1864, and during the summer takes the management of thespecial diet of the University Hospital—Testimony of the soldierstoher labors—Patriotism and zeal of her children—Terms onwhich MissAlice Taylor would present a confederate flag to a company. | [234-240] |
| MRS. ADALINE TYLER. | |
| Residence in Boston—Removal toBaltimore—Becomes Superintendent ofa Protestant Sisterhood in that city—Duties of theSisterhood—The"Church Home"—Other duties of "Sister" Tyler—The opening ofthewar—The Baltimore mob—Wounding and killing members of theSixthMassachusetts regiment—Mrs. Tyler hears that Massachusetts menarewounded and seeks admission to them—Is refused—Shepersists, andthreatening an appeal to Governor Andrew is finally admitted—Shetakesthose most severely wounded to the "Church Home," procures surgicalattendance for them, and nurses them till their recovery—OtherUnionwounded nursed by her—Receives the thanks of the MassachusettsLegislature and Governor—Is appointed Superintendent of theCamdenStreet Hospital, Baltimore—Resigns at the end of a year, andvisits NewYork—The surgeon-general urges her to take charge of the largehospitalat Chester, Pennsylvania—She remains at Chester till the hospitalis broken up, when she is transferred to the First Division GeneralHospital, Naval Academy, Annapolis—The returnedprisoners—Theirterrible condition—Mrs. Tyler procures photographs ofthem—Impairedhealth—Resignation—She visits Europe, and spends eighteenmonthsthere, advocating as she has opportunity the National cause—Thefiendish rebel spirit—Incident relative to President Lincoln'sassassination. | [241-250] |
| MRS. WILLIAM H. HOLSTEIN. | |
| Social position of Mr. and Mrs.Holstein—Early labors for the soldiersat home—The battle of Antietam—She goes with her husband tocare forthe wounded—Her first emotions at the sight of thewounded—Threeyears' devotion to the service—Mr. and Mrs. Holstein devotethemselvesmainly to field hospitals—Labors at Fredericksburg, in the SecondCorpsHospital—Services after the battle of Chancellorsville—Themarchtoward Pennsylvania in June, 1863—The Field Hospital of theSecondCorps after Gettysburg—Incidents—"Wouldn't be buried by theside ofthat raw recruit"—Mrs. Holstein Matron of the Second CorpsHospital—Touramong the Aid Societies—The campaign of 1864-5—Constantlabors inthe field hospitals at Fredericksburg, City Point, and elsewhere, tillNovember—Another tour among the Aid Societies—Labors amongthereturned prisoners at Annapolis. | [251-259] |
| MRS. CORDELIA A. P. HARVEY. By Rev. N.M. Mann. | |
| The death of her husband, Governor Louis P.Harvey—Her intense grief—Sheresolves to devote herself to the care of the sick and woundedsoldiers—She visits St. Louis as Agent for the State ofWisconsin—Workin the St. Louis hospitals in the autumn of 1862—Heroic labors atCapeGirardeau—Visiting hospitals along the Mississippi—Thesoldiers' ideasof her influence and power—Young's Point in 1863—Illness ofMrs.Harvey—She determines to secure the establishment of a GeneralHospitalat Madison, Wisconsin, where from the fine climate the chances ofrecovery of the sick and wounded will be increased—Her resolutionandenergy—The Harvey Hospital—The removal of the patients atFortPickering to it—Repeated journeys down theMississippi—Presented withan elegant watch by the Second Wisconsin Cavalry—Her influenceover thesoldiers—The Soldiers' Orphan Asylum at Madison. | [260-268] |
| MRS. SARAH R. JOHNSTON. | |
| Loyal Southern women—Mrs. Johnston's birthand social position—Herinterest in the Union prisoners—"A Yankee sympathizer"—Theyoungsoldier—Her tender care of him, living and dead—Work fortheprisoners—Her persecution by the rebels—"Why don't you pinme to theearth as you threatened"—"Sergeant, you can't make anything onthatwoman"—Copying the inscriptions on Union graves, and statisticsofUnion prisoners—Her visit to the North. | [269-272] |
| EMILY E. PARSONS. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| Her birth and education—Her preparation forservice in the hospitals—Receivesinstruction in the care of the sick, dressing wounds,preparation of diet, etc.—Service at Fort SchuylerHospital—Mrs.General Fremont secures her services for St. Louis—Condition ofSt.Louis and the other river cities at this time—First assigned totheLawson Hospital—Next to Hospital steamer "City ofAlton"—The voyagefrom Vicksburg to Memphis—Return to St.Louis—Illness—AppointedSuperintendent of Nurses to the large Benton BarracksHospital—Herduties—The admirable management of the hospital—Visit tothe East—Returnto her work—Illness and return to the East—Collects andforwards supplies to Western Sanitary Commission and NorthwesternSanitary Commission—The Chicago Fair—The Charity Hospitalat Cambridgeestablished by her—Her cheerfulness and skill in her hospitalwork. | [273-278] |
| MRS. ALMIRA FALES. | |
| The first woman to work for thesoldiers—She commenced in December,1860—Her continuous service—Amount of stores distributed byher—Varietyand severity of her work—Hospital TransportService—Harrison'sLanding—Her work in Pope's campaign—Death of herson—Her sorrowfultoil at Fredericksburg and Falmouth—Her peculiarities andhumor. | [279-283] |
| CORNELIA HANCOCK. | |
| Early labors for the soldiers—Mr. Vassar'stestimony—Gettysburg—Thecampaign of 1864—Fredericksburg and City Point. | [284-286] |
| MRS. MARY MORRIS HUSBAND. | |
| Her ancestry—Patriotic instincts of thefamily—Service in Philadelphiahospitals—Harrison's Landing—Nursing a sickson—Ministers to othersthere—Dr. Markland's testimony—At Camden Street Hospital,Baltimore—Antietam—Smoketown Hospital—Associated withMiss M. M. C. Hall—Heradmirable services as nurse there—Her personalappearance—Thewonderful apron with its pockets—The battle-flag—Herheroism incontagious disease—Attachment of the soldiers for her—Herenergy andactivity—Her adventures after the battle ofChancellorsville—The FieldHospital near United States Ford—The forgetfulsurgeon—Matron of ThirdDivision, Third Corps Hospital, Gettysburg—CampLetterman—Illness ofMrs. Husband—Stationed at Camp Parole, Annapolis—Hospitalat BrandyStation—The battles of the Wilderness andSpotsylvania—Overwhelminglabor at Fredericksburg, Port Royal, White House, and CityPoint—SecondCorps Hospital at City Point—Marching throughRichmond—"Hurrah formother Husband"—The visit to her "boys" at Bailey's CrossRoads—Distributionof supplies—Mrs. Husband's labors for the pardon orcommutation of the sentence of soldiers condemned bycourt-martial—Hermuseum and its treasures. | [287-298] |
| THE HOSPITAL TRANSPORT SERVICE. | |
| The organization of this service by the UnitedStates SanitaryCommission—Difficulties encountered—Steamers and sailingvesselsemployed—The corps of ladies employed in the service—Theheadquarters'staff—Ladies plying on the Transports to Washington, Baltimore,Philadelphia, New York, and elsewhere—Work on the DanielWebster—TheOcean Queen—Difficulties in providing as rapidly as was desiredforthe numerous patients—Duties of the ladies who belonged to theheadquarters' staff—Description of scenes in the work by MissWormeleyand Miss G. Woolsey—Taking on patients—"Butter onsoft bread"—"GuessI can stand h'isting better'n him"—"Spare the darningneedles"—"Slippers only fit for pontoon bridges"—VisitingGovernmentTransports—Scrambling eggs in a wash-basin—Subduing thecaptain of atug—The battle of Fair Oaks—Bad management on GovernmentTransports—Sufferingsof the wounded—Sanitary Commission relief tent at thewharf—Relief tents at White House depot at Savage'sStation—Thedeparture from White House—Arrival at Harrison'sLanding—Running pastthe rebel batteries at City Point—"I'll take those mattresses youspokeof"—The wounded of the seven days' battles—"You are sokind, I—am soweak"—Exchanging prisoners under flag of truce. | [299-315] |
| OTHER LABORS OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS OFTHE HOSPITAL TRANSPORT CORPS. | |
| Miss Bradley, Miss Gilson, Mrs. Husband, MissCharlotte Bradford, Mrs.W. P. Griffin, Miss H. D. Whetten. | [316], [317] |
| KATHERINE PRESCOTT WORMELEY. | |
| Birth and parentage—Commencement of herlabors for the soldiers—TheWoman's Union Aid Society of Newport—She takes a contract forarmyclothing to furnish employment for soldiers'families—Forwardingsanitary goods—The hundred and fifty bed sacks—MissWormeley'sconnection with the Hospital Transport Service—Her extraordinarylabors—Illness—Is appointed Lady Superintendent of theLovell GeneralHospital at Portsmouth Grove, Rhode Island—Herduties—Resigns inOctober, 1863—Her volume—"The United States SanitaryCommission"—Otherlabors for the soldiers. | [318-323] |
| THE MISSES WOOLSEY. | |
| Social position of the Woolsey sisters—Mrs.Joseph Howland and herlabors on the Hospital Transport—Her tender and skilful nursingof thesick and wounded of her husband's regiment—Poem addressed to herby asoldier—Her encouragement and assistance to the women nursesappointedby Miss Dix—Mrs. Robert S. Howland—Her labors in thehospitals and atthe Metropolitan Sanitary Fair—Her early death from over-exertioninconnection with the fair—Her poetical contributions to theNationalcause—"In the hospital"—Miss Georgiana M.Woolsey—Labors on HospitalTransports—At Portsmouth Grove Hospital—AfterChancellorsville—Herwork at Gettysburg with her mother—"Three weeks atGettysburg"—Theapproach to the battle-field—The Sanitary Commission's Lodge neartherailroad depot—The supply tent—Crutches—Supplyingrebels and Unionmen alike—Dressing wounds—"On dress parade"—"Breadwith butter onit and jelly on the butter"—"Worth a penny asniff"—The Gettysburgwomen—The Gettysburg farmers—"Had never seen arebel"—"A fellermight'er got hit"—"I couldn't leave my bread"—The dyingsoldiers—"Tellher I love her"—The young rebel lieutenant—The coloredfreedmen—Praying for "Massa Lincoln"—The purple and blueand yellowhandkerchiefs—"Only a blue one"—"The man who screamedso"—The Germanmother—The Oregon lieutenant—"Soup"—"Put some meat ina little waterand stirred it round"—Miss Woolsey's rare capacities for herwork—Estimate a lady friend—Miss Jane Stuart Woolsey—Labors inhospitals—Her charge of the Freedmen at Richmond—Miss SarahC.Woolsey, at Portsmouth Grove Hospital. | [324-342] |
| ANNA MARIA ROSS. | |
| Her parentage and family—Early devotion toworks of charity andbenevolence—Praying for success in soliciting aid for theunfortunate—The"black small-pox"—The conductor's wife—The Cooper ShopHospital—Herincessant labors and tender care of her patients—Herthoughtfulnessfor them when discharged—Her unselfish devotion to the good ofothers—Sendinga soldier to his friends—"He must go or die"—The attachmentofthe soldiers to her—The home for discharged soldiers—Herefforts toprovide the funds for it—Her success—The walk to SouthStreet—Hersudden attack of paralysis and death—The monument and itsinscription. | [343-351] |
| MRS. G. T. M. DAVIS. | |
| Mrs. Davis a native of Pittsfield,Massachusetts—A patrioticfamily—General Bartlett—She becomes Secretary of the ParkBarracksLadies' Association—The Bedloe's Island Hospital—Thecontroversy—Dischargeof the surgeon—Withdrawal from the Association—The hospitalat David's Island—Mrs. Davis's labors there—The Soldiers'Rest onHoward Street—She becomes the Secretary of the Ladies'Associationconnected with it—Visits to other hospitals—Gratitude ofthe men towhom she has ministered—Appeals to the women ofBerkshire—Herencomiums on their abundant labors. | [352-356] |
| MARY J. SAFFORD. | |
| Miss Safford a native of Vermont, but a residentof Cairo—Her thoroughand extensive mental culture—She organizes temporary hospitalsamongthe regiments stationed at Cairo—Visiting the wounded on thefieldafter the battle of Belmont—Her extemporized flag oftruce—Herremarkable and excessive labors after the battle of Shiloh—On theHospital steamers—Among the hospitals at Cairo—"A merryChristmas" forthe soldiers stationed at Cairo—Illness induced by herover-exertion—Hertour in Europe—Her labors there, while in feeblehealth—Mrs.Livermore's sketch of Miss Safford—Her personal appearance andpetitefigure—"An angel at Cairo"—"That little gal that used tocome in everyday to see us—I tell you what she's an angel if there is any".357-361 | |
| MRS. LYDIA G. PARRISH. | |
| Previous history—Early consecration to thework of beneficence in thearmy—Visiting Georgetown Seminary Hospital—Seeks aid fromthe SanitaryCommission—Visits to camps around Washington—Return toPhiladelphia toenlist the sympathies of her friends in the work of theCommission—Returnto Seminary Hospital—The surly soldier—He melts atlast—Visitsin other hospitals—Broad and Cherry Street Hospital,Philadelphia—Assistsin organizing a Ladies' Aid Society at Chester, and in forminga corps of volunteer nurses—At Falmouth, Virginia, in January,1863,with Mrs. Harris—On a tour of inspection in Virginia and NorthCarolinawith her husband—The exchange of prisoners—Touchingscenes—TheContinental Fair—Mrs. Parrish's labors in connection withit—Thetour of inspection at the Annapolis hospitals—Letters to theSanitaryCommission—Condition of the returned prisoners—Theirhunger—The St.John's College Hospital—Admirable arrangement—Camp ParoleHospital—TheNaval Academy Hospital—The landing of the prisoners—Theirfrightful sufferings—She compiles "The Soldiers' Friend" of whichmorethan a hundred thousand copies were circulated—Her efforts forthefreedmen. | [362-372] |
| MRS. ANNIE WITTENMEYER. | |
| Early efforts for the soldiers—She urgesthe organization of AidSocieties, and these become auxiliary at first to the Keokuk AidSociety, which she was active in establishing—The Iowa StateSanitaryCommission—Mrs. Wittenmeyer becomes its agent—Her activeefforts forthe soldiers—She disburses one hundred and thirty-six thousanddollarsworth of goods and supplies in about two years and a-half—Sheaids inthe establishment of the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home—Her plan ofspecial diet kitchens—The Christian Commission appoint her theiragent for carrying out this plan—Her labors in theirestablishment inconnection with large hospitals—Special order of the WarDepartment—Theestimate of her services by the Christian Commission. | [373-378] |
| MELCENIA ELLIOTT. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| Previous pursuits—In the hospitals inTennessee in the summer andautumn of 1862—A remarkably skilful nurse—Services atMemphis—TheIowa soldier—She scales the fence to watch over him and ministerto hisneeds, and at his death conveys his body to his friends, overcoming alldifficulties to do so—In the Benton BarracksHospital—Volunteers tonurse the patients in the erysipelas ward—Matron of the RefugeeHome atSt. Louis—"The poor white trash"—Matron of Soldiers'Orphans' Home atFarmington, Iowa. | [379-383] |
| MARY DWIGHT PETTES. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| A native of Boston—Came to St. Louis in1861, and entered upon hospitalwork in January, 1862—Her faithful earnest work—Labors forthespiritual as well as physical welfare of the soldiers, reading theScriptures to them, singing to them, etc.—Attachment of thesoldiersto her—She is seized with typhoid fever contracted in her carefor herpatients, and dies after five weeks' illness—Dr. Eliot'simpressionsof her character. | [384-388] |
| LOUISA MAERTZ. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| Her birth and parentage—Her residence inGermany and Switzerland—Herfondness for study—Her extraordinary sympathy andbenevolence—Shecommences visiting the hospitals in her native city, Quincy, Illinois,in the autumn of 1861—She takes some of the wounded home to herfather's house and ministers to them there—She goes to St.Louis—Iscommissioned as a nurse—Sent to Helena, then full of wounded fromthebattles in Arkansas—Her severe labors here—Almost the onlywoman nursein the hospitals there—"God bless you, dear lady"—TheArkansas Unionsoldier—The half-blind widow—Miss Maertz atVicksburg—At New Orleans. | [390-394] |
| MRS. HARRIET R. COLFAX. | |
| Early life—A widow and fatherless—Herfirst labors in the hospitals inSt. Louis—Her sympathies never blunted—The sudden death ofa soldier—Herreligious labors among the patients—Dr. Paddock'stestimony—Thewounded from Fort Donelson—On the hospital boat—In thebattle atIsland No. Ten—Bringing back the wounded—Mrs. Colfax's careof them—Tripsto Pittsburg Landing, before and after the battle of Shiloh—Heavyand protracted labor for the nurses—Return to St. Louis—Atthe FifthStreet Hospital—At Jefferson Barracks—Herassociates—Obliged toretire from the service on account of her health in 1864. | [395-399] |
| CLARA DAVIS. | |
| Miss Davis not a native of this country—Herservices at the Broad andCherry Street Hospital, Philadelphia—One of the HospitalTransportcorps—The steamer "John Brooks"—Mile CreekHospital—Mrs. Husband'saccount of her—At Frederick City, Harper's Ferry, andAntietam—Agentof the Sanitary Commission at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland—Isseized with typhoid fever here—When partially recovered, sheresumesher labors, but is again attacked and compelled to withdraw from herwork—Her other labors for the soldiers, both sick andwell—Obtainingfurloughs—Sending home the bodies of deadsoldiers—Providinghead-boards for the soldiers' graves. | [400-403] |
| MRS. R. H. SPENCER. | |
| Her home in Oswego, NewYork—Teaching—An anti-war Democrat isconvinced of his duty to become a soldier, though too old for thedraft—Husband and wife go together—At the Soldiers' Rest inWashington—Her first work—Matron of the hospital—AtWind-MillPoint—Matron in the First Corps Hospital—Foraging for thesick andwounded—The march toward Gettysburg—A heavily ladenhorse—Giving upher last blanket—Chivalric instincts of Americansoldiers—Laborsduring the battle of Gettysburg—Under fire—Field Hospitalof theEleventh Corps—The hospital at White Church—Incessantlabors—Savinga soldier's life—"Can you go without food for a week?"—Thebasin ofbroth—Mrs. Spencer appointed agent of the State of New York forthecare of the sick and wounded soldiers in the field—At BrandyStation—AtRappahannock Station and Belle Plain after the battle of theWilderness—Virginia mud—Working alone—Heavy rain andno shelter—Workingon at Belle Plain—"Nothing to wear"—Port Royal—WhiteHouse—Feedingthe wounded—Arrives at City Point—The hospitals and theGovernment kitchen—At the front—Carrying supplies to themen in therifle pits—Fired at by a sharpshooter—Shelled by theenemy—The greatexplosion at City Point—Her narrow escape—Remains at CityPoint tillthe hospitals are broken up—The gifts received from gratefulsoldiers. | [404-415] |
| MRS. HARRIET FOOTE HAWLEY. By Mrs. H.B. Stowe. | |
| Mrs. Hawley accompanies her husband, ColonelHawley, to South Carolina—Teachingthe freedmen—Visiting the hospitals at Beaufort, Fernandinaand St. Augustine—After Olustee—At the Armory SquareHospital,Washington—The surgical operations performed in theward—"Reachingthe hospital only in time to die"—At Wilmington—Frightfulconditionof Union prisoners—Typhus fever raging—The dangers greaterthanthose of the battle-field—Four thousand sick—Mrs. Hawley'sheroism,and incessant labors—At Richmond—Injured by the upsettingof anambulance—Labors among the freedmen—Colonel Higginson'sspeech. | [416-419] |
| ELLEN E. MITCHELL. | |
| Her family—Motives in entering on the workof ministering to thesoldiers—Receives instructions at BellevueHospital—Receives anurse's pay and gives it to the suffering soldiers—At ElmoreHospital,Georgetown—Gratitude of the soldiers—Trials—St.Elizabeth's Hospital,Washington—A dying nurse—Her own serious illness—Careand attentionof Miss Jessie Home—Death of her mother—At PointLookout—Discomfortsand suffering—Ware House Hospital, Georgetown—Transfer ofpatients andnurse to Union Hotel Hospital—Her duties arduous butpleasant—Transferto Knight General Hospital, New Haven—Resigns and accepts asituationin the Treasury Department, but longing for her old work returns toit—AtFredericksburg after battle of the Wilderness—At Judiciary SquareHospital, Washington—Abundant labor, but equally abundanthappiness—Herfeelings in the review of her work. | [420-426] |
| JESSIE HOME. | |
| A Scotch maiden, but devotedly attached to theUnion—Abandons apleasant and lucrative pursuit to become a hospital nurse—Herearnestness and zeal—Her incessant labors—Sickness anddeath—Caredfor by Miss Bergen of Brooklyn, New York. | [427], [428] |
| MISS VANCE AND MISS BLACKMAR. By Mrs.M. M. Husband. | |
| Miss Vance a missionary teacher before thewar—Appointed by Miss Dix toa Baltimore hospital—At Washington, at Alexandria, and atGettysburg—AtFredericksburg after the battle of the Wilderness—At City Pointinthe Second Corps Hospital—Served through the whole war with butthreeweeks' furlough—Miss Blackmar from Michigan—A skilful andefficientnurse—The almost fatal hemorrhage—The boy saved by herskill—Carryinga hot brick to bed. | [429], [430] |
| H. A. DADA AND S. E. HALL. | |
| Missionary teachers before thewar—Attending lectures to prepare fornursing—After the first battle of Bull Run—AtAlexandria—The woundedfrom the battle-field—Incessant work—Ordered to Winchester,Virginia—TheCourt-House Hospital—At Strasburg—General Banks'retreat—Remaining amongthe enemy to care for the wounded—At Armory SquareHospital—The second Bull Run—Rapid but skilful care of thewounded—Painfulcases—Harper's Ferry—Twelfth Army Corps Hospital—Themotherin search of her son—After Chancellorsville—The battle ofGettysburg—Laborsin the First and Twelfth Corps Hospitals—Sent to Murfreesboro',Tennessee—Rudeness of the Medical Director—Discomfort oftheirsituation—Discourtesy of the Medical Director and some of thesurgeons—"Wehave no ladies here—There are some women here, who arecooks!"—Removal toChattanooga—Are courteously and kindly received—Wounded ofSherman's campaign—"You are the God-blessedest woman Iever saw"—Serviceto the close of the war and beyond—Lookout Mountain. | [431-439] |
| MRS. SARAH P. EDSON. | |
| Early life—Literary pursuits—InColumbia College Hospital—At CampCalifornia—Quaker guns—Winchester,Virginia—Prevalence of gangrene—UnionHotel Hospital—On the Peninsula—In hospital of Sumner'sCorps—Herson wounded—Transferred to Yorktown—Sufferings of themen—AtWhite House and the front—Beef soup and coffee for starvingwoundedmen—Is permitted to go to Harrison's Landing—Abundant laborandcare—Chaplain Fuller—At Hygeia Hospital—AtAlexandria—Pope'scampaign—Attempts to go to Antietam, but is detained bysickness—Goes toWarrenton, and accompanies the army thence to Acquia Creek—ReturntoWashington—Forms a society to establish a home and trainingschoolfor nurses, and becomes its Secretary—Visitshospitals—State ReliefSocieties approve the plan—Sanitary Commission do not approve ofitas a whole—Surgeon-General opposes—Visits New Yorkcity—The masonsbecome interested—"Army Nurses' Association" formed in NewYork—Nursesin great numbers sent on after the battles of Wilderness,Spottsylvania,etc.—The experiment a success—Its eventual failure throughthemismanagement in New York—Mrs. Edson continues her labors in thearmyto the close of the war—Enthusiastic reception by the soldiers.440-447 | |
| MARIA M. C. HALL. | |
| A native of Washington city—Desire to servethe sick and wounded—Receivesa sick soldier into her father's house—Too young to answerthe conditions required by Miss Dix—Application to Mrs.Fales—Attemptsto dissuade her—"Well girls here they are, with everythingto be done for them"—The Indiana Hospital—Difficulties anddiscouragements—A year of hard and unsatisfactorywork—HospitalTransport Service—The Daniel Webster—At Harrison's LandingwithMrs. Fales—Condition of the poor fellows—Mrs. Harris callsher toAntietam—French's Division and Smoketown Hospitals—Abundantwork butperformed with great satisfaction—The French soldier'sletter—Theevening or family prayers—Successful efforts for the religiousimprovement of the men—Dr. Vanderkieft—The Naval AcademyHospital atAnnapolis—In charge of Section five—Succeeds Mrs. Tyler asLadySuperintendent of the hospital—The humble condition of thereturnedprisoners from Andersonville and elsewhere—Prevalence of typhusfever—Deathof her assistants—Four thousand patients—Writes for "TheCrutch"—Her joy in the success of her work. | [448-454] |
| THE HOSPITAL CORPS AT THE NAVAL ACADEMYHOSPITAL, ANNAPOLIS. | |
| The cruelties which had been practiced on theUnion men in rebelprisons—Duties of the nurses under Miss Hall—Names andhomes of theseladies—Death of Miss Adeline Walker—Miss Hall's tribute tohermemory—Miss Titcomb's eulogy on her—Death of Miss M. A. B.Young—Sketchof her history—"Let me be buried here among my boys"—MissRoseM. Billing—Her faithfulness as a nurse in the Indiana Hospital,(PatentOffice,) at Falls Church, and at Annapolis—She like the othersfalls avictim to the typhus generated in Southern prisons—Tribute to hermemory. | [455-460] |
| OTHER LABORS OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS OFTHE ANNAPOLIS HOSPITAL CORPS. | |
| The Maine stay of the AnnapolisHospital—Miss Titcomb—Miss Newhall—MissUsher—Other ladies from Maine—The Maine camp and HospitalAssociation—Mrs. Eaton—Mrs. Fogg—Mrs.Mayhew—Miss Mary A. Dupee andher labors—Miss Abbie J. Howe—Her labors for the spiritualas well asphysical good of the men—Her great influence over them—Herjoy in herwork. | [461-466] |
| MRS. A. H. AND MISS S. H. GIBBONS. | |
| Mrs. Gibbons a daughter of Isaac T.Hopper—Her zeal in the cause ofreform—Work of herself and daughter in the Patent Office Hospitalin1861—Visit to Falls Church and its hospital—Sad conditionof thepatients—"If you do not come and take care of me I shalldie"—Returnto this hospital—Its condition greatly improved—Winchesterand theSeminary Hospital—Severe labors here—Banks'retreat—The nurses heldas prisoners—Losses of Mrs. and Miss Gibbons at thistime—At PointLookout—Exchanged prisoners from Belle Isle—A scarcity ofgarments—Trowsersa luxury—Fifteen months of hospital service—Conflicts withthe authorities in regard to the freedmen—The July riots in NewYorkin 1863—Mrs. Gibbons' house sacked by therioters—Destruction ofeverything valuable—Return to Point Lookout—The campaign of1864-5—Mrs.and Miss Gibbons at Fredericksburg—An improvisedhospital—Mrs.Gibbons takes charge—The gift of roses—The roses witheredand dyed inthe soldiers' blood—Riding with the wounded in box cars—AtWhiteHouse—Labors at Beverly Hospital, New Jersey—Mrs. Gibbons'returnhome—Her daughter remains till the close of the war. | [467-475] |
| MRS. E. J. RUSSELL. | |
| Government nurses—Their trials andhardships—Mrs. Russell a teacherbefore the war—Her patriotism—First connected with theRegimentalHospital of Twentieth New York Militia (National Guards)—AssignedtoColumbia College Hospital, Washington—After three years' serviceresigns from impaired health, but recovering enters the service againinBaltimore—Nursing rebels—Her attention to the religiouscondition ofthe men—Four years of service—Returns to teaching after thewar. | [477-479] |
| MRS. MARY W. LEE. | |
| Mrs. Lee of foreign birth, but American infeeling—Services in theVolunteer Refreshment Saloon—A noble institution—AtHarrison'sLanding, with Mrs. Harris—Wretched condition of themen—Improvementunder the efforts of the ladies—The Hospital of the Epiphany atWashington—At Antietam during the battle—The two watertubs—Theenterprising sutler—"Take this bread and give it to thatwoman"—TheSedgwick Hospital—Ordering a guard—Hoffman's FarmHospital—SmoketownHospital—Potomac Creek—Chancellorsville—Under firefrom the batterieson Fredericksburg Heights—Marching with thearmy—Gettysburg—TheSecond Corps Hospital—Camp Letterman—The Refreshment Saloonagain—BrandyStation—A stove half a yard square—The battles of theWilderness—At Fredericksburg—A diet kitchen withoutfurniture—Overthe river after a stove—Baking, boiling, stewing, and fryingsimultaneously—Keeping the old stove hot—At CityPoint—In chargeof a hospital—The last days of the Refreshment Saloon. | [480-488] |
| CORNELIA M. TOMPKINS. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| A scion of an eminent family—At BentonBarracks Hospital—At Memphis—Returnto St. Louis—At Jefferson Barracks. | [489], [490] |
| MRS. ANNA C. McMEENS. By Mrs. E. S.Mendenhall. | |
| A native of Maryland—The wife of a surgeonin the army—At CampDennison—One of the first women in Ohio to minister to thesoldiersin a military hospital—At Nashville in hospital—The battleofPerryville—Death of Dr. McMeens—At home—Laboring forthe SanitaryCommission—In the hospitals at Washington—Missionary workamong thesailors on Lake Erie. | [491], [492] |
| MRS. JERUSHA R. SMALL. By Mrs. E. S.Mendenhall. | |
| A native of Iowa—Accompanies her husband tothe war—Ministers to thewounded from Belmont, Donelson, and Shiloh—Her husband wounded atShiloh—Under fire in ministering to the wounded—Uses allher spareclothing for them—As her husband recovers her own healthfails—Thegalloping consumption—The female secessionist—Going home todie—Buriedwith the flag wrapped around her. | [493], [494] |
| MRS. S. A. MARTHA CANFIELD. By Mrs. E.S. Mendenhall. | |
| Wife of Colonel H. Canfield—Her husbandkilled at Shiloh—Burying hersorrows in her heart—She returns to labor for the wounded in theSixteenth Army Corps, in the hospitals at Memphis—Labors amongthefreedmen—Establishes the Colored Orphan Asylum at Memphis. | [495] |
| MRS. THOMAS AND MISS MORRIS. | |
| Faithful laborers in the hospitals at Cincinnatitill the close of thewar. | [496] |
| MRS. SHEPARD WELLS. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| Driven from East Tennessee by therebels—Becomes a member of theLadies' Union Aid Society at St. Louis, and one of itsSecretaries—Superintendsthe special diet kitchen at Benton Barracks—Anenthusiastic and earnest worker—Labor for the refugees. | [497], [498] |
| MRS. E. C. WITHERELL. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| A lady from Louisville—Her service in theFourth Street Hospital, St.Louis—"Shining Shore"—The soldier boy—On the"Empress" hospitalsteamer nursing the wounded—A faithful and untiringnurse—Is attackedwith fever, and dies July, 1862—Resolutions of Western SanitaryCommission. | [499-501] |
| PHEBE ALLEN. By Rev. J. G.Forman. | |
| A teacher in Iowa—Volunteered as a nurse inBenton Barracks hospital—Veryefficient—Died of malarious fever in 1864, at the hospital. | [502] |
| MRS. EDWIN GREBLE. | |
| Of Quaker stock—Intenselypatriotic—Her eldest son, Lieutenant JohnGreble, killed at Great Bethel in 1861—A second son servedthrough thewar—A son-in-law a prisoner in the rebel prisons—Mrs.Greble a mostassiduous worker in the hospitals of Philadelphia, and a constant andliberal giver. | [503], [504] |
| MRS. ISABELLA FOGG. | |
| A resident of Calais, Maine—Her only sonvolunteers, and she devotesherself to the service of ministering to the wounded andsick—Goes toAnnapolis with one of the Maine regiments—The spotted fever intheAnnapolis Hospital—Mrs. Fogg and Mrs. Mayhew volunteer asnurses—TheHospital Transport Service—At the front after FairOaks—Savage'sStation—Over land to Harrison's Landing with the army—Underfire—Onthe hospital ship—Home—In the hospitals around Washington,afterAntietam—The Maine Camp Hospital Association—Mrs. J. S.Eaton—AfterChancellorsville—In the field hospitals for nearly a week,working dayand night, and under fire—At Gettysburg the day after thebattle—Onthe Rapidan—At Mine Run—At Belle Plain and Fredericksburgafter thebattle of the Wilderness—At City Point—Home again—Awounded son—Severeillness of Mrs. Fogg—Recovery—Sent by Christian CommissiontoLouisville to take charge of a special diet kitchen—Injured by afall—Aninvalid for life—Happy in the work accomplished. | [505-510] |
| MRS. E. E. GEORGE. | |
| Services of aged women in the war—Militaryagency of Indiana—Mrs.George's appointment—Her services at Memphis—AtPulaski—AtChattanooga—Following Sherman to Atlanta—Matron ofFifteenth ArmyCorps Hospital—At Nashville—Starts for Savannah, but ispersuaded byMiss Dix to go to Wilmington—Excessive labors there—Dies oftyphus. | [511-513] |
| MRS. CHARLOTTE E. McKAY. | |
| A native of Massachusetts—Enters theservice as nurse at Frederickcity—Rebel occupation of thecity—Chancellorsville—The assault onMarye's Heights—Death of herbrother—Gettysburg—Services in ThirdDivision Third Corps Hospital—At Warrenton—MineRun—Brandy Station—Grant'scampaign—From Belle Plain to City Point—The Cavalry CorpsHospital—Testimonials presented to her. | [514-516] |
| MRS. FANNY L. RICKETTS. | |
| Of English parentage—Wife of Major-GeneralRicketts—Resides on thefrontier for three years—Her husband wounded at BullRun—Her heroismin going through the rebel lines to be with him—Dangers andprivationsat Richmond—Ministrations to Union soldiers—He is selectedas ahostage for the privateersmen, but released at her urgentsolicitation—Woundedagain at Antietam, and again tenderly nursed—Wounded atMiddletown, Virginia, October, 1864, and for four months in greatdanger—The end of the war. | [517-519] |
| MRS. JOHN S. PHELPS. | |
| Early history—Residence in theSouthwest—Rescues General Lyon'sbody—Her heroism and benevolence at Pea Ridge and elsewhere. | [520], [521] |
| MRS. JANE R. MUNSELL. | |
| Maryland women in the war—BarbaraFrietchie—Effie Titlow—Mrs.Munsell's labors in the hospitals after Antietam andGettysburg—Herdeath from over-exertion. | [522], [523] |
| PART III. LADIES WHO ORGANIZED AIDSOCIETIES, RECEIVED AND FORWARDEDSUPPLIES TO THE HOSPITALS, DEVOTING THEIR WHOLE TIME TO THE WORK,ETC. | |
| WOMAN'S CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF RELIEF.By Mrs. Julia B. Curtis. | |
| Organization and officers of theAssociation—It becomes a branch of theUnited States Sanitary Commission—Its Registration Committee andtheirduties—The Selection and Preparation of Nurses for theArmy—TheFinance and Executive Committee—The unwillingness of theGovernmentto admit any deficiency—The arrival of the first boxes for theAssociation—The sacrifices made by the women in the country townsandhamlets—The Committee of Correspondence—Twenty-fivethousand letters—Thereceiving book, the day-book and the ledger—The alphabet repeatedseven hundred and twenty-seven times on the boxes—Mrs. Fellowsand Mrs.Colby solicitors of donations—The call for nurses on board theHospitalTransports—Mrs. W. P. Griffin and Mrs. David Lane volunteer, andsubsequently other members of the Association—Mrs. D'Orémieulx'sdeparture for Europe—Mr. S. W. Bridgham's faithfullabors—Creepinginto the Association rooms of a Sunday, to gather up and forwardsuppliesneeded for sudden emergencies—The First Council ofRepresentatives fromthe principal Aid Societies at Washington—Monthly boxes—TheFederalprinciple—Antietam and Fredericksburg exhaust thesupplies—MissLouisa Lee Schuyler's able letter of inquiry to the Secretaries ofAuxiliaries—The plan of "Associate Managers"—MissSchuyler's incessantlabors in connection with this—The set of boxes devised by MissSchuyler to aid the work of the Committee on Correspondence—Theemployment of Lecturers—The Association publish Mr. George T.Strong'spamphlet, "How can we best help our Camps and Hospitals"—TheHospitalDirectory opened—The lack of supplies of clothing and edibles,resulting from the changed condition of the country—Activity andzealof the members of the Woman's Central Association—Miss EllenCollins'incessant labors—Her elaborate tables of supplies and theirdisbursement—The Association offers to purchase for theAuxiliariesat wholesale prices—Miss Schuyler's admirable Plan ofOrganization forCountry Societies—Alert Clubs founded—Large contributionsto thestations at Beaufort and Morris Island—Miss Collins and Mrs. W.P.Griffin in charge of the office through the New York Riots in July,1863—Mrs. Griffin, is chairman of Special Relief Committee, andmakespersonal visits to the sick—The Second Council atWashington—MissSchuyler and Miss Collins delegates—Miss Schuyler'sefforts—Thewhirlwind of Fairs—Aiding the feeble auxiliaries by donating anadditional sum in goods equal to what they raised, to be manufacturedbythem—Five thousand dollars a month thus expended—ASoldiers' AidSociety Council—Help to Military Hospitals near the city, and theNavy,by the Association—Death of its President, Dr. Mott—Thenews ofpeace—Miss Collins' Congratulatory Letter—The Associationcontinuesits work to July 7—Two hundred and ninety-one thousand fourhundred andseventy-five shirts distributed—Purchases made for Auxiliaries,seventy-nine thousand three hundred and ninety dollars and fifty-sevencents—Other expenditures of money for the purposes of theAssociation,sixty-one thousand three hundred and eighty-six dollars and fifty-sevencents—The zeal of the Associated Managers—The BrooklynReliefAssociation—Miss Schuyler's labors as a writer—Herreports—Articlesin the Sanitary Bulletin, "The Soldiers' Friend," "Nelly's Hospital,"&c. &c.—The patient and continuous labors of theCommittees onCorrespondence and on Supplies—Territory occupied by the Woman'sCentral Association—Resolutions at the Final Meeting. | [527-539] |
| SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERNOHIO. | |
| Its organization—At first a LocalSociety—No Written Constitution orBy-laws—Becomes a branch of the United States Sanitary CommissioninOctober, 1861—Its territory small and not remarkable forwealth—Fivehundred and twenty auxiliaries—Its disbursement of one milliononehundred and thirty-three thousand dollars in money andsupplies—TheNorthern Ohio Sanitary Fair—The supplies mostly forwarded to theWestern Depôt of the United States Sanitary Commission atLouisville—"TheSoldiers' Home" built under the direction of the Ladies who managedthe affairs of the Society, and supplied and conducted under theirSupervision—The Hospital Directory, Employment Agency, War ClaimAgency—The entire time of the Officers of the Society for fiveand ahalf years voluntarily and freely given to its work from eight in themorning till six or later in the evening—The President, Mrs. B.Rouse,and her labors in organizing Aid Societies and attending to the homework—The labors of the Secretary and Treasurer—Editorialwork—TheSociety's printing press—Setting up and printingBulletins—TheSanitary Fair originated and carried on by the Aid Society—TheOhioState Soldiers' Home aided by them—Sketch of Mrs.Rouse—Sketch of MissMary Clark Brayton, Secretary of the Society—Sketch of Miss EllenF.Terry, Treasurer of the Society—Miss Brayton's "On a HospitalTrain,""Riding on a Rail"—Visit to the Army—The first sight of ahospitaltrain—The wounded soldiers on board—"Trickling a littlesympathy onthe Wounded"—"The Hospital Train a jolly thing"—The dyingsoldier—Arrangementof the Hospital Train—The arduous duties of the Surgeon. | [540-552] |
| NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S AUXILIARYASSOCIATION. | |
| Its organization and territory—One millionfive hundred and fifteenthousand dollars collected in money and supplies by thisAssociation—ItsSanitary Fair and its results—The chairman of the ExecutiveCommittee Miss Abby W. May—Her retiring and modestdisposition—Herrare executive powers—Sketch of Miss May—Her early zeal intheAnti-slavery movement—Her remarkable practical talent, andadmirablemanagement of affairs—Her eloquent appeals to theauxiliaries—Herentire self-abnegation—Extract from one of herletters—Extract fromher Final Report—The Boston Sewing Circle and itsofficers—The Ladies'Industrial Aid Association of Boston—Nearly three hundred andforty-seven thousand garments for the soldiers made by the employés ofthe Association, most of whom were from soldiers'families—Additionalwages beyond the contract prices paid to the workwomen, to the amountofover twenty thousand dollars—The lessons learned by the ladiesengagedin this work. | [553-559] |
| THE NORTHWESTERN SANITARYCOMMISSION. | |
| The origin of the Commission—Its earlylabors—Mrs. Porter's connectionwith it—Her determination to go to the army—The appointmentof Mrs.Hoge and Mrs. Livermore as Managers—The extent and variety oftheirlabors—The two Sanitary Fairs—Estimate of the amount raisedby theCommission. | [560-561] |
| MRS. A. H. HOGE. | |
| Her birth and early education—Hermarriage—Her family—She identifiesherself from the beginning with the National cause—Her firstvisitto the hospitals of Cairo, Mound City and St. Louis—The MoundCityHospital—The wounded boy—Turned over for the firsttime—"They had totake the Fort"—Rebel cruelties at Donelson—The poor Frenchboy—Themother who had lost seven sons in the Army—"He had turned hisface tothe wall to die"—Mrs. Hoge at the Woman's Council at Washingtonin1862—Labors of Mrs. Hoge and Mrs.Livermore—Correspondence—Circulars—Addresses—Mrs.Hoge's eloquence and pathos—The amplecontributions elicited by her appeals—Visit to the Camp ofGeneralGrant at Young's Point, in the winter of 1862-3—Return with acargo ofwounded—Second visit to the vicinity ofVicksburg—Prevalence ofscurvy—The onion and potato circulars—Third visit toVicksburg inJune, 1863—Incidents of this visit—Therifle-pits—Singing Hymns underfire—"Did you drop from heaven into these rifle-pits?"—Mrs.Hoge'stalk to the men—"Promise me you'll visit my regimentto-morrow"—Theflag of the Board of Trade Regiment—"How about theblood?"—"Sing,Rally round the Flag Boys"—The death of R—"Take her picturefrom undermy pillow"—Mrs. Hoge at Washington again—Her views of thevalue of thePress in benevolent operations—In the Sanitary Fairs atChicago—Heraddress at Brooklyn, in March, 1865—Gifts presented her as atestimonyto the value of her labors. | [562-576] |
| MRS. MARY A. LIVERMORE. | |
| Mrs. Livermore's childhood andeducation—She becomes a teacher—Hermarriage—She is associated with her husband as Editor of TheNewCovenant—Her scholarship and ability as a writer andspeaker—Thevigor and eloquence of her appeals—"Women and the War"—Thebeginningsof the Northwestern Sanitary Commission—The appointment of Mrs.Livermore and Mrs. Hoge as its managers—The contributions of Mrs.Livermore to the press, on subjects connected with her work—"Thebackward movement of General McClellan"—The Hutchinsonsprohibited fromsinging Whittier's Song in the Army of the Potomac—Mrs.Livermore'svisit to Washington—Her description of "Camp Misery"—Shemakes a tourto the Military Posts on the Mississippi—The femalenurses—The scurvyin the Camp—The Northwestern Sanitary Fair—Mrs. Livermore'saddress tothe Women of the Northwest—Her tact in selecting the rightpersons tocarry out her plans at the Fair—Her extensivejourneyings—Her visit toWashington in the Spring of 1865—Her invitation to the Presidentto bepresent at the opening of the Fair—Her description of Mr.Lincoln—Hisdeath and the funeral solemnities with which his remains were receivedat Chicago—The final fair—Mrs. Livermore's testimonials ofregard andappreciation from friends and, especially from the soldiers. | [577-589] |
| GENERAL AID SOCIETY FOR THE ARMY,BUFFALO. | |
| Organization of the Society—Its firstPresident, Mrs. Follett—Itssecond President, Mrs. Horatio Seymour—Her efficient Aids, MissBabcockand Miss Bird—The friendly rivalry with the ClevelandSociety—Mrs.Seymour's rare ability and system—Her encomiums on the labors ofthepatriot workers in country homes—The workers in the citiesequallyfaithful and praiseworthy. | [590-592] |
| MICHIGAN SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY. | |
| The Patriotic women of Michigan—AnnieEtheridge, Mrs. Russell andothers—"The Soldiers' Relief Committee" and "The Soldiers' AidSociety"of Detroit—Their Consolidation—The officers of the NewSociety—MissValeria Campbell the soul of the organization—Her multifariouslabors—TheMilitary Hospitals in Detroit—The "Soldiers' Home" inDetroit—Michigan in the two Chicago Fairs—Amount of money and suppliesraisedby the Michigan Branch. | [593-595] |
| WOMEN'S PENNSYLVANIA BRANCH OF UNITEDSTATES SANITARY COMMISSION. | |
| The loyal women of Philadelphia—Theirnumerous organizations for therelief of the Soldier—The organization of the Women'sPennsylvaniaBranch—Its officers—Sketch of Mrs. Grier—Herparentage—Her residencein Wilmington, N. C.—Persecution forloyalty—Escape—She entersimmediately upon Hospital Work—Her appointment to the Presidencyofthe Women's Branch—Her remarkable tact and skill—Herextraordinaryexecutive talent—Mrs. Clara J. Moore—Sketch of herlabors—Otherladies of the Association—Testimonials to Mrs. Grier's abilityandadmirable management from officers of the Sanitary Commission andothers—The final report of this Branch—The condition of thestate andcountry at its inception—The Associate Managers—The workaccomplished—Peaceat last—The details of Expenses of the SupplyDepartment—Thework of the Relief Committee—Eight hundred and thirty womenemployed—Widowsof Soldiers aided—Total expenditures of Relief Committee. | [596-606] |
| THE WISCONSIN SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.By Rev. J. G. Forman. | |
| The Milwaukie Ladies Soldiers' AidSociety—Labors of Mrs. Jackson, Mrs.Delafield and others—Enlargement and re-organization as theWisconsinSoldiers' Aid Society—Mrs. Henrietta L. Colt, chosenCorrespondingSecretary—Her visits to the front, and her subsequent laborsamong theAid Societies of the State—Efficiency of the Society—TheWisconsinSoldiers' Home—Its extent and what it accomplished—It formstheNucleus of one of the National Soldiers' Homes—Sketch of Mrs.Colt—Deathof her husband—Her deep and overwhelming grief—She entersuponthe Sanitary Work, to relieve herself from the crushing weight of hergreat sorrow—Her labors on a Hospital Steamer—Her frequentsubsequentvisits to the front—Her own account of these visits—"Thebeardlessboys, all heroes"—Sketch of Mrs. Governor Salomon—Herlabors in behalfof the German and other soldiers of Wisconsin. | [607-614] |
| PITTSBURG BRANCH UNITED STATES SANITARYCOMMISSION. | |
| The Pittsburg Sanitary Committee and PittsburgSubsistence Committee—Organizationof the Branch—Its Corresponding Secretary, Miss Rachael W.McFadden—Her executive ability zeal and patriotism—Hercolleagues inher labors—The Pittsburg Sanitary Fair—Its remarkablesuccess—MissMurdock's labors at Nashville. | [615], [616] |
| MRS. ELIZABETH S. MENDENHALL. | |
| Mrs. Mendenhall's childhood and youth passed inRichmond, Va.—Herrelatives Members of the Society of Friends—Her early Hospitallabors—Presidentof the Women's Soldiers' Aid Society of Cincinnati—Her appealto the citizens of Cincinnati to organize a Sanitary Fair—Hereffortsto make the Fair a success—The magnificentresult—Subsequent labors inthe Sanitary Cause—Fair for Soldiers' Families in December,1864—Laborsfor the Freedmen and Refugees—In behalf of fallen women. | [617-620] |
| DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH. | |
| Dr. M. M. Marsh appointed Medical Inspector ofDepartment of the South—Earlyin 1863 he proceeded thither with his wife—Mrs. Marsh findsabundant work in the receipt and distribution of Sanitary Stores, inthevisiting of Hospitals—Spirit of the wounded men—Theexchange ofprisoners—Sufferings of our men in Rebel prisons—Theirself-sacrificingspirit—Supplies sent to the prisoners, and letters received fromthem—The sudden suspension of this benevolent work by order fromGeneral Halleck—The sick from Sherman's Army—Dr. Marshordered toNewbern, N. C., but detained by sickness—Return to NewYork—The"Lincoln Home"—Dr. and Mrs. Marsh's labors there—Close ofthe LincolnHome. | [621-629] |
| ST. LOUIS LADIES' UNION AID SOCIETY. | |
| Organization of the Society—Itsofficers—Was the principal Auxiliaryof Western Sanitary Commission—Visits of its members to thefourteenhospitals in the vicinity of St. Louis—The hospital basket anditscontents—The Society's delegates on thebattle-fields—Employs thewives and daughters of soldiers in bandage rolling, and subsequently oncontracts for hospital and other clothing for soldiers—Itscommitteescutting, fitting and examining the work—Undertakes the specialdietkitchen of the Benton Barracks Hospital—Establishes a branch atNashville—Special Diet Kitchen there—Its work for theFreedmen andRefugees—Sketches of its leading officers and managers—Mrs.Anna L.Clapp, a native of Washington County, N. Y.—Resides in Brooklyn,N. Y.,and subsequently in St. Louis—Elected President of Ladies' UnionAidSociety at the beginning of the war, and retains her position till itsclose—Her arduous labors and great tact and skill—Sheorganizes aRefugee Home and House of Industry—Aids the Freedmen, and assistsinthe proper regulation of the Soldiers' Home—Miss H. A. Adams,(now Mrs.Morris Collins)—Born and educated in New Hampshire—At theoutbreak ofthe war, a teacher in St. Louis—Devoted herself to the Sanitaryworkthroughout the war—Was secretary of the society till the close of1864,and a part of the time at Nashville, where she established a specialdiet kitchen—Death of her brother in the army—Her influenceinprocuring the admission of female nurses in the Nashvillehospitals—Mrs.C. R. Springer, a native of Maine, one of the directors of theSociety, and the superintendent of its employment department, forfurnishing work to soldiers' families—Her unremitting andfaithfullabors—Mrs. Mary E. Palmer—A native of New Jersey—Anearnest worker,visiting and aiding soldiers' families and dispensing the charities ofthe Society among them and the destitute families of refugees—Herlabors were greater than her strength—Her death occasioned by adecline, the result of over exertion in her philanthropic work.630-642 | |
| LADIES' AID SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA,&c. | |
| Organization of the Society—Itsofficers—Mrs. Joel Jones, Mrs. JohnHarris, Mrs. Stephen Caldwell—Mrs. Harris mostly engaged at thefront—TheSociety organized with a view to the spiritual as well as physicalbenefit of the soldiers—Its great efficiency with moderatemeans—Theladies who distributed its supplies at the front—Extract from oneofits reports—Its labors among the Refugees—Theself-sacrifice of oneof its members—Its expenditures. THE PENN RELIEFASSOCIATION—Anorganization originating with the Friends, but afterward embracingall denominations—Its officers—Its efficiency—Amountof suppliesdistributed by it through well-known ladies. THE SOLDIERS' AIDSOCIETY—Another of the efficient Pennsylvania Organizations fortherelief of the soldiers—Its President, Mrs. Mary A.Brady—Her laborsin the Satterlee Hospital—At "Camp Misery"—At thefront—AfterGettysburg, and at Mine Run—Her health injured by her exposureandexcessive labors—She dies of heart-disease in May, 1864. | [643-649] |
| WOMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION OF BROOKLYNAND LONG ISLAND. | |
| Brooklyn early in the war—Numerous channelsfor distribution of theSupplies contributed—Importance of a Single ComprehensiveOrganization—The Relief Association formed—Mrs. StranahanchosenPresident—Sketch of Mrs. Stranahan—Her socialposition—Firstdirectress of the Graham Institute—Her rare tact and efficiencyas apresiding officer and in the dispatch of business—The Long IslandSanitary Fair—Her excessive labors there, and the perfect harmonyandgood feeling which prevailed—Rev. Dr. Spear's statement of herworth—Theresolutions of the Relief Association—Rev. Dr. Bellows'Testimony—Herdeath—Rev. Dr. Farley's letter concerning her—Rev. Dr.Budington'stribute to her memory. | [650-658] |
| MRS. ELIZABETH M. STREETER. | |
| Loyal Southern Women—Mrs. Streeter'sactivity in promoting associationsof loyal women for the relief of the soldiers—Her New Englandparentageand education—The Ladies' Union Relief Association ofBaltimore—Mrs.Streeter at Antietam—As a Hospital Visitor—The Eutaw StreetHospital—TheUnion Refugees in Baltimore—Mrs. Streeter organizes the Ladies'Union Aid Society for the Relief of Soldiers' families—Testimonyof theMaryland Committee of the Christian Commission to the value of herlabors—Death of her husband—Her return toMassachusetts. | [659-664] |
| MRS. CURTIS T. FENN. | |
| The loyal record of the men and women ofBerkshire County—Mrs. Fenn'shistory and position before the war—Her skill and tenderness inthecare of the sick—Her readiness to enter upon the work ofrelief—Shebecomes the embodiment of a Relief Association—Liberalcontributionsmade and much work performed by others but no organization—Mrs.Fenn'sincessant and extraordinary labors for the soldiers—Her packingandshipping of the supplies to the hospitals in and about New York and tomore distant cities—Refreshments for Soldiers who passed throughPittsfield—Her personal distribution of supplies at the soldiers'Thanksgiving dinner at Bedloe's Island in 1862, and at David's Islandin 1864—"The gentleman from Africa and his vote"—Herefforts for thedisabled soldiers and their families—The soldiers' monument. | [665-675] |
| MRS. JAMES HARLAN. | |
| Women in high stations devoting themselves to therelief of theSoldiers—Instances—Mrs. Harlan's early interest in thesoldier—AtShiloh—Cutting red-tape—Wounded soldiers removed northwardafter thebattle—Death of her daughter—Her labors for the religiousbenefit ofthe soldier—Her health impaired by her labors. | [676-678] |
| NEW ENGLAND SOLDIERS' RELIEFASSOCIATION. | |
| History of the organization—Its Matron,Mrs. E. A. Russell—The Women'sAuxiliary Committee—The Night Watchers' Association—TheHospitalChoir—The SOLDIERS' DEPOT in Howard Street, N. Y.—TheLadies'Association connected with it. | [679], [680] |
| PART IV. LADIES DISTINGUISHED FORSERVICES AMONG THE FREEDMEN ANDREFUGEES. | |
| MRS. FRANCES DANA GAGE. | |
| Childhood and youth of Mrs.Gage—Anti-slavery views inculcated byher parents and grand-parents—Her marriage—Her husband anearnestreformer—Her connection with the press—Ostracism on accountof heropposition to slavery—Propositions made to her husband to swervefromprinciple and thereby attain office—"Dare to standalone"—Removal toSt. Louis—A contributor to the Missouri Republican—Thenoble stand ofColonel Chambers—His death—She contributes to the MissouriDemocrat,but is finally excluded from its columns—Personal peril—Heradvocacyof the cause of Kansas—Editor of an Agricultural paper inColumbus,Ohio—Her labors among the freedmen in the department of the Southforthirteen months, (1862-3)—Helps the soldiers also—Her foursons inthe army—Return Northward in the Autumn of 1863—Becomes alecturer—Advocatingthe Emancipation Act and the Constitutional Amendment,prohibiting slavery—Labors for the Freedmen and Refugees in1864—Isinjured by the overturning of a carriage at Galesburg, Ill., inSeptember, 1864—Lecturing again on her partialrecovery—Summary of hercharacter. | [683-690] |
| MRS. LUCY GAYLORD POMEROY. | |
| Birth and early education—Half-sister ofthe poets Lewis and WillisGaylord Clark—Educates herself for a Missionary—ASunday-schoolteacher—Sorrow—Is married to S. C. Pomeroy (afterwardUnited StatesSenator from Kansas)—Residence in Southampton, Mass.—Illhealth—Removalto Kansas—The Kansas Struggle and Border Ruffian War—Mrs.Pomeroy a firm friend to the escaping slaves—The famine year of1860—Herhouse an office of distribution for supplies to thestarving—Accompanies her husbandto Washington in 1861—Her labors andcontributions for the soldiers—In Washington and at Atchison,Kansas—Returnto Washington—Founding an asylum for colored orphans anddestitute aged colored women—The building obtained andfurnished—Herfailing health—She comes north, but dies on the passage. | [691-696] |
| MARIA R. MANN. | |
| Miss Mann a near relative of the late Hon. HoraceMann—Her career as ateacher—Her loyalty—Comes to St. Louis—Becomes anurse in the FifthSt. Hospital—Condition of the Freedmen at St. Helena,Ark.—The WesternSanitary Commission becomes interested in endeavoring to helpthem—Theypropose to Miss Mann to go thither and establish a hospital, distributeclothing and supplies to them, and instruct them as far aspossible—Sheconsents—Perilous voyage—Her great and beneficent labors atHelena—Extraordinaryimprovement in the condition of the freedmen—She remainstill August, 1863—Her heroism—Gratitude of thefreedmen—"You's lightas a fedder, anyhow"—Return to St. Louis—Becomes theteacher andmanager of a colored asylum at Washington, D. C.—Her school forcoloredchildren at Georgetown—Its superior character—It is, inintention, anormal school—Miss Mann's sacrifices in continuing in thatposition. | [697-703] |
| SARAH J. HAGAR. | |
| A native of Illinois—Serves in the St.Louis Hospitals till August,1863—Is sent to Vicksburg in the autumn of 1863, by the WesternSanitary Commission, as teacher for the Freedmen's children—Hergreatand successful labors—Is attacked in April, 1864, with malarialfever,and dies May 3—Tribute to her character and work, from Mr. Marsh,superintendent of Freedmen at Vicksburg. | [704-706] |
| MRS. JOSEPHINE R. GRIFFIN. | |
| Her noble efforts—Her position at thecommencement of the war—Herinterest in the condition of the Freedmen—Her attempts toovercometheir faults—Her success—Organization ofschools—Finding employmentfor them—Influx of Freedmen into the District ofColumbia—Theirhelpless condition—Mrs. Griffin attempts to find situations forthem atthe North—Extensive correspondence—Her expeditions withcompanies ofthem to the Northern cities—Necessities of the freedmen remaininginthe District in the Autumn of 1866—Mrs. Griffin'scircular—The denialof its truth by the Freedmen's Bureau—Their subsequentretraction—TheCongressional appropriation—Should have been put in Mrs.Griffin'shands—She continues her labors. | [707-709] |
| MRS. M. M. HALLOWELL. | |
| Condition of the loyal whites of the mountainousdistrict of the South.Their sufferings and persecutions—Cruelty of theRebels—Contributionsfor their aid in the north—Boston, New York,Philadelphia—Mrs.Hallowell's efforts—She and her associates visit Nashville,Knoxville,Huntsville and Chattanooga and distribute supplies to the families ofrefugees—Peril of their journey—Repeated visits of Mrs.Hallowell—TheHome for Refugees, near Nashville—Gratitude of the Refugees forthisaid—Colonel Taylor's letter. | [710-712] |
| OTHER FRIENDS OF THE FREEDMEN ANDREFUGEES. | |
| Mrs. Harris' labors—Miss Tyson and Mrs.Beck—Miss Jane StuartWoolsey—Mrs. Governor Hawley—Miss Gilson—Mrs. Lucy S.Starr—Mrs.Clinton B. Fisk—Mrs. H. F. Hoes and Miss Alice F.Royce—Mrs. John S.Phelps—Mrs. Mary A. Whitaker—Fort Leavenworth—Mrs.Nettie C.Constant—Miss G. D. Chapman—Miss Sarah E. M. Lovejoy,daughter of Hon.Owen Lovejoy—Miss Mary E. Sheffield—Her labors atVicksburg—Herdeath—Helena—Mrs. Sarah Coombs—Nashville—Mrs.Mary R. Fogg—St.Louis Refugee and Freedmen's Home—Mrs. H. M. Weed—Thesupervision ofthis Home by Mrs. Alfred Clapp, Mrs. Joseph Crawshaw, Mrs. Lucien Eatonand Mrs. N. Stevens. | [733-716] |
| PART V. LADIES DISTINGUISHED FORSERVICES IN SOLDIERS' HOMES, VOLUNTEERREFRESHMENT SALOONS, ON GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS ETC. | |
| MRS. O. E. HOSMER. | |
| Mrs. Hosmer's residence at Chicago—Her twosons enter the army—Shedetermines to go to the hospitals—Her first experiences in thehospitals at Tipton and Smithtown—The lack of supplies—Mrs.Hosmerprocures them from the Sanitary Commission at St. Louis—Return toChicago—Organization of the "Ladies' War Committee"—Mrs.Hosmer itsSecretary—Efficiency of the organization—The Board of TradeRegiments—Mrs. Hosmer and Mrs. Smith Tinkham go to Murfreesboro'withsupplies after the battle of Stone River—Their report on theirreturn—Touchingincident—The wounded soldier—Return toChicago—Establishmentof the Soldiers' Home at Chicago—Mrs. Hosmer its first VicePresident—Herzeal for its interests and devotion to the Soldiers there—To thebattle-field after Chickamauga—Taken prisoner butrecaptured—Supplieslost—Return home—Her labors at the Soldiers' Home andSoldiers' Restfor the next fifteen months—The Northwestern Sanitary andSoldiers'Home Fair—Mrs. Hosmer Corresponding Secretary of the ExecutiveCommittee—She visits the hospitals from Cairo to NewOrleans—Successof her Mission—The emaciated prisoners from Andersonville andCatawbaat Vicksburg—Mrs. Hosmer ministers to them—The loss of theSultana—Returnand further labors at the Soldiers' Rest—Removal to NewYork. | [719-724] |
| MISS HATTIE WISWALL. | |
| Enters the service as Hospital Nurse in1863—At Benton BarracksHospital—A Model nurse—Her cheerfulness—Removal toNashville,Tennessee—She is sent thence to Vicksburg, first as an assistantandafterwards as principal matron at the Soldiers' Home—One hundredandfifteen thousand soldiers accommodated there during her stay—Thenumberof soldiers daily received ranging from two hundred to sixhundred—Heradmirable management—Scrupulous neatness of the Home—Herlabors amongthe Freedmen and Refugees at Vicksburg—Her care of the woundedfromthe Red River Expedition—Her tenderness and cheerfulspirit—Sheaccompanies a hospital steamer loaded with wounded men, to Cairo, andcheers and comforts the soldiers on their voyage—Takes charge ofawounded officer and conducts him to his home—Return to herduties—TheSoldiers' Home discontinued in June, 1865. | [726-727] |
| MRS. LUCY E. STARR. | |
| A Clergyman's widow—Her service in theFifth Street Hospital, St.Louis—Her admirable adaptation to her duties—Appointed bythe WesternSanitary Commission, Matron of the Soldiers' Home atMemphis—Nearly onehundred and twenty thousand soldiers received there during two and ahalf years—Mrs. Starr manages the Home with great fidelity andsuccess—Mr. O. R. Waters' acknowledgment of herservices—Closing ofthe Home—Mrs. Starr takes charge of an institution for sufferingfreedmen and refugees, in Memphis—Her faithfulness. | [728-730] |
| MISS CHARLOTTE BRADFORD. | |
| Her reticence in regard to her labors—Thepublic and official life ofladies occupying positions in charitable institutions properly a matterof public comment and notice—Miss Bradford's labors in theHospitalTransport Service—The Elm City—The Knickerbocker—Herassociates inthis work—Other Relief Work—She succeeds Miss Bradley asmatron of theSoldiers' Home at Washington—Her remarkable executive ability,dignityand tenderness for the sick and wounded soldier. | [731], [732] |
| UNION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON OFPHILADELPHIA. | |
| The labors of Mrs. Lee and Miss Ross ininstitutions of this class—Thebeginning of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon—Rival but nothostile organization—Samuel B. Fales, Esq., and his patrioticlabors—Thetwo institutions well supplied with funds—Nearly nine hundredthousand soldiers fed at the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, andfour hundred thousand at the Cooper Shop—The labors of thepatrioticwomen connected with the organizations—Mrs. Eliza G.Plummer—Herfaithful and abundant labors—Her death from overexertion—Mrs. Mary B.Wade—Her great age, and extraordinary services—Mrs. EllenJ. Lowry—Mrs.Margaret Boyer—Other ladies and their constant and valuablelabors—The worthy ladies of the Cooper Shop Saloon. | [733-737] |
| MRS. R. M. BIGELOW. | |
| "Aunty Bigelow"—Mrs. Bigelow a native ofWashington—Her services inthe Indiana Hospital in the Patent Office Building—"Hot cakes andmushand milk"—Mrs. Billing an associate in Mrs. Bigelow'sLabors—Mrs.Bigelow the almoner of many of the Aid Societies at the North—Herskilland judgment in the distribution of supplies—She maintains aregularcorrespondence with the soldier boys who have been under hercare—Herhouse a "Home" for the sick soldier or officer who asked that he mightbe sheltered and nursed there—She welcomes with open doors thehospitalworkers from abroad—Her personal sorrows in the midst of theselabors. | [738-740] |
| MISS HATTIE R. SHARPLESS AND HERASSOCIATES. | |
| The Government Hospital Transports early in thewar—Great improvementsmade in them at a later period—The Government TransportConnecticut—MissSharpless serves as matron on this for seventeen months—Hisprevious labors in army hospitals at Fredericksburg, Falls Church,Antietam and elsewhere—Her admirable adaptation to herwork—A trueChristian heroine—Thirty-three thousand sick and wounded menundercharge on the Transport—Her religious influence on themen—Miss HattieS. Reifsnyder of Catawissa, Penn. and Mrs. Cynthia Case of Newark,Ohio,her assistants are actuated by a similar spirit—Miss W. F. Harrisof Providence, R. I., also on the Transport, for some months, andpreviously in the Indiana Hospital, in Ascension Church and CarverHospital, and after leaving the Transport at Harper's Ferry andWinchester—Her health much broken by her excessivelabors—Devotesherself to the instruction and training of the Freedmen after the closeof the war. | [741-743] |
| PART VI. LADIES DISTINGUISHED FOR OTHERSERVICES IN THE NATIONAL CAUSE. | |
| MRS. ANNIE ETHERIDGE. | |
| Mrs. Etheridge's goodness and purity ofcharacter—Her childhood andgirlhood passed in Wisconsin—She marries there—Return ofher father toMichigan—She visits him and while there joins the Second MichiganRegiment, to attend to its sick and wounded—Transferredsubsequently tothe Third Regiment, and at the expiration of its term of service joinsthe Fifth Michigan Regiment—She is in the skirmish of Blackburn'sFordand at the first battle of Bull Run—In hospital service—Ona hospitaltransport with Miss Amy M. Bradley—At the second battle of BullRun—Thesoldier boy torn to pieces by a shot while she is ministering tohim—General Kearny's recognition of her services—Kearny'sdeathprevents her receiving promotion—At Chancellorsville, May 3,1863—Sheleads in a skirmish, rides along the front exhorting the men to dotheirduty, and finds herself under heavy fire—An officer killed by hersideand she herself slightly wounded—Her horse, wounded, runs withher—Sheseeks General Berry and after a pleasant interview takes charge of arebel officer, a prisoner, whom she escorts to the rear—"I wouldriskmy life for Annie, any time"—General Berry's death—Thewoundedartillery-man—She binds up his wounds and has him brought to thehospital—Touching letter—The retreating soldiers atSpottsylvania—Annieremonstrates with them, and brings them back into the fight, underheavy fire—Outside the lines, and closely pursued by theenemy—Hatcher'sRun—She dashes through the enemy's line unhurt—She receivesa Government appointment at the close of the war—Her modesty anddiffidence of demeanor. | [747-753] |
| DELPHINE P. BAKER. | |
| Her birth and education—Character of herparents—Her lectures on thesphere and culture of women—Her labors in Chicago in thecollection anddistribution of hospital supplies—Her hospital work—Illhealth—Shecommences the publication of "The National Banner" first in Chicago,next in Washington and finally in New York—Its success butpartial—Herefforts long, persistent and unwearied, for the establishment of aNational Home for Soldiers—The bill finally passesCongress—Delay inorganization—Its cause—Miss Baker meantime endeavors toprocure PointLookout as a location for one of the National Soldiers'Homes—Change inthe act of incorporation—The purchase of the Point Lookoutpropertyconsummated. | [754-759] |
| MRS. S. BURGER STEARNS. | |
| A native of New York City—Her education atthe State Normal School ofMichigan—Her marriage—Her husband a Colonel ofvolunteers—She visitsthe hospitals and devotes herself to lecturing in behalf of the Aidmovement. | [760] |
| BARBARA FRIETCHIE. | |
| Her age—Her patriotism—Whittier'spoem. | [761-763] |
| MRS. HETTIE M. McEWEN. | |
| Of revolutionary lineage—Her devotion tothe Union—Her defiance ofIsham Harris' efforts to have the Union flag lowered on herhouse—Mrs.Hooper's poem. | [764-766] |
| OTHER DEFENDERS OF THE FLAG. | |
| Mrs. Effie Titlow—Mrs. AlfredClapp—Mrs. Moore (Parson Brownlow'sdaughter)—Miss Alice Taylor—Mrs. Booth—"Neversurrender the flag totraitors". | [767-769] |
| MILITARY HEROINES. | |
| Those who donned the male attire not entitled toa place in our pages—MadameTurchin—Her exploits—Bridget Divers—"MichiganBridget" or"Irish Biddy"—She recovers her captain's body, and carries it onherhorse for fifteen miles through rebel territory—Returns after thewounded, but is overtaken by the rebels while bringing them off andplundered of her ambulance horses—Others soon afterprovided—Accompaniesa regiment of the regular army to the plains after thewar—Mrs. Kady Brownell—Her skill as a sharp-shooter, and inswordexercise—Color Bearer in the Fifth Rhode Island Infantry—Askillfulnurse—Her husband wounded—Discharged from the army in1863. | [770-774] |
| THE WOMEN OF GETTYSBURG. | |
| Mrs. Jennie Wade—Her loyalty andcourage—Her death during the battle—MissCarrie Sheads, Principal of Oak Ridge Seminary—Her preservationofColonel Wheelock's sword—Her labors in the care of thewounded—Herhealth impaired thereby—Miss Amelia Harmon—Her patriotismandcourage—"Burn the house if you will!" | [775-778] |
| LOYAL WOMEN OF THE SOUTH. | |
| Names of loyal Southern Women alreadymentioned—The loyal women ofRichmond—Their abundant labors for Union prisoners—Loyalwomen ofCharleston—The Union League—Food and clothingfurnished—Loyalty andheroism of some of the negro women—Loyal women of NewOrleans—Thenames of some of the most prominent—Loyal women of themountainousdistricts of the south—Their ready aid to our escapingprisoners—MissMelvina Stevens—Malignity of some of the Rebelwomen—Heroism of Loyalwomen in East Tennessee, Northern Georgia and Alabama. | [779-782] |
| MISS HETTY A. JONES. By Horatio G.Jones, Esq. | |
| Miss Jones' birth and lineage—She aids inequipping the companies ofUnion soldiers organized in her own neighborhood—Her services intheFilbert Street Hospital—Death of her brother—Visit toFortressMonroe—She determines to go to the front and attaches herself totheThird Division, Second Corps, Hospital at City Point—Has anattack ofPleurisy—On her recovery resumes her labors—Is againattacked and dieson the 21st of December, 1864—Her happy death—Mourning oftheconvalescent soldiers of the Filbert Street Hospital over herdeath. | [783-786] |
| FINAL CHAPTER | |
| THE FAITHFUL BUT LESS CONSPICUOUSLABORERS. | |
| The many necessarily unnamed—Ladies whoserved at Antietam, PointLookout, City Point or Naval Academy Hospital, Annapolis—Thefaithfulworkers at Benton Barracks Hospital, St. Louis—Miss Lovell, MissBissell, Mrs. Tannehill, Mrs. R. S. Smith, Mrs. Gray, Miss Lane, MissAdams, Miss Spaulding, Miss King, Mrs. Day—Other nurses of greatmeritappointed by the Western Sanitary Commission—Volunteer visitorsin theSt. Louis Hospitals—Ladies who ministered to the soldiers inQuincy,and in Springfield, Illinois—Miss Georgiana Willets, MissesMolineuxand McCabe—Ladies of Cincinnati who served in thehospitals—Mrs. C. J.Wright, Mrs. Starbuck, Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Woods and Mrs.Caldwell—MissE. L. Porter of Niagara Falls—Boston ladies—Mrs. and MissAnna Lowell,Mrs. O. W. Holmes, Miss Stevenson, Mrs. S. Loring, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs.Brimmer, Miss Rogers, Miss Felton—Louisville, Ky.—Mrs.Bishop Smithand Mrs. Menefee—Columbus, Ohio—Mrs. Hoyle, Mrs. Ide, MissSwayne—Mrs.Seward of Utica—Mrs. Cowen, of Hartford, Conn.—Miss Long,ofRochester—Mrs. Farr, of Norwalk, Ohio—Miss Bartlett, of theSoldiers'Aid Society, Peoria, Ill.—Mrs. Russell and Mrs. Comstock, ofMichigan,Mrs. Dame, of Wisconsin—Miss Bucklin, of Auburn, N. Y.—MissLouise M.Alcott, of Concord, Mass.—Miss Penfield, of Michigan—TheMissesRexford of Illinois—Miss Sophia Knight, of South Reading, Mass.,afaithful laborer among the Freedmen. | [787-794] |
| INDEX OF NAMES OF LADIES. | [795-800] |
ILLUSTRATIONS.
| Page | |
| 1.—MISS CLARA H. BARTON | [Frontispiece.] |
| 2.—BARBARA FRIETCHIE | [Vignette Title.] |
| 3.—MRS. MARY A. BICKERDYKE | [172] |
| 4.—MISS MARGARET E. BRECKENRIDGE | [187] |
| 5.—MRS. NELLIE MARIA TAYLOR | [234] |
| 6.—MRS. CORDELIA A. P. HARVEY | [260] |
| 7.—MISS EMILY E. PARSONS | [273] |
| 8.—MRS. MARY MORRIS HUSBAND | [287] |
| 9.—MISS MARY J. SAFFORD | [357] |
| 10.—MRS. R. H. SPENCER | [404] |
| 11.—MISS HATTIE A. DADA | [431] |
| 12.—MRS. MARIANNE F. STRANAHAN | [651] |
| 13.—MRS. MARY A. LIVERMORE | [577] |
| 14.—MRS. HENRIETTA L. COLT | [609] |
| 15.—MRS. MARY B. WADE | [736] |
| 16.—ANNIE ETHERIDGE | [747] |
INTRODUCTION.
A record of the personal services of our American women in the late Civil War, however painful to the modesty of those whom it brings conspicuously before the world, is due to the honor of the country, to the proper understanding of our social life, and to the general interests of a sex whose rights, duties and capacities are now under serious discussion. Most of the women commemorated in this work inevitably lost the benefits of privacy, by the largeness and length of their public services, and their names and history are to a certain extent the property of the country. At any rate they must suffer the penalty which conspicuous merit entails upon its possessors, especially when won in fields of universal interest.
Notwithstanding the pains taken to collect from all parts of the country, the names and history of the women who in any way distinguished themselves in the War, and in spite of the utmost impartiality of purpose, there is no pretence that all who served the country best, are named in this record. Doubtless thousands of women, obscure in their homes, and humble in their fortunes, without official position even in their local society, and all human trace of whose labors is forever lost, contributed as generously of their substance, and as freely of their time and strength, and gave as unreservedly their hearts and their prayers to the cause, as the most conspicuous on the shining list here unrolled. For if
"The world knows nothing of its greatest men,"
it is still more true of its noblest women. Unrewarded by praise, unsullied by self-complacency, there is a character "of no reputation," which formed in strictest retirement, and in the patient exercise of unobserved sacrifices, is dearer and holier in the eye of Heaven, than the most illustrious name won by the most splendid services. Women there were in this war, who without a single relative in the army, denied themselves for the whole four years, the comforts to which they had been always accustomed; went thinly clad, took the extra blanket from their bed, never tasted tea, or sugar, or flesh, that they might wind another bandage round some unknown soldier's wound, or give some parched lips in the hospital another sip of wine. Others never let one leisure moment, saved from lives of pledged labor which barely earned their bread, go unemployed in the service of the soldiers. God Himself keeps this record! It is too sacred to be trusted to men.
But it is not such humble, yet exalted souls that will complain of the praise which to their neglect, is allotted to any of their sisters. The ranks always contain some heroes braver and better than the most fortunate and conspicuous officers of staff or line—but they feel themselves best praised when their regiment, their corps, or their general is gazetted. And the true-hearted workers for the soldiers among the women of this country will gladly accept the recognition given to the noble band of their sisters whom peculiar circumstances lifted into distinct view, as a tribute offered to the whole company. Indeed, if the lives set forth in this work, were regarded as exceptional in their temper and spirit, as they certainly were in their incidents and largeness of sphere, the whole lesson of the Record would be misread. These women in their sacrifices, their patriotism, and their persistency, are only fair representatives of the spirit of their whole sex. As a rule, American women exhibited not only an intense feeling for the soldiers in their exposures and their sufferings, but an intelligent sympathy with the national cause, equal to that which furnished among the men, two million and three hundred thousand volunteers.
It is not unusual for women of all countries to weep and to work for those who encounter the perils of war. But the American women, after giving up, with a principled alacrity, to the ranks of the gathering and advancing army, their husbands and sons, their brothers and lovers, proceeded to organize relief for them; and they did it, not in the spasmodic and sentimental way, which has been common elsewhere, but with a self-controlled and rational consideration of the wisest and best means of accomplishing their purpose, which showed them to be in some degree the products and representatives of a new social era, and a new political development.
The distinctive features in woman's work in this war, were magnitude, system, thorough co-operativeness with the other sex, distinctness of purpose, business-like thoroughness in details, sturdy persistency to the close. There was no more general rising among the men, than among the women. Men did not take to the musket, more commonly than women took to the needle; and for every assembly where men met for mutual excitation in the service of the country, there was some corresponding gathering of women, to stir each other's hearts and fingers in the same sacred cause. All the caucuses and political assemblies of every kind, in which speech and song quickened the blood of the men, did not exceed in number the meetings, in the form of Soldiers' Aid Societies, and Sewing Circles, which the women held, where they talked over the national cause, and fed the fires of sacrifice in each other's hearts. Probably never in any war in any country, was there so universal and so specific an acquaintance on the part of both men and women, with the principles at issue, and the interests at stake. And of the two, the women were clearer and more united than the men, because their moral feelings and political instincts were not so much affected by selfishness and business, or party considerations. The work which our system of popular education does for girls and boys alike, and which in the middle and upper classes practically goes further with girls than with boys, told magnificently at this crisis. Everywhere, well educated women were found fully able to understand and explain to their sisters, the public questions involved in the war. Everywhere the newspapers, crowded with interest and with discussions, found eager and appreciative readers among the gentler sex. Everywhere started up women acquainted with the order of public business; able to call, and preside over public meetings of their own sex; act as secretaries and committees, draft constitutions and bye-laws, open books, and keep accounts with adequate precision, appreciate system, and postpone private inclinations or preferences to general principles; enter into extensive correspondence with their own sex: co-operate in the largest and most rational plans proposed by men who had studied carefully the subject of soldiers' relief, and adhere through good report and through evil report, to organizations which commended themselves to their judgment, in spite of local, sectarian, or personal jealousies and detractions.
It is impossible to over-estimate the amount of consecrated work done by the loyal women of the North for the Army. Hundreds of thousands of women probably gave all the leisure they could command, and all the money they could save and spare, to the soldiers for the whole four years and more, of the War. Amid discouragements and fearful delays they never flagged, but to the last increased in zeal and devotion. And their work was as systematic as it was universal. A generous emulation among the Branches of the United States Sanitary Commission, managed generally by women, usually, however, with some aid from men, brought their business habits and methods to an almost perfect finish. Nothing that men commonly think peculiar to their own methods was wanting in the plans of the women. They acknowledged and answered, endorsed and filed their letters; they sorted their stores, and kept an accurate account of stock; they had their books and reports kept in the most approved forms; they balanced their cash accounts with the most pains-taking precision; they exacted of each other regularity of attendance and punctiliousness of official etiquette. They showed in short, a perfect aptitude for business, and proved by their own experience that men can devise nothing too precise, too systematic or too complicated for women to understand, apply and improve upon, where there is any sufficient motive for it.
It was another feature of the case that there was no jealousy between women and men in the work, and no disposition to discourage, underrate, or dissociate from each other. It seemed to be conceded that men had more invention, comprehensiveness and power of generalization, and that their business habits, the fruits of ages of experience, were at least worth studying and copying by women. On the other hand, men, usually jealous of woman's extending the sphere of her life and labors, welcomed in this case her assistance in a public work, and felt how vain men's toil and sacrifices would be without woman's steady sympathy and patient ministry of mercy, her more delicate and persistent pity, her willingness to endure monotonous details of labor for the sake of charity, her power to open the heart of her husband, and to keep alive and flowing the fountains of compassion and love.
No words are adequate to describe the systematic, persistent faithfulness of the women who organized and led the Branches of the United States Sanitary Commission. Their volunteer labor had all the regularity of paid service, and a heartiness and earnestness which no paid services can ever have. Hundreds of women evinced talents there, which, in other spheres and in the other sex, would have made them merchant-princes, or great administrators of public affairs. Storms nor heats could keep them from their posts, and they wore on their faces, and finally evinced in their breaking constitutions, the marks of the cruel strain put upon their minds and hearts. They engaged in a correspondence of the most trying kind, requiring the utmost address to meet the searching questions asked by intelligent jealousy, and to answer the rigorous objections raised by impatience or ignorance in the rural districts. They became instructors of whole townships in the methods of government business, the constitution of the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments, and the forms of the Medical Bureau. They had steadily to contend with the natural desire of the Aid Societies for local independence, and to reconcile neighborhoods to the idea of being merged and lost in large generalizations. They kept up the spirit of the people distant from the war and the camps, by a steady fire of letters full of touching incidents; and they were repaid not only by the most generous returns of stores, but by letters from humble homes and lonely hearts, so full of truth and tenderness, of wisdom and pity, of self-sacrifice and patriotic consecration, that the most gifted and educated women in America, many of them at the head of the Branches or among their Directors, felt constantly reproved by the nobleness, the sweetness, the depth of sentiment that welled from the hidden and obscure springs in the hearts of farmers' wives and factory-girls.
Nor were the talents and the sacrifices of those at the larger Depôts or Centres, more worthy of notice than the skill and pains evinced in arousing, maintaining and managing the zeal and work of county or town societies. Indeed, sometimes larger works are more readily controlled than smaller ones; and jealousies and individual caprices obstruct the co-operation of villages more than of towns and cities.
In the ten thousand Soldiers' Aid Societies which at one time or another probably existed in the country, there was in each some master-spirit, whose consecrated purpose was the staple in the wall, from which the chain of service hung and on whose strength and firmness it steadily drew. I never visited a single town however obscure, that I did not hear some woman's name which stood in that community for "Army Service;" a name round which the rest of the women gladly rallied; the name of some woman whose heart was felt to beat louder and more firmly than any of the rest for the boys in blue.
Of the practical talent, the personal worth, the aptitude for public service, the love of self-sacrificing duty thus developed and nursed into power, and brought to the knowledge of its possessors and their communities, it is difficult to speak too warmly. Thousands of women learned in this work to despise frivolity, gossip, fashion and idleness; learned to think soberly and without prejudice of the capacities of their own sex; and thus, did more to advance the rights of woman by proving her gifts and her fitness for public duties, than a whole library of arguments and protests.
The prodigious exertions put forth by the women who founded and conducted the great Fairs for the soldiers in a dozen principal cities, and in many large towns, were only surpassed by the planning skill and administrative ability which accompanied their progress, and the marvellous success in which they terminated. Months of anxious preparation, where hundreds of committees vied with each other in long-headed schemes for securing the co-operation of the several trades or industries allotted to each, and during which laborious days and anxious nights were unintermittingly given to the wearing work, were followed by weeks of personal service in the fairs themselves, where the strongest women found their vigor inadequate to the task, and hundreds laid the foundations of long illness and some of sudden death. These sacrifices and far-seeing provisions were justly repaid by almost fabulous returns of money, which to the extent of nearly three millions of dollars, flowed into the treasury of the United States Sanitary Commission. The chief women who inaugurated the several great Fairs at New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and administered these vast movements, were not behind the ablest men in the land in their grasp and comprehension of the business in hand, and often in comparison with the men associated with them, exhibited a finer scope, a better spirit and a more victorious faith. But for the women of America, the great Fairs would never have been born, or would have died ignominiously in their gilded cradles. Their vastness of conception and their splendid results are to be set as an everlasting crown on woman's capacity for large and money-yielding enterprises. The women who led them can never sink back into obscurity.
But I must pass from this inviting theme, where indeed I feel more at home than in what is to follow, to the consideration of what naturally occupies a larger space in this work—however much smaller it was in reality, i. e., to the labors of the women who actually went to the war, and worked in the hospitals and camps.
Of the labors of women in the hospitals and in the field, this book gives a far fuller history than is likely to be got from any other source, as this sort of service cannot be recorded in the histories of organized work. For, far the largest part of this work was done by persons of exceptional energy and some fine natural aptitude for the service, which was independent of organizations, and hardly submitted itself to any rules except the impulses of devoted love for the work—supplying tact, patience and resources. The women who did hospital service continuously, or who kept themselves near the base of armies in the field, or who moved among the camps, and travelled with the corps, were an exceptional class—as rare as heroines always are—a class, representing no social grade, but coming from all—belonging to no rank or age of life in particular; sometimes young and sometimes old, sometimes refined and sometimes rude; now of fragile physical aspect and then of extraordinary robustness—but in all cases, women with a mighty love and earnestness in their hearts—a love and pity, and an ability to show it forth and to labor in behalf of it, equal to that which in other departments of life, distinguishes poets, philosophers, sages and saints, from ordinary or average men.
Moved by an indomitable desire to serve in person the victims of wounds and sickness, a few hundred women, impelled by instincts which assured them of their ability to endure the hardship, overcome the obstacles, and adjust themselves to the unusual and unfeminine circumstances in which they would be placed—made their way through all obstructions at home, and at the seat of war, or in the hospitals, to the bed-sides of the sick and wounded men. Many of these women scandalized their friends at home by what seemed their Quixotic resolution; or, they left their families under circumstances which involved a romantic oblivion of the recognized and usual duties of domestic life; they forsook their own children, to make children of a whole army corps; they risked their lives in fevered hospitals; they lived in tents or slept in ambulance wagons, for months together; they fell sick of fevers themselves, and after long illness, returned to the old business of hospital and field service. They carried into their work their womanly tenderness, their copious sympathies, their great-hearted devotion—and had to face and contend with the cold routine, the semi-savage professional indifference, which by the necessities of the case, makes ordinary medical supervision, in time of actual war, impersonal, official, unsympathetic and abrupt. The honest, natural jealousy felt by surgeons-in-charge, and their ward masters, of all outside assistance, made it necessary for every woman, who was to succeed in her purpose of holding her place, and really serving the men, to study and practice an address, an adaptation and a patience, of which not one candidate in ten was capable. Doubtless nine-tenths of all who wished to offer and thought themselves capable of this service, failed in their practical efforts. As many women fancied themselves capable of enduring hospital life, as there are always in every college, youth who believe they can become distinguished authors, poets and statesmen. But only the few who had a genius for the work, continued in it, and succeeded in elbowing room for themselves through the never-ending obstacles, jealousies and chagrins that beset the service. Every woman who keeps her place in a general hospital, or a corps hospital, has to prove her title to be trusted; her tact, discretion, endurance and strength of nerve and fibre. No one woman succeeded in rendering years of hospital service, who was not an exceptional person—a woman of larger heart, clearer head, finer enthusiasm, and more mingled tact, courage, firmness and holy will—than one in a thousand of her sex. A grander collection of women—whether considered in their intellectual or their moral qualities, their heads or their hearts, I have not had the happiness of knowing, than the women I saw in the hospitals; they were the flower of their sex. Great as were the labors of those who superintended the operations at home—of collecting and preparing supplies for the hospitals and the field, I cannot but think that the women who lived in the hospitals, or among the soldiers, required a force of character and a glow of devotion and self-sacrifice, of a rarer kind. They were really heroines. They conquered their feminine sensibility at the sight of blood and wounds; their native antipathy to disorder, confusion and violence; subdued the rebellious delicacy of their more exquisite senses; lived coarsely, and dressed and slept rudely; they studied the caprices of men to whom their ties were simply human—men often ignorant, feeble-minded—out of their senses—raving with pain and fever; they had a still harder service to bear with the pride, the official arrogance, the hardness or the folly—perhaps the impertinence and presumption of half-trained medical men, whom the urgencies of the case had fastened on the service.[A] Their position was always critical, equivocal, suspected, and to be justified only by their undeniable and conspicuous merits;—their wisdom, patience and proven efficiency; justified by the love and reverence they exacted from the soldiers themselves!
True, the rewards of these women were equal to their sacrifices. They drew their pay from a richer treasury than that of the United States Government. I never knew one of them who had had a long service, whose memory of the grateful looks of the dying, of the few awkward words that fell from the lips of thankful convalescents, or the speechless eye-following of the dependent soldier, or the pressure of a rough hand, softened to womanly gentleness by long illness,—was not the sweetest treasure of all their lives. Nothing in the power of the Nation to give or to say, can ever compare for a moment with the proud satisfaction which every brave soldier who risked his life for his country, always carries in his heart of hearts. And no public recognition, no thanks from a saved Nation, can ever add anything of much importance to the rewards of those who tasted the actual joy of ministering with their own hands and hearts to the wants of one sick and dying man.
It remains only to say a word about the influence of the work of the women in the War upon the strength and unanimity of the public sentiment, and on the courage and fortitude of the army itself.
The participation by actual work and service in the labors of the War, not only took out of women's hearts the soreness which unemployed energies or incongruous pursuits would have left there, but it took out of their mouths the murmurs and moans which their deserted, husbandless, childless condition would so naturally have provoked. The women by their call to work, and the opportunity of pouring their energies, sympathies and affections into an ever open and practical channel, were quieted, reconciled, upheld. The weak were borne upon the bosoms of the strong. Banded together, and working together, their solicitude and uneasiness were alleviated. Following in imagination the work of their own hands, they seemed to be present on the field and in the ranks; they studied the course of the armies; they watched the policy of the Government; they learned the character of the Generals; they threw themselves into the war! And so they helped wonderfully to keep up the enthusiasm, or to rebuke the lukewarmness, or to check the despondency and apathy which at times settled over the people. Men were ashamed to doubt where women trusted, or to murmur where they submitted, or to do little where they did so much. If during the war, home life had gone on as usual; women engrossed in their domestic or social cares; shrinking from public questions; deferring to what their husbands or brothers told them, or seeking to amuse themselves with social pleasures and striving to forget the painful strife in frivolous caprices, it would have had a fearful effect on public sentiment, deepening the gloom of every reverse, adding to the discouragements which an embarrassed commerce and trade brought to men's hearts, by domestic echoes of weariness of the strife, and favoring the growth of a disaffected, compromising, unpatriotic feeling, which always stood ready to break out with any offered encouragement. A sense of nearness of the people to the Government which the organization of the women effected, enlarged their sympathies with its movements and disposed them to patience. Their own direct experience of the difficulties of all co-operative undertakings, broadened their views and rendered intelligible the delays and reverses which our national cause suffered. In short the women of the country were through the whole conflict, not only not softening the fibres of war, but they were actually strengthening its sinews by keeping up their own courage and that of their households, under the inspiration of the larger and more public life, the broader work and greater field for enterprise and self-sacrifice afforded them by their direct labors for the benefit of the soldiers. They drew thousands of lukewarm, or calculating, or self-saving men into the support of the national cause by their practical enthusiasm and devotion. They proved what has again and again been demonstrated, that what the women of a country resolve shall be done, will and must be done. They shamed recruits into the ranks, and made it almost impossible for deserters, or cowards, or malingerers to come home; they emptied the pockets of social idlers, or wealthy drones, into the treasuries of the Aid Societies; and they compelled the shops and domestic trade of all cities to be favorable to the war. The American women were nearer right and more thoroughly united by this means, and their own healthier instincts, than the American men. The Army, whose bayonets were glittering needles, advanced with more unbroken ranks, and exerted almost a greater moral force than the army that carried loaded muskets.
The Aid Societies and the direct oversight the women sought to give the men in the field, very much increased the reason for correspondence between the homes and the tents.
The women were proud to write what those at the hearth-stone were doing for those who tended the camp-fires, and the men were happy and cheery to acknowledge the support they received from this home sympathy. The immense correspondence between the army and the homes, prodigious beyond belief as it was, some regiments sending home a thousand letters a week, and receiving as many more back; the constant transmission to the men of newspapers, full of the records of home work and army news, produced a homogeneousness of feeling between the soldiers and the citizens, which kept the men in the field, civilians, and made the people at home, of both sexes, half-soldiers.
Thus there never grew up in the army any purely military and anti-social or anti-civil sentiments. The soldiers studied and appreciated all the time the moral causes of the War, and were acquainted with the political as well as military complications. They felt all the impulses of home strengthening their arms and encouraging their hearts. And their letters home, as a rule, were designed to put the best face upon things, and to encourage their wives and sweet-hearts, their sisters and parents, to bear their absence with fortitude, and even with cheerfulness.
The influence on the tone of their correspondence, exerted by the fact that the women were always working for the Army, and that the soldiers always knew they were working, and were always receiving evidence of their care, may be better imagined than described. It largely ministered to that sympathetic unity between the soldiers and the country, which made our army always a corrective and an inspiration to our Governmental policy, and kept up that fine reciprocal influence between civil and military life, which gave an heroic fibre to all souls at home, and finally restored us our soldiers with their citizen hearts beating regularly under their uniforms, as they dropped them off at the last drum-tap.
H. W. B.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] A large number of the United States Army and volunteer surgeons were indeed men of the highest and most humane character, and treated the women who came to the hospitals, with careful and scrupulous consideration. Some women were able to say that they never encountered opposition or hindrance from any officials; but this was not the rule.