WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK STATE AGENCY
Arrived in Washington I went directly to the home of my army friend, Doctor Hettie K. Painter, to remain until I decided upon my next move. The following day I reported to Colonel Goodrich, head of New York State Agency in Washington, and found that he wished me to remain and assist him in the closing up of the Washington work. This meant the visiting of the several hospitals scattered at long distances over the city and suburbs. Army Square, Douglas and Harewood Hospitals sheltered most of the New York men. I listened to their many complaints at being so long detained when they seemed quite able to travel, but were delayed for various reasons. The work was chiefly of a clerical form, viz.: to find out what difficulties detained the men, and why, when they were entitled to a discharge, it could not be obtained. Some could not get their pay, some had lost their descriptive lists, a few were waiting for their friends to take them home, while still other disabilities interfered.
Owing to the great distances between hospitals which involved a great deal of walking, considerable time was lost and much fatigue followed. I therefore determined to go to Medical Headquarters and ask for an ambulance on the strength of the pass that I still held from General Grant. This authority, of course, was good only during the war, but after some explanations the medical authorities courteously offered to give me the use of a medical headquarters ambulance, though all ambulances had been “called in.”
The next morning one came for me, and I was driven to the New York Agency, greatly to the surprise of Colonel Goodrich, who gave me a list of hospital soldiers to visit. At the close of the day I was able to make a complete report. The time saved in driving was considerable, and I was able to accomplish much more than those who had to walk long distances from hospital to hospital, as other agents had then to do.
The following day, on calling at the agency for my list, the Colonel said: “Miss Smith, you may visit the near by hospitals to-day, and I will use the ambulance for other work.”
“I beg pardon, Colonel,” I replied, “I am responsible for the ambulance and no one can use it except by my invitation. If any agent would like to be dropped at any hospital I shall be very happy to accommodate him.”
The New York Agency ambulance had been called in, which was rather irritating. The Colonel never quite forgave me this independence, and some time later he remarked, regarding the failure to put through a troublesome case: “Perhaps Miss Smith, with her usual pertinacity, might accomplish it.”
“If you can not succeed, Colonel, it is no reason why I should not,” I replied quickly. “Please give me the case.”
Putting my whole interest and energy into the work, I soon had the satisfaction of reporting the case as settled satisfactorily.
