Too delighted and relieved to properly express my thanks, I said—“Good-bye for good this time, Captain. I promise not to trouble you any more!”
Again in the ambulance I said to the driver, who was very much interested, “Now, Orderly, your horses can not go too fast for me!” and soon we dashed up to the hospital grounds.
Meanwhile the case had become hospital gossip, and every “Boy” knew of my work. The doctor gave me the slip, but I followed him up through the wards till I found him at last in his office. In passing through the wards I waved the paper saying—“Boys, I have it, I have it!” A low cheer passed round as the good news spread from ward to ward.
On presenting this order I said, “Doctor, will you please sign this?”
With an effort he controlled his expression, and said quite blandly, “Er, er—when would you like to have this man go?”
“Immediately, if you please!”—with extreme politeness.
“Oh! then I will order the ambulance.”
“Thank you,” I replied, “I have the Medical Headquarters’ Ambulance waiting and will take the man with me just as soon as he can be made ready.” I then bowed myself out politely.
In half an hour the happy cripple was placed beside me in the ambulance, and we drove directly to Mr. Huron’s home, where the now rejoicing sister was waiting. She started at once to take her brother home by easy stages, and we heard that they had reached their little farm in safety. A letter of appreciation from the Secretary of the State of Indiana was a satisfactory ending to this almost impossible case.
In my many visits to this hospital I had discovered some “irregularities,” for instance, that a number of soldiers were detained on various pretexts in order that the requisite number might be maintained, with their “rations” (thirty-seven cents per diem) to keep open this hospital. So many men begged me, almost upon their knees, to help them. As this was quite beyond my strength I resolved to report the matter to General Grant’s headquarters. During my call he listened politely and silently, laid away his cigar, gave me his attention, and referred me to Adjutant Bowers, who exclaimed: “Why, that is impossible! Here is an order sent some weeks ago directing all convalescents to be discharged at once!”