Upper Merion,
Montgomery County, Penna.,
October 1, 1866.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Antietam—Hospitals—Frederick City—Virginia—Breaking up of theHospitals—Moving North with the Army | [9] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Battle of Gettysburg—The Wounded—Incidents in Hospital—SanitaryCommission Work—The Flag on “Round Top” | [38] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| The Campaign of 1864—Port Royal—White House—City Point | [58] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| First Visit to Annapolis—Stories of Starved Men—Burialat Andersonville—Neely’s Life in the Dungeon of CastleThunder—Sergeant Kerker—Captains Wilson and Sheltonin the “Iron Cage,” in Buncombe County, Tenn.—TheBoy and the Flag—Gould’s returning Consciousness—Mr.Brown in Danville Prison | [91] |
THREE YEARS IN FIELD HOSPITALS.
CHAPTER I.
Antietam.—Hospitals.—Frederick City.—Virginia.—Breaking up of the Hospitals.—Moving North with the Army.
When the first sounds of war were heard, and there dimly dawned the startling fact that traitors were imperiling the life of the nation, we all remember how thousands rushed to arms at our country’s call, eager to proffer aid in this her hour of need. City, village, and country alike gave, as their first offering, their young men, the pride and strength of the land.
The first that our quiet valley knew of the preparation for war, a company was being gathered from about our very doors,—with Col. Hartranft (now major-general—and nobly has he won the double stars, to which his bravery entitles him) as their chosen commander. We saw them as they stood beneath the shade of a spreading tree, with uplifted hand, vowing true allegiance to the best government the world has ever yet beheld; and as that roll now shows, many upon far-off battle-fields have sealed it with their blood.
They followed where Burnside led; and all along that way, which occupied four years of these eventful times, we trace their course, marked by the battles in which they so bravely bore their part.