The surgeon in charge was just passing out of the main entrance, and the guard introduced me. I informed him of my wish to visit his hospital. In a very surly manner he inquired:
"Have you a son here?"
"I have not," I answered.
"Then what do you want to go in here for? It is no place for a lady to step her foot over the threshold of a hospital."
"I perceive you and I differ widely in that; but if you doubt my fitness to visit your patients, you can examine my papers from the governor of my State and a member of Congress and others."
"If you have no son here, I don't see that you have any business here."
"Every soldier is some mother's son, and I wish to visit them, and here are my papers; you can read them if you wish."
Throwing out his hand angrily, he said:
"Go along, then; go along."
I went, but he took good care to bear me company.