The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-05-18
From the Home Journal.
LETTER IRON 4 BELLE.

The Young lazy VINO seuus 10 INC sSkeo'
abe letter from which the following extracts
are taken, il under very natural illusion as
to who would be the majority OF her spa
tients,o should she ofhciate rs ''Florence
Nightingale" to the opposing army. To her
glowing imagination, that army Is composed
entirely Of such "Southerners" as she has
danced with in New York, or passed the sea-
son with, at Newport and Saratoga. But
very different classes are the "clay. eaters"
and "alligators," the "crackers" and other
"whitc trash" las they themselves call
them,) who form the main bulk and body
Of the comm on soldiery. Her former friends
are but the few officers and leading men,
who have had tina training and means OF
gentlemen; and to such, as prisoner or
wounded enemy, it will be pleasure to min
ister kindness and mercy. But the lower
grades are scarcely human-so much more
degraded than any class with which any Ia
dy is likely to have come 10 contact, that the
nursing Of them would be indeed duty
misplaced. With this correction, We have
great pleasure in giving the substance Of
her charming letter.
Might | inquire through the
Home Journal whether there are not some
varieties Of military service which could be
performed by the Ladies? OF course there
will be Southern prisoners Of war, for in
stance, liz they are too young and hand
some to DO shot) they will viii be sent North
by the return Of steam vessels, to be put
under the guard OF home patrol, or par
TALLY released on their military parole, till
An exchange Of prisoners can take place.
Could not one commissioned lady, EARNED
and equipped according to law" take charge
OF one s.enemy," to keep watch and guard
over him, and be responsible for his pacific
behavior-(the text Glove your enemies"
being temporarily suspended by martial
law)- till peace is declared? We should
like to form female regiment, for this and
similar sentry service, (for which nothing
but vigilance and proper equipment is re-
auired,) to be considered simply corps de
reserve, and having our own band Of music,
officers and parades.
And (uow l think Of it) how would it do
to garrison West Point with female regi-
ment for this very purpose? The cadets
and officers who are there will be wanted in
actual service, and it was only last week that
forty-two Of them joined the secession army,
so that the barracks are, even now, compar-
atively vacant;and what cow enlent strong
hold for prisoners of war! Among them
there would, very likely, be . few who had
been there before, as military students, and
they would not object to vary their captivi-
ty, (wouId they p by drilling US, and teach
ing US the use Of arms, Ere arms and how
to wear our uniforms, ETC., etc.
But what shall be our uniform? As
hope to be at least Lieutenant. ess in the
new Female Battalion, l should like TO be
getting the materials together. The Zouave
trousers and an embroidered jacket would
be very pretty, it seems TO me, but We should
want nicer kind Of cap, say . shake, With
spompon or plume. In our belt, Of course,
there would be dagger and . pistol, or q
sabre instead of the dagger, as being more
picturesque. The cartridge box would very
naturally do service ~ . hustle, and epau.
lettes would give our narrow shoulders the
masculine breadth. And why not make q
mustache with = bit Of burnt coal, 40 We
pencil them 10 private theatricals) a part Of
the uniform Itso adds to the spunky -ness
Of the nossrils las my literary friend -
says,l to i,ai,ciss them with little dark lioe
on the upper lip.
To return 10 "ciyir' matters, however.
There is some embarrassment among the
young ladies rs TO precisely what Florence.
Nightingale. ship is to consist in. live VOL
aasses We must have some drcss to distin-
gaish us. of course; and will this be robe
and hood Of a Sister Of Chsri,yp And, ia
case Of battle, shall ws be subject to be
ordered of at once, to follow the camp and
do hospital da.y? MAY We travel without
any other protection than the cross and
hesdsp
And still enc or two other embarrassing
questions Florence Nightingale's being a
Christian ofkce, shall We not "minisssr' to
the enemy, A. we'll Il there IN understand
ing, among the sensries Of both armies, that
the hospitals or s,ck tents, on both sidee,
are open TO the Sister Fiorences, and that
We 70 and come. unquessioned and unhio-
dered, to nurse aud sojourn wherever ws
'.fsei call 30 Would il be better that ws
should carry . p;s,el, 10 case Of rudeuess,
or ssunso him that smitssh 10 % the oes
cheek" are ~ to "turu the other also 20
And. In case Of 6nding former sweetheart
con the sick liss'' in he eneny's camp, o,
amerg the prisoners in our own hospitals,
dsssess,o and devote ourselves exclusively
Is them ill csnvalescers?
1hope ron are taking notice that the late
reform, ~ to equality OF the sexes, Is insu-
soeinr all The arrangements for these "try.
ing simss.' Isse that lady in Nevhurgh
ai~ersises Al offer Of her services to any
Editor Who may wish 70 volunteer, psopos.
ins 10 conduct his PAPER grasuisoosly in his
absence, and there are many other substiss-
tons that We are ready for, such ~ keeping
their nice horses exercised While shey are
gene. and freaucnsinS the elaas fer them to
See that the establishment IL 10 proper train
ins, etc., etc. should yea not psklish, 10
meet the wsat Of the times, list Of the
mas dcinss hat ladies en- do - well