The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-10-22


Ono MOrnimg's Work.
The great wheels Of heavy wagons lum
bering slowly over the uneven pavemen t.
so clanked and rolled and creaked and d rag
tged. that they walked me from sleep, and
caused me to jump quickly out Of bed ant
open the blinds. The grayness of early
morning, SO rested upon and enshrouded
every object Of the wide-strceted, unfamilia,
southern city, that I was completely be
wildered, and for few minutes could moi
Imagine what those odd looking vehicles,
each one accompanied by an armed cavarly
soldier, could be. Was dreaming, and O.
Les Miserables Could It be I was watch
ling with Jean Vatican and Cosette thai
specter Of gallery wretches, which one morr
ing SO sickened their souls and chilled thei,
bodiesf I rubbed my eyes, remembered
where was, located the street, and peer
ling through the mist, soon saw the familiar
lU.S.A. on the sides Of the carriages. They
were ambulances bearing wounded from
Stone river, who for anumber OF days had
been expected at the hospital on 18th street
recalled that the surgeon in charge had
told me the day before he had received a
telegram, bidding him expect them by boat,
twenty -four hours after date of dispatch. -
There were number of volunteers and re-
served hands standing near as he spoke, and
he asked US all to be on the spot when they
arrived, as for few hours there would be q
press Of work. Now here they were twelve
hours earlier, and just at the time when ev.
erybody in hospital and square was least
prepared for them. My resolve was quickly
taken. I, ofal in the house was alone
awake it was only q few steps to the hosp,-
tai; so hurrying on my clothes, I stepped
out ofmy low window on to the porch, ran
down through the long back yard, through
a gate into an open lot. in western speech
called ''commons;" I gained the street
without disturbing anybody but Jack, the
big Newfoundland, who was SO shocked at
my irregular proceedings that be planted
himself right in the gate, and declined NOV
| ing. Finding out his intention to hold me
prisoner, and not being able to get round or
over him, 1 stepped on him, so much to his
disgust that he did not deign to bark, or to
utter the low, ominous growl that would
have brought amascuIine individual of the
xv:y Js,,,, 4 snS . - =, =.
the house. e ts sel aa2las w d 81
4 So much advantage did my short cut
over the commons" give mes that gained
the hospital before the ambulances were all
unloaded. At first to my inexperienced
EYES, blinded by the half light of the hour,
all the men borne up the steps on stretchers
looked as if they were dead but soon low
means, as they were subjected to acc idental
jarring, told me they were alive to suffering
at least. could not get in at the main en-
trance, but knowing the building I iwent in
at little side door, aud gained the ward
whose nurse knew best, and where I daily
did light, simple jobs to relieve her. She
was rapidly pushing the clean beds, which
I saw alta glance were all empty, nearer
each other, and only looked up at me to
say, "I'm right glad to see you; we've got
our hands just full for the next twent -four
hours, reckon you'll find" I was much
interested in many of the men who last eve
ming were in this ward, and merely asked
where they were She was too busy to an.
swer, but a black brother. who enjoyed
talking and hated pushing beds, informed
me "They had done toted 'em into tents in
the yard" faH ssh ri
Over the door they were bringing the
poor fellows; laying them down anywhere,
until the soiled clothing which most Of them
had worn ever since the battle could be re-
moved. The sicken,ng sights that met my
eyes. as, under the direction 0: my friend
the sister, handed food and drink, or bath
ed and wiped, amid all that blood and dirt,
I cannot describe bat to this day the sight
of flannel shirt of the color most common
there makes me faiat There was but an
insufficient supply Of refreshments, and
other ladies coming in to assist was going
out into the kitchen to help there, when :
nurse met me and said the surgeon, wanted
me at number nine. I went across tie hall
to the said number, . little room, compare
lively, where were about twenty men worse
off than any I had seen. 1t seemed as If
every one Of those anguished eyes followed
me as went to the doctor, who said, "All
the rest are busy; my mother is gone, 50 r
need somebody. Can you hold this fellows
head for. few minutes? He is q little
wandering, and keeps talking to somebody
he calls Mary. He'll think you are she" &
i saw by the run, ploughed by . ball from
wrist to shoulder, that there must be an
amputation; but surely if the doctor could
do it, and the man bear it. I conld, see it,
"What is bis name, DR." Don't know /;
boys, do any of you ?" "Shure, an it's Kit.
Mss" spoke up big Irishman, 50 done up
in rags you could only see his eyes.
| ri am come TO see you. Kit,'i and ! put
my cold, shaking hands on his boyish fore
head. y: feiss9loI uehi III .tfrero "a.
1s"fou are my Marie, are you not?" /
knew by his accent, as well Is his face, that
he was German, 80 I spoke low TO himin
that language, and he accepted me in that
hour Of extremity for thas far away dear
one. He-would talk, telling me, brave,