The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-06-24
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Miss Cornelia Hancock was the flrst
lady who arrived at Ere iricksburx to
aid in the care Of the wounded. A
one Of the many interesting episodes
OF the var, II has seemed that her
| good deeds should not be unherald.
ed. She was also among the very.
first to arrive at Gettyshurg after the
fearful strup gle. and for days and
weeks ministcrcd INCREASINGLY to the
suffering. During the past Wint6r
she remained increasingly with the
Army in Winter quarters, connecting
herself with the ~ Division OF the
I'd Corps. SO attached werr tho sol.
diers and SO grateful for her minis
trations IN sickness, that they built q
house for her, ia which she relnainel
until The general order for all to leave
was given.
When the News Of Grants battles
reached the North Miss Hancock left
Philadelphia at once for Washington.
Svoral applications were made by
members Of Congress at the War De.
partmcnt for permit for her to 90
to the wounded 1t was each time
declined as being unfcasible and i'm
proper With woman'a tact, she
made application to go with one OF
the Surgeons then arriving as Assist
art, ns each Surgeon was entitled to
one. The plan succeeded, AMI I
well remember the mental Jjlcula-
ton made wl'cn l saw lcr I sucl n
time Oh tic bcpt l had lost sirht OF
her at Belle Plain aud had almost
forgotten the circumstances, whea
shortly before our arrival ut Frol.
ericksburg, she passed in on ambu-
ance On beitr assi rne / to = hospi-
tai OF the u Corps, | found she had
preceded me. and was earnestly at
work. 1t was no ficticicus effort, hut
she had already prepared soup and
farina and was dispensing 1t to tho
crowds OF poor fellows lying thickly
about
All day she worked, paying little
attention t. others, Only assiduous
in her own sphere. When, the next
morning l opened new hospital at
the Methodist church. invited her
to &C, ompany me. She did so, and
If success ard anelioration Of suffer.
ing attended the effort, it was in NJ
small degree owing to her indsfati.
gable labors. Within an hour from
the time one hundred and twenty had
h"en YlSce ~ tie rh";II;;; s,1,i .n cof,aa
was administered to each, and during
the period was there, No delicacy
or uutriment attainablo was wanting
to the men. Were any dying sue
sat by to soothe their last moments,
to receive the dying messages to
friends ut home, and when it was
over to convey by letters the sad in
telligencs. Let me rise ever so ear.
ly, she had already proceeded m nc
work, and during the many long
hours of tho day she never seemed to
weary or flag; in the evening when
all in her own hospital had been full
" cared for. she woul,l go about the
town with delicacies % administer to
officers who were so situated they
could not procure them At night
she sought u garret (and IL was liter
ally one) for her rest.
One can but feebly portray the
ninistrations of such n person. She
belonged 10 no nssociation---had no
compensation. She commanded re-
spect, for she was ladvli!te anl well
educated, 80 q liet AMI un1cmonstra-
tive that her presence was hardly no.
ticed, except by the smiling faces of
the wounded rs she passed. Wsile
she supervi-ed the cpoking of me1ts
and soups AMI coffee, all nice things
we're nude and distributed bv her.
self. How the men watched for the
desert Of farina and condensed milk,
and those mora severely wounded
for the draughts Of milk punrhs
Often would she makes visits to
the OILERS OF the Christian Comn;s.
sions, snd when delicacies arriyel
her men were am1AG tie nrst 70
taste them Oiauges, lemons. PICK.
les, soft bread AMI butter. and even
apple sauce, were one ot the other
daily dis.ribItal SIel nnwaariei
attention is the more appreciat DIV len
one seas the nlnber OF fem lies who
srbseq realty arrived al the de'ul-
tory ~ dtful labor peifornad.
PlssinE frl ola hospital TO another
ald be'to owing gsietii rIn)athy,
with snll wo "a, /. not wat w)il
del mln wit. II waI very soo1
. .roe Jtible how the IN IN in that ios.
pit Il aJpre .iac9 the sllil worth OF
the ols ail tt, tili.l Of Tn, other.
Tiis in >,rfict reo1yliti1l - bit
a slight t45tim )lill 10 th3 laly'liks
d.portms 1t an th; ulttting l.bo|s
ia b,hali Of sic'l AL w1lllal sol
diers Of Miss II lHclrt.
Ihn... " On. ~ lsil "