The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-20

It had been said that such gloomy pic
lures of soldier life would discourage en-
listments. She said the class of persons
who would be deferred from enlisting by
such descriptions, are such as are not want
ed in the front ranks. They are towards!
How would they look beside the heroes OF
Donelson, Pea Ridge, sorinth, vicksburg
and Chattanooga?
She then described the march Of the 18th
Army Corps, which we give in her own
language:
"Never in the history Of our country. in
Guiding tho heroic deeds Of the Revolution,
was there u more brilliant and successful
campaign than that performed by the 18th
Army Corps when they marched from
Memphis 10 Knoxville TO relieve Burn
sides
Travelling on foot nearly two hundred
miles, scanlily clad, poorly fed, they bur
red forward through the marshes, over
the mountains, helping themselves up
with their bayonets, to relieve the little
garrison that were holding the rebel hordes
in check. Their great brave hearts rose
above the circumstances, and meeting the
olcmies Of Liberty with determined hero
ism, they vanquished and sent them flying
southwark. But not till many . noble
heart was pierced, and many n loved bro
ther and son had crimsoned the earth with
their !ife's blood. And then came the long,
long, weary march backward in midwin-
ter. Hundreds of the men were without
blankets, overcoats or shoes. Ragged,
taretooted and ill-ied, they returned to
Bridgeport, marking the long and rugged
way with the blood OF their naked bleed
ing feet, and be it written in letters of
purest gold, trey aeper mnrrss.rcd OF }diter-
| ed"
They were not discouraged by the reali-
ty Of d soldiers life. Will u bare recital Of
their hardships discourage others from en-
listings These things do not discourage
a soldier, else the veterans would not re-
enlist; neither will they discourage any
one who has the material in him to make Il
soldier Of
| Still this kind of life fills our Hospitals.
Their exposure to all kinds Of hardship,
and to all kinds Of disease gradually en-
crOaches upon their constitutions, and they
4 finally succumb to the diseases of the
camp.
She detailed her experience. beginning
one year ago when Sherman made his ad-
vance upon VickSburg. She met the army
! on its retreat, with sanitary stores, and
had never seen it in so bad condition. 1t
was disheartened. The scurvy prevailed,
together with the small pox and measles,
and all other camp diseases. When the
expedition went to Arkansas Post, 200 of
the worst of the wounded were transferred
to the steamer City Of Memphis, and sent
up to Cairo. She accompanied them, and
never before or since had she seen such a
concentration Of suffering. Forty Of the
wounded died on the passage. DR.. Raw
son was on board and rendered most valu-
able services, and could testify to the truth
of her assertions. Such heart rending
scene; such calling for wives, mothers and
sisters, she wished never to witness again.
She detailed many personal incidents con-
nected with the trip. She had with her on
| that occasion, and on that boat, large lot
tomatoes prepared by the ladies Ct Des
Moines. The poor men who had had othng
but army rations for a long time, derived
| great benefit from the same, and from 9TH
er sanitary stores ia her possession.
She then traced the army to Young's
Point where it was Quartered in the mud,
aud where large lot of stores arrived 10
lis great relief. Thence the army went to
Grand Gulf. Then followed the bloody
| charge Of the I'D, and the siege Of Vicks-
burg. She was present at that siege, and
| was there or the 4th Of July when the Ma
tonal Flag was swung to the breeze over
the walls Of the fallen city. That was a
proud day for our soldiers. Never before
was our natal day celebrated with so much
enthusiasm. But it never will be written in
any boOk-the hardspips, the privations,
the sufferings, patiently endured during
that siege.
When General Steele left suddenly for
Little Rock, he left nearly 5000 sick at
Helena with no accom- odations They were
on the pavements and in the streets and a
swarm of flies surrounded them. She
reached there a short time after and found
them in a Wretched condition. Having few
stores with her and finding it impossible
to make the poor sufferers comfortable
in that sickly place, she Joined her entrea-
ties to the request OF the Surgeon to have
them removed, and went to Memphis to
urge the necessity Of the step. The order
was finally issued for their removal and
she returned with glad heart.
She had now just returned from Chatta-
nooga. Was there on New Years day. 1t
was very cold, and there was much suffer-
ing. The army there, SO far as supplies are
concerned. is in deplorahle condition; bat
so far as relates to spirit and fighting capa-
city, it could not be beat. The soldiers look
up proudly at Lookout Mountain and Mis-
sion Ridge. The army there and at Knox
vile, at the time she left was on little more
not at fault 1t had not the means Of trans
portation. 1t was building railroads and
doing all in its power To obviat0 the diff
Guilty. The railroads will soon be con,plet-
ed; but in the meantime there will be great
suffering and privation. Supplies cannot
reach the army in large quantities. >
The said Sanitary Commissions were do
ing 80 large business that they could not
always give the necessary attention to de-
tails. Some OF the goods may fail To reach
their destination. In doing SO large bust
ness this is unavoidable.
There is class Of patients in the hospi-
ta!s OF the South who are not now reached.
1t is those who are too much reduced to rel
ish food. She had proposed = plan which
would meet the wants OF these, and the
Christian Commission was adopting it,
The plan was to establish special diet hitoh-
ems, where deiicacies can be properly pre-
pared and economical. The Christian Com
mission had authorized her TO draw largely
on them for funds to carry out the object
proposed.
She speaker concluded with an earnest
appeal for the Orphan Asylum, which she
has much at heart, and asked the Legisla-
tors present il the modest request for an
appropriation of $4,000 would be refused.
1t was the intention to give every body an
opportunity to contribute TO this noble en-
terprise. The patriotic citizens Of Iowawill
make this fitting monument u the men,
Dry OF our fallen soldiers.
The address was listened to throughout
with marked attenNon and frequently in
Il