Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-16

A CINCINNATIAN GIVES THE TRUE
HISTORY OF MISS DIR. MARY
WALKER.

CINCINNATI, ONO, January q, 1867
Editor of the New York Medical Journal
/ observe in the January number of your
journal page or two devoted to the expe-
riences of Or. Mary Walker in London.
The various newspapers throughout the
country have, for the past year or two, con-
tanned notices OF this person, and a great
degree of confusion has arisen as to her
real merits, her services in the army, and
her position in the medical profession. As
/ have happened, in the way Of official
duty, to learn something from this woman
herself, beg to put your readers in pos.
session of my information.
My first observation of DR.. Mary Walker
was made at Lincoln General Hospital,
Washington, TO which she came in some
pretended inspectorialcapacity, armed with
pass from Secretary Stanton. The par
ticular function intrusted TO Mary Walker
seemed to be that of spy and informer; at
all events she pretended to have power 10
obtain redress of grievances, and industri-
ously set about hearing and contriying
them. At this period she was dressed in
that hybrid costume which has since be.
come 80 notorious.
Ny next encounter with Miss Walker
was at Chattanooga She was sent ont by
the War Department, through Acting Sur,
geon General Barnes, TO Assistant Surgeon
General Wood, at Louisville. DIR. Wood,
it ia 10 be presumed, under instructions
from Washington, sent her forward with or
dersto reportto Surgeon Perrin, Medical Dir
rector ofthe Army ofthe Cumberland. She
presented herself TO DIR. Perrin, and de-
manded employment as a medical officer
lie was not little surprised at the apparia
ton, and may add l trust without
damaging his reputation with the powers
that he, indignant that the lives of sick
and wounded soldiers should be intrusted
to snch a medical monstrosity. Before as
signing her 10 duty, which he resolved 90
do, he ordered a medical board 10 examine
into her qualifications, as a justification for
his decision. | was a member Of that
board Or. Walker presented herself for
examination with a little feminine tremor
and confusion, and before settling down to
the graver business Of the medical examin-
alton, tried to propiiiate us and secure
favorable report, So that We might take it
for granted she possessed the requisite
knowledge.
She betrayed suCh utter ignorance Of
any subject in the whole range OF medical
science, that we found il difficult matter
20 conduct an examination. The Board
unanimously reported that she'had no more
medical knowledge than any ordinary
! housewife; that she was, of course, entirely
unfit for the position of medical officer, and
| that she might he made useful as a nurse in
one Of the hospitals. During the examina-
! ton, we learned various particulars OF her
| history, which / torbear 10 mention. She
| had diploma, she said-we did not see il
/ from a "hydropathic institHtion," at
! Geneva, New York. She had never been,
so far as We could learn. within the walls
of a medical college or hospital for the
| purpose Of obtaining a medical education
The spectacle was ludicrous and sad
| Her pretension, her ignorance, Der sex,
her unprotected situation, all appealed
strongly TO our sympaihies, and We treated
her with the utmost delicacy and consider
alton. How little ground there was for
our feelings OF sympathy viii appear in
the sequel. In a day or two after the ex-
animation she vas assigned TO the hospital
SIS nurse, but had not entered upon her
duties when an order came from depart
ment headquarters ordering her to the eX-
treme 'front.' We learned in a few days
that she was riding about the outpost, and,
when riding alone one day, she ventured
TOO far and was captured and forwarded 10
Richmond, being treated with considerable
rigor, notwithstanding her sex and her
claim to the privilege of a medical of.
fcer
Ii appeared subsequently that this was
The design. She was intended as a spy
and went forward to be captured. Ii va,
supposed that her sex and profession woulC
procure her greater liberties and wider op'
portunities for observation than were at al
possible TO other prisoners The medica
staff Of the army was made the blind fol
this profound piece Of strategy By the Wal