The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-05-21

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but it was clearly understood, frol
the beginning to the end of the seces
sion movements, that he had n
sympathy with it, and that he sui
mitted to the rule of the revolution
lists only on compulsion. His VIII
and children were as decided in thei
LOYALTY as the husband and father
Mrs. Potter, availing herself of he
foreign birth, sought British protec
tion. and avowed herself, for the SAX
of retaining greater liberty, subiec
of Queen Victoria.
In the autumn Of 1861 few sicl
and wounded Union soldiers reache,
Charleston. Mrs. Potter at one,
sought them out and ministerel t,
their necessities, and was gratife,
to be the means of their restoration
to health. Early in June, 1862, oc
Cured the disastrous and ill con
Quoted battle OF james Island, il
which the Union forces lost nor
thar four hundred prisoners, tn
greater part of them wounded
!. These were brought into Charleston
and there exposed to much cruelty
and indignity. The poor fellow
were stripped of their clothing, many
Of them being left entirely nude, and
Exposed with their gaping and un
dressed wounds to the torture of the
numberless insects of that semi trop
ical climate the only hospital vOuch
safed to them was a filthy negro mart
and the negro kitchen adjacent; and
they were thrown upon the ground
without beds, straw, blankets, or any
covering 10 suffer, groan and die
scanty, filthy and loathsome food
and drink were furnished them the
most degraded wretches of the city
assigned as nurses, and the brutality
with which they were treated was
almost incredible. The surgeon in
charge avowed many times a day his
wish that they were all dead, and his
determination to finish them as soon
as possible, and his assistant and
nurses but echoed the sentiment.
1t was into this den OF misery, that
Mrs. Potter resolved to penetrate,
in the hope Of being able to do some
thing for the relief of the poor fel
lows who had 80 gallantly, yet unhap-
lpiIy for themselves, fought tor their
country and their flag. She encoun-
tered the most strenuous opposition,
both from the military authorities
and the surgeon was at first posi-
lively forbidden to go to the hospital,
but by the exercise of a woman's
skillful diplomacy, by promises of
assistance and bribes, she was at last
enabled to enter the sO-called hos
pitsl. She had provided herself with
such cordials, clothing, and other
appliances as she could bring on q
first visit aud accompanied by her
eldest son, boy OF fifteen, she enter
ed the placs. Such scene of
wretchedness she had never before
witnessed. After ministeriDg to the
poor fellows so far as she was allow
ed, she applied to the surgeon to be
appointed nurse in this hospital -
He at first refused, saying, truly
enough, that it was not fig place for
a lady; but finally, on her assuring
him that she would require no wages
and rations, he consented, though
still protesting that the place was not
fit one for her. She entered upon
her duties, but was constantly thwart
ed and harassed by the low creatures
who had been employed as nurses.
They utterly refused TO wash any
c,athing for the wounded men and
as.cr she had supplied them with
beds, bedding, and clothing, she
found that in order to retain these
for them, she must hire them washed
herself.
She expended over eleven hundred
dollars in this work, and in spite of
all obstacles finally succeeded in
making this place more cleanly
and better arranged hospital than
any in Charleston. No Union sol
dier was suffered to want for any
thing which Mrs. Potter could OBJ
tain, let the cost be what it might
She procured for them tropical fruits,
even when oranges cost ten dollars
each in Confederate money, and
finally sent her orders to Nassau,
New Providence, accompanied by
the gold, running the blockade, to
procure oranges, lemons and lines
for her soldiers. Her bedding, the
the accumulation of years of the lib
sral housekeeping Of the South, was
drawn upon, till it, as well as the
contributions of few friends, was
exhausted. Cotton and linen were
purchased in quantities, and made
up by her own hands, and those OF
her servants, for the wounded pris-
eners. Those Union soldiers who
we're fortunate enough to escape
from the prisons of Charleston, were
aided and sheltered at her home; and
one poor fellow for twenty two
months was one of her wards ere he
could make good his escape.
Before the wounded prisoners from
James Island could get away or be
exchanged, a fresh influx came from
the bsttle-fields and engagements,
and with brief intervals of sickness,
or the overwhelming grief OF the loss
of children, she maintained her noble
work till the surrender of Charleston,
in March, 1865. In this glorious and
irving labor she expended of her own
means about twenty Thousand dol
lars in money, besides the liberal
contributions from the few loyal cit
izens, and quantities of family and
household stores of her own. Her
husband, who was indefatigable in
his labors for the Union soldiers, IN
supplying them with money, in ar
ranging for their exchange, and in
visiting them at the other points
where they were confined, and in
bribing Confederate officers to show
them kindness, disbursed more than
twice this amount, and periled his
life more than once. But the sacri-
flee of money and of time was of lit
tie account (though Mr.. Potter's
large fortune melted away under the
destructive attacks of Rebel and
Union Armies) compared with the
constant persecution to which they
were both subjected From the first
outbreak of hostilities they were
almost wholly isolated, the numerous
professed friends OF hrs. Potter
stunning her on account of her Un-