Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-09

Getting such help she "a could muster,
they made bags, which they filled with
dried apples, peaches, pototoes, and any
other sanitary articles that could be sent
in them, as well as in barrels, aud
the ambulances went away filed with
articles for the hospitals. Forty such
left for Huntersville, Ala, thirty for
Bridgeport, and several for other places.
Then Mother Bickcrdyke, dispite all re-
monstranco, took the next train for Chat
tanooga, and made her unexpected debut
at Gen Shermau's headquarters.
" Halloo! Why. how did you get
down here!" asked one Of the Generals
staff officers, as be saw her enter the
house occupied by Sherman.
Came down in the cars, Of COURSE
There's no other way of getting down
here, that know of" replied the matter
of fact woman. want to see Gen.
Sherman"
"Ho's in there writing" pointing 20
au inner room;" but guess he won't
see you"
Guess he wiU" And she pushed
into the apartment. Good morning.
General. want to speak to you mo-
ment. May l come ing"
81 should think you had go' IN" an
swered the General, barely looking up, n
little annoyed. Whats up now!'
"Why, General" now poured in the
earnest matron, in perfect torrent, 1--WE
can't stand this last order Of yours, no.
how. You'll have to change it as sure
as you live. We can get along without
any more curses and agents, but the sup
plies we must have. The sick and
wounded men need them, and you'll have
to give permission to bring them down {.
The fact is, after man is unable to car,
ry gun, and drops out of the iues, you
don't trouble yourself any more about
him, but turn him to us expecting us TO
get him well, and back again into the
service as soon as possible. But how are
we going to make bricks without straw |?
Tell me if you can"
"Well, I'm busy to-day, and can't at
tend to you. I'll see you some other
time" But though Sherman kept on
writing. and did not look up, there was
a smile lurking in the corners of his
mouth. and Mother Bickerdyke saw she
would carry her point. So she persist
ed.
"No, General, don't send me away
till you've fixed this as it ought to be-
You've had me assigned to your Corps,
and expect me to look after the nursing
of such of 'em rs need it. But how can
do it, if I don't have anything to do it
witha Have some sense about it, now,
Generalp
There was a hearty laugh at this, and
little badinage cnsued. which Mother
Bickerdyke ended in her abrupt way,
with "Well, l can't stay here iooling all
day. Now, General, write me an order
that will give me the use Of two cars a
day from Nashville, and III be satisfied"
The order was written, and, for two
weeks, all the sanitary stores that were
sent from Nashville to Chattanooga, and
the posts along that route, wera sent un
der this order of Mother Bickerdyke's.
Mother Bickerdyke is of medium height
with brown hair, blue eyes, and mouth
of sweetness and frmness. When
young, she must have possessed consid-
cradle beauty, for after fifty years incred-
ible wear and tear, she is still n very
comely woman. Always cheerful, never
discouraged, brave, indomitab!e, witty,
shrewd, versatile, clear headed, unique
she only needed early advantages to have
made very remarkable woman. Sym
pathy with the oppressed, the feeble, the
helpless, little children, and all who are
in trouble, is a prominent characteristic
of hers--and woe to him whom she
catches playing the part of oppressor or
tyrant! Mother Bickerdyke belongs to
DR.. Edward Beecher's church in Gales
burg, Ill, but in church matters, as in
war matters, she breaks all red tape form
alities, and goes where she pleases. She
communes now with Methodist. aud
now with Universalist church, 'just as
she happens to light on them," to use
her own pkraseology.
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