Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-09
A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF NURSES

n ~ OE
The beginning of the war found its
greatest general selling leather at Galena,
and its greatest nurse taking in wash
ing" at Galesburg. For if General
GRAFT was the former, Mother Bicker
dyke" was certainly the latter. The poor
widow who had earned an honest living
for her children at the wash-tub, woke up
to new life when nurses were called for
after the first battles in the Mississippi
Valley, and her motherly face beneath the
inevitable shaker is gratefully remembered
BY thousands of soldiers, all over the
country. From some very interest
ing sketches of her army work which Mrs.
LivermOro has been publishing in the
Agitator we make these liberal but some
what disconnected extracts:
After she became an agent of the San
itary Commission, it endeavored to keep
her supplied with what she needed. But
emergencies were constantly arising
which she could not foresee, and for
which it could not provide. which would
throw her on her resources, and these
never failed her. Sometimes, when op
portunities of purchasing hospital stores
came in her way, she would buy largely
and send the bills up TO the Commission,
with her endorsement. And again, at
other times of great need, she would Dor
row money, expend it for the boys" in
her charge, and then sending up vouch-
ers and notes, would leave the affair TO
be settled. The gentlemen of the Com
mission. while they had no doubt that
the good woman had made legitimate
use of the money and the articles pur-
chased with it. yet objected to the un-
business like character Of such transac-
tons.
With the medical authorities she was
for a long time at loggerheads. The
Medical Director at Memphis WAS young
man, belonging to the regular army,
able, industrious skillful and punctilious
He wished Mrs. Bickerdyke to revolve in
an orbit of his marking QUITO always
recognize him as the head, and never tc
90 beyond him or outside him for any
assistance or authority. Moreover, he
was a Catholic, and gave the preference
to "Sisters of Mercy" as nurses, and
was not backward in making public ex-
preston of his preference. He did not
approve of Mrs. Bickerdyke's laundry,
chiefly, it seemed, because he had not
suggested it. He did not approve of hel
"contraband" help-nor of her possess
ing go much power-nor, if the truth
must be told, of Mother Bickerdyke her
self. He could not see the superiority
of woman who worked with her owl
hands, who held no social position, who
defiled the Queens English as she dit
his red tape, who was loud and fierce il
her scorn of the Catholic church, who
did what she wished, when aud as she
wished, without consulting him, the He'd
ical Director.
Very little Mrs. Bickerdyke cared fol
what, he said or thought if be did no
,neddle with her. He inspected her hos
pital regularly, and never found fault
with it, for it was impossible to discover
defects in its perfect management
Once, in passing through a ward he es
pied some half dozen eggs under sick
mans pillow. The man was recovering
from fever and had great craving fol
food that could not be allowed him il
his weak condition. He especially wish
ed for boiled eggs, and as the poor fell
fow was very babyish, Mrs. Bickerdykt
had petted him in her motherly way
ssnd put half dozen hard boiled egg,
under bis pillow, telling him be should
have them to eat when be WAS wei
enough. 1t seemed to do him vast
deal of good to fondle the eggs with bis
hands. / have seen men in hospitals
with half dozen potatoes under Their
pillows in the same way.
But the Medical Director spied the
eggs, and ordered them taken to the
kitchen, declaring be would have nc
hens nests under the pillows" The sick
man was just weak enough TO cry miser
ably, and the nurse in charge went to
Mother Bickerdyke with the story. II
any unnecessary offense came to her
boys" woe to him through whom il
camel She would have "shown fight
20 Secretary Stanton himself if he had
been the offender. Catching up large
pail filed with eggs. she strobe into tie
ward. her blue eyes blazing, her cheeks
glowing. Dr., will you tell