The National tribune., 1882-03-25
Woman in the War.

From time immemorial woman has shared
with man the sorrow, the pain, the priva-
tions, and sometimes even the perils OF war.
Her loving hands have miniStered to the
sick and wounded and closed with gentle
touch the eyelids of the dying. In the camp,
IN the hospital, on the field, in prison, her
sweet presence has been felt and the inspira-
ton of her example buoyed up the hopes of
the Respondent. The name of Florence
Nightingale will live as long in the memory
of the British soldier as that of the Duke of
Wellington.
Nowhere in classic or modern history.
however can there be found d parallel for fbe
heroism of American women in the war of
the rebellion. 1t is true that no monument
in bronze or granite or marble has ever been
raised to commemorate their devotion to the
Union, but the fame of their services will
not on that account be the less enduring.
Their gentle fingers picked the lint and
fashioned the bandages for the wounded and
prepared the great boxes of clothing and
delicacies for the camp. Their gentle voices
heard above the roar of the battle, spoke
sweet words of sympathy and consolation to
the sick and dying; their gentle eyes shed
the consecrating tear of pity over the un-
known dead and the nameless grave. Some
there were who were not content with these
loving ministrations, and Disgusting their sex
in the garb of the soldier performed such
feats of courage and daring as to excite the
wonder of their comrades Their names. in
everybody's mouth at the close of the war.
have already been forgotten, but their
achievements are still recalled as consti-
tuting the most romantic phase of that
sanguinary struggle.
But it was not at the front only that tbe
women of the war won for themselves a
fame immortal. Upon them fell the burden.
IN too many cases, of supporting the family
which the cOuntry's necessities had deprived
of natural head and protector. While our
armies were contending with treason in the
field the women of the country were strug-
Cling with poverty at home, yet in spite of
the trials of that memorable period no word
of complaint escaped their lips. 1t is to
their eternal honor that while disaffection
sometimes manifested itself in the ranks and
even the most intrepid leaders had their
moments of despair, the women of the Re-
public never faltered in their faith nor
wavered in their courage. No words can
adequately describe that long martyrdom
when they knew not at what moment the
news might come of the loss of husband, or
son, or lover, or brother. At this distance
it seems impossible that they should have
survived it; yet nothing is more certain
than that it was their devotion which in
spired the valOr of the soldier and their
calm, unqTestiOning faith which sustained his
courage. But for the women of the country
the war might have had different outcome.
1t was their bravery and selfsacrifce which
constituted, after all, the real bulwark of
the Republics safety, and the historian will
be false to his trust who shall fail to so
record it. Let us cherish, then, their ex-
ample as one that when fresh dangers
threaten the existence of the Government
will be not less inspiring than that which
the soldier himself has bequeathed to the
Nation. As the poet says, The bravest are