The Worthington advance., 1882-08-31

or minister in some way to the physical
needs of some wounded man. Our hos
pitals, though much increased since the
battle Of Manassas (the summer of 1861,
were still wholly insufficient. In this
dilemma the private houses left tenant
less by the frightened occupants during
the spring panic were pressed into SER
vice; but so urgent was the need and 50
scaaty the government facilities for fur
nishing them that in many instances the
sick and wounded were brought in and
laid upon the floors Of the vacant dwell
lngs with the shelter of a roof alone,
while AS yet they had neither bed nor
pillow, food nor surgeon, nurse, cook,
nor anything but the bare boards, to re-
ceive the aching limbs or revive the
weary sufferers. No sooner were houses
thus occupied than in an incredibly
short space Of time they were provided
with. first essentials of hospital by pri-
vate contributions. However scarce and
high provisions might I've refreshments
would be cooked and sent; beds, pillows
and blankets would then be loaned lor
given when poss;blel until supplies
could be obtained from the Quarter-mas-
ter. Surgeons, whether military or not,
lent their aid and ladies' were always at
hand as nurses with their well-trained
servants to lend a helping hand.
Thus sped the summer of 1862 In Rich
ing emotions which it is impossible to de-
pict and which nothing but a state Of un-
natural excitement could have made q
possibility. We would nurse our sick in
the morning or bury the dead, if need
he, vet make merry with the well
ones ut night, if required, and feel that
both are duties to the cause. | remem-
Der walking up Grace street in the after
noon Of the opening day of the seven
days battles around Richmond. Gener-
al Lees reserve was under arms and oc-
cupied Grace street solidly from St. Paul's
church far beyond First street, a distance
Of over half a mile. All day long there
had been heavy fighting on the Mechan
icsville road, the guns were still sound
ing and puffs Of smoke from bursting
shell and cannon were plainly visible
when looking north; and yet, notwith-
standing the nearness of the battle, every
house on Grace street was thrown open;
laughter and mirth rang out from every
doorway and portico; servants and
ladies' were darting about handing coffee
and bread to the soldiers and in many
Of the houses the waiting troops were
being entertained with music and dane
ing. The scene, which doubtless hum
dreds will recall, far more rescmbled q
holiday parade than the advance Of
troops to battle and the actual presence
of fierce war, SO sure were We all that
we were winning the day. With night
fall came fresh relays Of wounded, and
mirth was hushed in the presence Of
death and carnage. Again on the morn,
ing Of the 9th was heard the dreadful
music Of the guns; but in the supreme
hour of our peril the talismanic words
were heard: jackson is in the rear!.'
and every heart grew strong. Through
out the 18th and 10Th the bloody carni-
val continued, and again, after Sunday
rors Of Fraegr's farm, and fight whicl,
rivaled in the horror of its blood-she<i
any battle of the campaign. Our force y
were growing weary with their long ell
dnrance. We feltj We conld not last
much longer. The utmost anxiety pre-
vailed when the news came: 1.-THE en-
emv are retreating." The booming Of
the cannon grew fainter on the air, Lut
the issue, we learned, was not yet set
tied and the suspense was still terrible
until July !, when, after terrific battle.
Mcclellan, under cover of his gunboats,
effected his n,astcrly retreat. Once
more our capital was saved. But oh, ut
what q cost!
Richmond herself suffered more Sc
verely in killed and wounded in that
campaign than ut any other period of
the war; 80 much 50 that it would be i'm
possible even to mention here the most
prominent among the many who fell in
those terrible battles. l remember that
in nv own immediate neighborhood,
within q radius of four blocks, Grape
tioated one morning from fourteen diff
ferent door bells. There was scarcely a
family that mourncd not some near
grief. 50 we went all day from house ia
house Of mourning, with hearts too par
alvzed to measure their SORROWS; duties
to the living too pressing to admit q
pause for reflection, and yet, in the
midst of all, giving thanks and mingline
III Il single cup our gratitude and ou'
.griefs.
But let me turn from this horrible
picture. The picture of July, 1862, when
simply to be in Richmond was to live il
q hospital and to breathe the atmosphere
of charnel house. In August, 1867, oul
fleet footed congress returned. They
were numerically twitted, of course, es
pecially by the ladies', for their expedi
tious legislation in the matter Of self
preservation. This they endured with
ali the equanimity Of recovered safety
and forthwith proceeded in that mem
| orable cQ6e Of legislation which WIS *
vitality edectual in developing our finan
ciaa voc. Resolution after resoluitO1
was poaed 10 increasing the circulation
of the currency that the paper issued By
| the confederate treasury underwent .
depreciation 30 rapid as to become al