The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-01-18
WOMAN IN THE WAR.
Some Interesting "Reminiscences OF an American
Florence Nightingale.


of the fact that Chase Post No. 90 of Titusville,
Pa. held n very successful Campfire on the 2Sth
ult., and that among its features was the read
ing Of some interesting "reminiscences of the
wax by DR.. J. L. Dunn. The subject of tho
doctors paper was the influence OF the women
of our country during that trying period; and
IS that is 4 topic which, il the Judgment of the
+ TRIBUNE, cannot be too frequently discussed,
we reproduce his remarks below. Said he:
." In select = a subject for a TeminisCenCe Of
the late war, / could ind no filter one than the
influence Of the women of our country during
that trying conflict The history Of all the
wars Of the past have presented but few in
stances where woman has broken through the
COuveutiOnalitie5 Of her sex and taken her
stand either in the wars OF conquest or in
patriotic defense Of country. Occasionally q
woman would appear on the STAGE of action who
would perform some noble act that would send
her name down to historical fame-like the
Maid OF Sarragosa and Florence Nightingale.
/ These few exceptional cases have been all that
past wars have given Us. Ear differently has
been the case in our late struggle for nationality.
+ During this struggle hundreds of women from
I the various walks of life have identified them
selves with the cause OF their country and made
. for themselves a nGmo and fame that will
/ endure through all time
/ DR.. Dunn thenread the following letter, which
he had written to his wife, and which gives the
noble work OF one woman especially:
HtRPER's FERRY, Va Oct. Is. 1852.
= > = s" We at this time trying an expert
rncnt in our hospital at Smozctowu; that IS we are
keeping our bad eases in tents instead of sending
them away to distant hospitals. IN this way much
suffering Is avoided and their chances for recovery
much better, especially Gs the weather has been
nIeazant since the iaf+io I think fba chances are
onc-haf in favor of the wounded treated in field
hospital, but with all the and attention possible
many die every day. The Sanitary Commission,
together with three or four noble, sef-SacritCing
women have done everything possible IN the way
of supplying those little neccssares important in
the nursing Of the wounded and sick; in fact they
nave furnished almost every luxury that could be
obtained at home. There Is quite a little history
connected with the timely services rendered to our
division by one OF these women, and they are
strangely strung together during the incidents Of
the past few months that it may interest YOU I
viii give you the facts as they have come under my
notice and into my experience ] refer to lady by
the name of Clara Barton, the daughter of Judge
Barton, Of Worcester, Mass first met her at ths
battle of Cedar Mountain, near Cupeper, Va, on
the gin OF August last, when she made her appear
/ at our hospital. which had established al
the residence OF Thomas NOlle, and which as
the time lying between the cQntendIng lines The
house and grounds were full of wounded, and We
found ourselves short OF dressings and medical and
surgical supplies. At L ocloclz at night, while the
shells tearing through the trees IN the lawn this
woman drove up 10 Our hospital with team loaded
with supplies and furnished us with everything
required; then took her course towards another
hospital on our right, which she also furnished with
ali necessary supplies. After doing everything she
she remained distributing shirts and drawers to the
naked wounded, for the enemy had stripped the
u.
days IN the broiiing August sun before they weTe
brought in under flag Of truce.
While in Culpeper she busted herself in prepar-
ing soup and such food as the wounded required,
and seeing that it was done in all the hospitals.
thought that night that if heaven ever sent out a
hOmcy angel that she must be the One-the angel Of
the batte-tield-hers services were so timely. After
wounded Were removed back to Alexandria
and Washington we began our retreat up the Rap
pahannOck and thought no more OfoUr lady friend
only that she had returned to Washington. Wear
rived on the disastrous battlefield OF Bull Run badly
supplied with medical stores, Jackson having cut
OF our wagon trains and destroyed them, the rail-
road bridges destroyed, preventing them reaching
US IN that way, consequently we went INTO the hghs
short of almost every necessary supply. While ths
battle raging the ercest on Friday the 3Oth, who
shoulddrivc up 10 our hospital but this woman
with a sIX-nuie team loaded down with hospital
supplies, having made q forced march from Wash
inGtOn to the battlefield. She was again a well
coined visitor to both the wounded and the sur
geous. The battle over, the wounded removed to
the rear we We're ordered to Fairfax Station, the
place where the wounded were to be shipped on
cars to Washington We had barely reached there
before the battle of Chantilly commenced. When
we reached Fairfax ali the supplies that we had OF
any kind were our surgical instruments. Tbs
wounded began to come IN thick and fast whenth
whstied up to the station and the first person
seen on the platform was Miss Barton who again
supplied Us With bandagesr INT stlnulants, soup,
ieilCs and clothing, and everything needed for the
wounded. She remained until the last # the
wounded We're placed on the cars, then bidding
good by returned 10 Washington. l wrote TO you as
the time OF our uight-marCh from Fairfax to Alex
anGria In dav or two our whole army was again
back behind the fOrtfcations at Washington and
Alexandria. Yet our soldiers had no time TO rest;
they at once ordered into Maryland to inter-
Cept the invasion of that state by the enemy. After
several days Of hard marching we reached treder-
lex City, Nd. The next day the battle of South
Mountain was fought, and two days after that our
army stood EIce TO lice Wlt the ehILFe reDei army
The rattle Of 10000 muskets and the roar Of over
four hundred cannon will make the 18th OF Septem-
ber 1852 memorable event IN the Nation ) history,
for at the break of day found ourselves engaged
iii the great battle of Autetam. Ny hospital was
in 4 farmhouse that we had taken possession Of
T In Ifs Ignr hot fora
the house and barn, as well as the orchard, wers
full Of wounded men. Here gain we were without
proper medical stores not having had time TO have
acquisitions hlled through the red tape process
exacted by the Surgeon General, and by o'clock
q IN. we had expended our last bandage and had
up the sheets and everything in the house that
would do for dressings, when who should drive to
hospital but our old friend, Miss Barton with
her slx-muIe team, loaded with supplies IN aound-
auce, not only for us but for other hospitals,
other timely service. She remained at our hOspi-
tai all that day and night preparing food and drink
for the wounded. When left four days after she
was there uinisterInes to the wounded and dying.
When returned TO the field hospital last week she
was still there at work supplying them with every
dcIjcacy needed and administering TO their wants.
All this she has done out of her own private for
tune. Now, what do you think of Miss Barton?
In my opinion General Mcclellan, with all his
laUrcls fades into InSguIhCanCe beside this noble
woman. While he Is seeking the bauble reputation
even at the cannon mouth, she Is bnding up the
wounds and working in the interest of suffering,
bleeding humanity, and 1t Is no misnomer when L
call her the Angel OF the Battlefield.
Ut. DUNN sara no 0du not seen MISS barton
since the battle of Antistam, but shortly after
the battle she was appointed by Mr.. Lincoln TO
a temporary bureau in connection with the
War Department, having IN charge the looking
up of missing soldiers and care of National
cemeteries, as well as a general supervision Of
the Sanitary Commission. In this position she
remained long after the war closed. In 1865
he received the following letter from her:
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Sept. % 1855.
Dr. DUNN: My old time cherished friend will not
fail to recognize and receive this little token of
membrane from me; l who have kindnesses to
thank him for, and blessing to send him. By all
the memories of the sad scenes we have witnessed
in the past, let be friends in the future and If
Washington lies in your way find me in 1t. send
this by NIrs. Peck, who has passed few days with
me, and l cannot see her depart without this word
of recognition TO you. With grateful memories,
remain, very sincerely, yours,
CLARA BARTON.
DR. Dunn closed with a sketch of the life OF
this noble woman after the war-her humane
work among the wounded in the Prussian army
and at the Paris hospitals and her sickness and
treatment afterWard at Windsor Castle.