The National tribune., 1883-08-02

dSalIiSU the SOluler-tnlS ailegatl0n that ne Is
attempting to swindle the Government in APP
plying for a pension-but the ignorance of the
public as to his true character? Is it not worth
while to disabuse the public mind of this false
impression, and how can it more effectually be
done than by bringing civilians into personal
contact with our veterans? 1t seems to us,
indeed, that the very thing Mrs. Barnes is so
anxious to guard against is just what the well
fare of the Grand Army requires
THOSE UNMARKED NURSES GRAVES
In recent number of THE TRIBUNE, it viii
be remembered, we printed letter from a COM
rade of the Grand Army Post at .Silverton,
Greg, requesting US to furnish the names of
the nurses whose graves are unmarked in the
National Cemetery at Shiloh, and stating that
the Post proposed to defray the cost of erecting
suitable headstones. We accordingly wrote to
Comrade L. Cotton, Purdy, Tenn, for the de-
sired information, and have now the pleasure
of publishing his reply:
PURDY, Tenn, July 90
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In accordance with your request, have made
the best effort in my power 10 ascertain the names
OF the women who are buried in the Shiloh Ma
uonal Cemetery at fttsburg Landing but regret
to add that have not been successful as could
wish. notwithstanding the very kind and faithful
assistance OF Captain L. s. Doolttle, Superintend-
ent OF the National Cemetery, whose researches
have been thorough and exhaustive We first
examined all the record books, going back to the
original held-noteS of Messrs. Abbot and Fills,
quartermasters' agents in diSinterring the dead.
we found 1t necessary to make thorough and
laborious search through the cemetery, on account
of the discrepancy existing between the old and
new enumeration of graves As the result of cur
efforts we We're enabled to identify and locate the
graves of four women described on the mortuary
records, as follows viz:
]. Mary Owens, wife of Henry Owens, taken up
invieinity of battlefield and renterred in National
Cemetery in section b. lot j, grave H.
=. Amelia l.. PinkcrfOn, laundresS of the Fifty
third Illinois volunteer infa iry. Died April 10,
1862; bnried in National cet4 etery, section NJ,
grave
8. 4. F., the rei..4 "a o A woman found
buried with the Seventeenth Wisconsin volunteer
infantry Buried ia National Cemetery, in section
a lot 4, grave 3d.
a. E2li-5., (afterward written Elizabeth j. a woman
from Wisconsin,, found buried with the Fourteenth
54e.
Two of these four graves are each of them
marked by a square marble block, numbered, but
without name-the same es the 2,36l unknown
soldiers. The remaining two graves are without
stone or tablet of any sort.
This is a very mcager and unsatisfactory report,
but 1T is the best can make at present ! have
conversed with neghbors and old citizens residing
on the battlefield, but obtain no satisfactory
Information respecting these four women, their
history, ana the circumstances of their deaths.
These who could probably have given some par
ticuars have either died removed from this
part OF the country IL the mystery Is solved,
1t must be by surviving veterans of Shiloh. Will
some of the comrades of the Fifty third Illinois
Wisconsin give us the desired information through
the columns of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE?
II. CoTToE.
Late Chaplain, 129th Ill. Vol. Inf.
As it does not appear to be known whether
these women were actually nurses, it may be
we'll for our Oregon comrades to suspend action
until 1t IS seen whether any of our veterans
can furnish a clew to their identity
TRIBUTE TO AN ARMY NURSE.
We print the following with pleasure, and
hope it viii prompt others to give their testi-
mony:
ALBERT LEA. HIISS, July Il, 1888.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRI8uNE:
very glad to read Commander-in- Chief
Van Dervoorts letter III last weeks TRIBUNE rela-
tive TO Mother Bicker,iyle not because it was my
privilege to have seen and known her, but because
have often heard private soldiers sing her praises,
ana because 1T brought to my mind other lady
nurses whom did know and who are in every
way worthy the most earnest consideration and
honor of every member of the Grand Army of the
Republic. 1t was my good fortune while lying
in the hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn, in the
spring OF 1863 to fell into the inistering hands of
Miss Hall, Miss Dada, and another lady, whose
name | cannot recall all fronn the State OF New
York and shall ever remember with warm graft
tude the constant attendance and kind care they
bestowed upon the suffering soldiers OF the Union
army. From early III the they had conse-
Grated their time, strength and labor to this sacred
cause, abandoning for years the comforts OF home
and pleasures of society in which they We're well
fitted 10 shine by virtue of their station and accom-
plshments, and followed and shared the fortunes
OF the army in the tent. field and hospital sootl-
ing and encouraging the wounded and sick bath
ing their wounds, smoothing and softening the Oft
times horrors of hospital life, keeping vigant
LOOKOUT Tor the ignorance and mistakes of army
surgeons, and prompting and correcting careless
attendants. | know that thousands OF the readers
of TIE TRIBUNE remember and bless these ladies
for what they have done for them and for Others
and believe no soldier, however brave, true con-
slant, and yigiant he might have been, is more
worthy OF Nations gratitude than they. / know
not whether they living dead, but living
the Grand Army of the Republic owes it a duty to
itself to extend to them an honorable reeognition
OF their sacrifices and Invaluable services and dead
TO honor and perpetuate their memories. trust,
however, that they still living to enjoy the
fruits of their sterling loyalty bravery and patri-
otiSnl. Should any of comrades whose eyes
light upon these lines chance to know these ladies
II they will send me their respective addresses, l
each copy OF THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, for
year, at least.
Yours, truly, F.W. DRAKE.
ALL ALONG THE LINE
Mrs Seth z. Rice, secretary of the Woman's
Auxiliary at Homersville N " writes US that
her society fayors exclusive membership and
secret work, and is conducted on that basis.
Matilda A. Lawton, Treasurer Department of
Massachusetts Woman's Relief Corps, writes us
that she is delighted with THE TRIBUNE
and wishes every man in the Grand Army could
see it.
The loyal women of Brunswick, N. J., have
lent material aid to the G. A. r. in their vari-
Gus charity entertainments, but have no repre-
sentative organization. They favor a society
admitting all loyal women.
Mrs. Emma McCammon, of Woman's Auxili-
airy of Robert McCook Post, Carthage o., sends
81 favorable account of the work of that society,
one of the first to organize in the Buckeye
State This society was ably represented at
Denver by Mrs. Col. c. A. Sautmeyer.
The ladies of Minneapolis haye for some time
assisted the G. A. r. in their charity work, but
have had no organization. A number attended
the Denver meeting for the express purpose of
learning all they could of the working of other
societies, with view of organizing upon their
return.
There is Womans Auxiliary in good work
ing order at Portsmouth, o., which is a contin-
uation of the Aid Society established during
the war. The society never diShanded, but has
preserved its organization intact, and, as there
is q large old soldier element employed in the |
mills there, the society has done much good
particularly in the terrible hard times of some |
years since.
Postmaster General Gresham has shown him. |
self possessed of an old soldiers heart in the |
appointment to his Department. of Miss Van |
Lew, of Richmond, Va. whose services in be- |
half of the soldiers of Libby Prison entities her
to the everlasting gratitude of her country. |
Lou Rnn s,rf ~,