The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-08-14
MOTHER :BIcKERDIKE.
A Brief Sketch of One Of the Grand
est Women Of the Var.
by BeJ. Woodward. late Surgeon. ed MI

/ -
The columns of THE TRIBUNE have been so
| filed with valuabIe1remiIiiscence of the late
war that have feltthat nothing could write
| would be of value AS was Surgeon in the
army was so situated asIto preclude my wit
Messing many feats of va1or in the field, but /
| can bear my testimony to the uncomplaining
endurance of our soldiery when in camp or
hospital they suffered from wounds, or what was
worse to fear, wearing sickness or fatal disease
| bearing privation and hardship as no other
| nationality ever did or could bear.
came into constant contact with group of
noble women SO heroic, so saint-like, so devoted
to the poor sufferers as to raise them to the
very pinnacle of womanhood. refer to the
| army nurses as found them in camp and hos
ptal. At home they were too often maligned
and despised, for it is sad truth that in the
first years of the war if woman gave herself
to the Nation as nurse she was looked down
on as one who debased herself, while in the
army
THEY WERE ACCEPTED AS ANGELS OF MERCY.
While might speak of many of these choice
Spirits choose one as my heroine. A woman
rough, uncultivated, even ignorant, but dia-
mond IN the rough. | knew this woman before
the war as well as through it. refer to Mrs.
Bickerdike, known in camp, field or hospital as
MOTHER BIcKERDIKE.
She was a widow before the war; with
family of young children, and so poor that she
supported her family by going out as hired
nurse. Let me describe my heroine: A large,
heavy woman, about 40 years of age, strong as
man, muscles of iron, nerves of finest steel
sensitive, but self-reliant, kind and tender,
seeking ali for others, for herself nothing. Men
of the Army of the Cumberland or ofthe Tennes-
see, you knew her; you remember that old sun
bonnet and the old white mule she rode, and
you remember when she rode into your camp
or as she came into the dreaded field hospital,
how the shouts went up Hurrah for Mother
Bickerdike!"
IN THE FALL OF 1861
| was ordered to the charge of the General
Hospital at Cairo, Ill, a large, three-story
brick building intended for a hotel. The walls
were rough, upholstered, and the third story
had only loose rough boards for a floor.
Gathered into that place we're about 300 sick
men-camp diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever,
and measles. No ice to be had the water just
out of the foul Mississippi River; no nurses but
men from the ranks all unused to the care of
the sick; no changes of underclothes; no con-
venience for bathing no nice cooking for the
sick. In the midst of such suffering and dis
order it was evident that nothing but
THE WARM HEART AND WILLING HAND
of woman could bring order out of such chaos
| went to Maj. Timmons, the Medical Director,
for aid. He was willing TO try woman, but
III.
would not consent; but on laying the matter
before him and showing how imperative was
the necessity, he consented if the right woman
could be found Mrs. Bickerdike was written
for, and as the ladies of Galesburg (which was
her home and mine3 charged themselves with
the care of her children, she came to Cairo,
bringing with her d good supply of hospital
clothing and delicaeies for the sick. At first
the men ridiculed her, but her cheerful tenn
per took no ofense, for she knew she was right;
but
wo TO THE MAN WHO INsULTED HER.
Her first requisition was for bathing tubs;
these were improyisea from half-hogsheads
and barrels She organized the nurses and
saw that all the sick were cleaned, and, as far
as possible, given clean underclothes. A spe-
cial diet-kitchen was established, and great
change for the better was soon seen in the pa
tients. As rule she hated all officers, looking
on them as the natural enemies of the privates.
This. no doubt, she got from her husband, who
had been musician in the Regular Army.
"Them pesky ossifeH as she always called
them, however, soon wv her worth and es-
teemed her, but she srould bear no fooling.
One day
SHE CAUGHT A YOUNG LIEUTENANT,
who had been sick few days but recovered,
with hospital shirt on to which he had no
right, and with a few whitening words she
grabbed him and stripped the shirt over his
head, turning him out Of the room amidst the
laughter of 80 or 30 men.
Is she went with the army to New Madrid,
Island No. 10, Fort Pillow, and up to Corinth,
every man knew her and always hailed her as
Mother Biekerdike and she was a mother to
the men. While in camp at one time sick
Colonel was found too sick to wash himself, SO
she had large tub of hot water provided and
she took him in her arms as if he were baby
and thoroughly bathed him herself, assisted by
soldier. Grant and Sherman highly esteemed
her, and the latter gave her large white mule,
saddle and bride, and as it was not side-sad-
die she had it so altered that she could ride
on it.
HER PERTINACITY
was such that when, in Southern Tennessee,
sanitary goods were needed at the front but no
Quarternaster would give her transportation,
she. in the night, loaded ear and had it pushed
to a train. The Quartermaster, seeing Cen
Sherman, told him what she had done.
"Well," said the General, she ranks me.
You will have to let it go, l guess"
So this woman labored, month by month and
year by year till peace came. She had saved
little money, and friends helped her to go to
Kansas and at Abilene. / think it was, the rail-
road allowed her TO build house as an eating
station, giving her the promise of deed TO the
land. She did well, but deed came.
change III the railroad management turned her
Out. boG even paying hef lof the mouse.
Where she now is is more than / know but
this do know, that she is entitled to as good
pension as is the widow of any General.
This paper is too long now, or / would like to
tell of those
MINIsTERIEG ANGELS,
Mrs. Wittenmyer and Mrs. Hays The latter
took care OF me like a sister when sick in
Camp Big Springs. OF these and many other
well known women who gave time and labor
for the disabled, much might be said. So, too,
of the Sisters of Charity, who worked in hospi-
tails, doing great good. But none of them, so
far as came under my observation, followed the
men to the field. Such work seemed to be left
for the women who came from the homes of
the North. But of all who thus labored.
whether in hospital, garrison or field, believe
the Great Master has set his seal, and in the
day when lives are accounted for, he will say,
Well done, good and faithful servants; what
you did for the least of my friends We did it
unto me- Take your crown of reward"
OLATHE, KAN.
Her Wealthy Lover.