The National tribune., 1884-02-14
UINISTERING ANGELS.
The Touching "reminiscences of a
Devoted Army Nurse.
lBylfs. Harrfct Dada Eaeas. " D., Syracuse, N VI

Alexandria A TuIaOr went out that . no women I
or niggers were to be employed in it. Every
thing needed WAS to be furnished aud the sick {
soldiers were to be left TO the care Of men de- /
tailed from the regiment. However. on epeH-
ing the hospital ladies' were admitted as aurses |
1t is well known that fem the first there was
opposition to having female nurses in the hos /
pitais. Surgeon General Finley WAS always
opposed TO them, and many others under him
felt the same. This subjected Us to more OF
less annoyance. One of the surgeons in this
new hospital said to one of the ladies': ~ lady
ceases to be lady when she beeames a nurse
Such unpleasant expressions fell with but little
weight upon our ears; for We knew that our
days and nights of care, watching and anxiety
over the sick and wounded were appreciated By
thousands of their friends at home. The many
letters we received from the friends of those
for whom we cared, so full of thanks, more
than compensated for the unkind words and
sneers.
A p1ABoLIcAL PLOT.
During the month Of January, 1852, the Con-
federates formed plot 70 blow up Mansion
House hospital. The powder was laid to
connect in the cellar, but discovered in time TO
prevent the consummation OF the diabolical
plan. Alexandria was full of rebel citizens at
that time
On the 9Th of March a new hospital was
opened IN Wolf street, consisting of two elegant
pflN0le ICS4uCICES, SUFIOHi4Gtt1 Win HlCc FditfS
One had eghty-two and the other sixty-One
beds. Miss Hall was assigned to one building
and to the other. They were both filed with
those having the measles, mostly from the 9th
Michigan.
On the Goth of this month received a tele-
gram from my brother, which read Father
is not expected to live. Come home" Per
mission was given me, and soon arrangements
We're made, and was on ny way North. Be
fore reaching home my father had fallen
asleep, and / found nothing but the Hfeiess
form of him who had always welcomed me with
a fathers love- But there was great comfort in
the knowledge that he had passed away in his
own quiet home, where loving hands had min
istered to his wants.
l had been home but one week, when news
came that a battle had been fought at VIM
chester Va. / started back at once to the scene.
On reaching Washington / learned arrange
ments had been made for Miss Hall aud my
self to go to Winchester Va. ! only had time
to go to Alexandria and call ON my old friends
at Wolf-street hospital. l found al Improving,
but not well pleased at our leaving; yet con-
senting, SIS they knew the wounded needed
our care.
From Washington we took cars for Harper's
Ferry. Stopping at Sandy Hook. on the Mary
| land side OF the river, we waited three hours
for the train to make up for Winchester
| On attempting to get our trunks on board, We
i to 60 as the Government had taken the ears
to transport stores, &c, and only one car Of SOL
/ diers would be sent out. Informing them of
\ our mission, we were permitted to enter the
| ear. We were five hours IN going thirty miles,
| reaching Winchester about 8 o'clock in the
evening.
| We we're directed to, and spent the night
with, Union family by the name of Jackson.
| The husband had been taken away as prisoner
| by General Stonewau Jackson, and had not
| been heard from in several weeks.
| Although two weeks had passed since the
battle, we found everything very much unset
/ tied in the Union Hotel hospital. Nothing
was ready for the comfort of the wounded as
they were brought in from the battlefield. On
Monday, after the battle thirty-seven had died
| in thi5 hospital. For days they laid on the
floor. The Confederate women brought IN
things fer their wounded, but passed ours By,
till the surgeon tald tlseas they saeGld n8s eft-
ter the hospital if they continued doing so.
| The Union people, both white and eoloFed,
| daily brought food from their own homes and
distributed TO all alike.
In the ward to which I was assigned were
eight who had been severely wounded, and the
nurses had been bathing all their wounds from
| one basin of water, which set on q table in the
center of the room, which had once been the
large dining-room Of the hotel. Why the sur
geon had not instructed them TO do differently,
| I never knew.
On April 10, 1882, the patients were removed
20 more comfortable quarters IN Seminary hos
pItaI; but some OF them were too low 70 be
| moved with safety, especially Sergeant Charles
| Kuegg5 and Alexander Retan, OF the 18th In
diana, also Peter Miller; all OF whom subse-
quently died. There was no necessity for NOV
ing them, but 1.-The order" was imperative
The surgeon refused to have any female nurses
an that hospital. which order brought SORROW
IL - l. 4 4
selves, for we had willing hands and hearts, and
saw enough TO do for the comfort Of those te
whom we had come 10 minister. st the same
time the medical authorities were not willing
to have us leave town, but said, Await fur
ther orders"
c. H. Worcester, of the 7th Ohio, a youne
man greatly beloved by his company, died il
the Union Hotel hospital. He remarked 70 III
tent-mate, just before entering the battle, thai
if any of them should fall IN battle. the Faith
full Sentinel" should be sung By those who re
mained. The words were peculiarly appEea
bic 70 him, especially the third verse.
He wept not himself that his warfare was DONE
The battle was fought and the victory won
But he whispered TO those whom his heart loyes
TEL my brethren for me. that died al m.
post"
Some lives seemed TO have been needlessly
sacrificed. We were told that surgeons wer,
known to stop and dispute as to which Of then
should perform the operation, and then. afte
the amputation, instead of attending to tn
sufferer, they would play with the disInem
bered hand, foot or limb. Such surgeons sh0ulG
have been summarily discharged. Fortunately
they were in the minority; for many Weri
true and noble gentlemen, and very s<illful.
On the 10Th OF April, not being allowed x
care for the wounded in the hospitals, we Wis
tied the battlefield. We saw the orchard wheT,
our boys threw OFF their blankets and KNAPP
sacks before going into action. We passed OF
10 where they marched to victory and many 0
them TO death. The hill where the artillery
was placed was pointed out to US, and wher
the flank movement to the right was made
The trees in the woods showed marks of tn
shot and shell. These woods were az the hea(
of the famous stone wall behind which 81
many Confederates fell. We passed over tn
ground, which had been contested inch b,
inch. / picked up a ball near where on
of the 1st Virginia (Union) fell. His foot ant
stocking were still there, and the blood on th,
ground showed where ne had lain. We crosses
J over the stone wall, where, within a short dis
tance, seyenty-two Confederates were foun,
dead, and thence to the brow OF the hill, wher
4 the Confederates, concealed frosn our boys
poured Volley upon them as they eame VI
Fortunately their aim was two high. Thel
, followed close fighting. The colonel OF tn
S4th Pennsylvania fell there. His last word
wero: boys, am no longer your colonel
Near by, the brave 14th Indiana marched on
Il Alexander Retain, whose death / mentione'
above, bore the regimental eoloTs. and one mex
+ m him stars o,ad The haa,~o- n