The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-13
DINISTERING ANGELS.
The Touching "reminiscences CT a
Devoted Army Nurse.
lsy Ms. Hl,,ies D,.la rs.,... NJ D.. Syracuse. WI

Dysart AID 1 secured passes to 90 to Nashville,
Tenn, where Misses Han and Bell had been
for several weeks On reaching Nashville We
concluded It would DO best for some of rs 60
be nearer the froat, so Miss Hall and decided
TO 20 10 Murfreesboro'. On going to the depot
10 take the train we found there was no pas-
seDger ear attached. so we took passage with
the train-guar in The ~stockade ear Tho
sides OF this CIR were of thick plank, in which
holes had been eut, so that in case the train
was attacked the guard eoaId repel the enemv's
assault At that time guerTiilas frequentlyA
molested the trains.
We found Nurfreesboro' a disalal-Iooking
place, and the dire elects Of war were cvery-
where visible Two buildings that had for
merry been semincriss, several stores and a
hotel, We're beiag used for hospitals These
we found wei! filed with the sick and the
wounded. and we concluded that there was
enough for Us TO do.
We first called at the Sanitary Commission
rooms. but found things scarcely settled there
yet; so we applied TO the Christian Commission.
where we found two delegates and Chaplain
Earnshaw. The chaplain went with MS to the
medical director, DIR. Israel Moses who re-
ceived US very eoidiy. He said all he should
wish US to do, if we remained, would be 70 at
tend to the preparation OF the low diet and not
enter the wards at all and informed us that
we eonld rot be together in the same hospital
At first we could not'deeisle what TO DO. We
were inclined 10 take the first train and return
to Nashville. as our sphere for usefulness was
TO be so limited by the doctor; aud even the
chaplain thought we had better not stay as we
would meet with rebuffs aud prejaaicc, and it
would be rather lowering to our dignity TO at
tend TO the preparation of the diet. knowing,
however, that It was rot generally considered
beneath the dignity Of a mother or wife 20 pre-
pare food for "a sick wounded husband
we concluded to remain and meet With deter
mination whatever obstacles might be thrown
IN the way OF our usefulness. There were
many soldiers suffering for the want Of proper
care and food, as we had been told by Que OF
the assistant surgeons and If we could not care
for them in~the wards. we certainly could cook
the food, in clse We could secure the materials
and rooms in which to DO the cooking
1t was with difficulty that we found place
to stay the first night for no one assisted Us 70
secure lodgings; but at last we found a place
with a Confederate woman by the name of
Davis, relative of the Confederate Colonel
Ashley, of Virginia.
REPORTING FOR DUTY.
The next morning we reported for duty
Miss Hall was assigned to No. l. and the writer
20 No. hospital. The surgeon at No. I went
out and secured room for US, and sent over
two cot bcds, some Old blankets sheets, pillows
and mattres5es-all very much soiled-as also
pail and wash basin, and we borrowed some
/ bedding OF the woman in whose house We had
secured a room 10 supply our needs until We
could get supplies from the Sanitary C0E1mis-
sion.
/ On reporting to hospital No. 3, was very
eoldly received by the surgeon Ia charge, but
found among the wounded quite number OF
| the 18th army corps boys, some of whom had
known in other hospitals. One said when
! was down at Bridgeport / heard that you
We're cut here somewhere, and l just said 70
one of the boys here that / thought Miss Dada
would come Soon" Another New York soldier
said: 1 am glad TO see q New York lady,
! Another asked If / intended - remain ! re-
/ piled Yes" Thank God" said be.
| Most of the patients had been wounded at
/ Lookout Mountain, but some were still suffer-
ing from wounds received IN that bloody
/ battle of Chickamauga; so. upon the whole,
we were not sorry that We bad remained,
Notwithstanding that We received DO en-
/ enlargement from anyone who wore shOui-
| der straps. She sick and wounded regretted
as well we that We We're restricted 70 pre-
pairing food and distributing it through the
| different wards.
Soon after went to the Christian Commits
sion TO see if / could get SOME eggs for one OF
/ the patients, who was very low, and needed
something besides hard-taek and coffee, but
| found that they had none, and did not show
/ any disposition to try to get any. AL thaE the
/ patients at that time had for supper was bread,
apple sauce. and tea / told DIR. Douglas, the
ward surgeon and Christian gentleman. that
i / would gladly prepare some food ii materials
and place TO cook could only be furnished
He said :. / viii see that yoa have some chick
ems tomorrow. if they viii allow you 10 pre-
| pare them in the fHll-diet kitchen" I called
upon the head cook and found him 60 De Mich
| oias Anderson, who formerly had been cook at
/ the 18th army corps hospital IN Gettysburg.
] He very willingly consented and offered to as
/ sist me all he could.
/ About TIE I'D of December some supplies
were brOught-on, and a stove was given me,
/ with eolOred wcmen and little girl To assist.
/ We prepared feed for about forty. The boys
| thought that everything tasted so much better.
For fifty cents per gallon also succeeded in
| obtaining some milk, which made a substantial
diet for those who were very low.
WELCOME AID.
/ Mrs. Lee, from Elk Horn, Wis, visited our
/ hospital about this time and became very much
/ interested in all that concerned the couffors OF
| our soldiers and in February following I re-
/ ceived from the Woman's Aid Society, of Elk
! Horn, draft for So, and during the year
number of theiii, and afterwards one for $50, to
be used / saw fit. for the relief of those under
/ my care. From other sources also received
/ at different times sums of money with which to
/ buy delieaeies for the sick.
In January DIR. May. now Of Corning. y. Y.
/ one of the surgeons ut Gettysburg Of whom
/ have spoken, arrived from Nashville. While
in town he called upon the medical director,
and, in the course Of his conversation, sad he
was acquainted with two OF the ladies IN the
hospitals there. The medical director answered
contemptUously: Ladies. there are no ladies
/ in the hospitals here The hospital IS 10 place
for q lady We have some women, hare who
are cooks"
The 1st OF February Miss futile came on,
and was assigned to No. 2 hospital. We were
kept very busy 10 preparing food and distrihn-
/ ting it among so many. Often We wrote let
| tiers for the patients 70 inform their friends
/ where they were. and the condition of their
wounds, &c. One day an old Tennessee woman
came in from the country, and on nqGirlng
why she was so sad she told me that her son,
who had been nOsed scout. anil waolia often
| piiOted our army in Tennessee, had been bTu-
/ tally murdered by the bushwkackers o little
more tban week before. They had threatened
( 10 burn the mothers house If she went astsr her
/ sons body, but she had biavely replied You
nay kill me if you viii, and burn my house
I am for the Union, and shall die Tor It. and,
i despite their threats she had taken rae body
home and. after keeping il swO days, lad buried
/ it. The tears ran down her furrowe,I cheeks
Us she told me how nee his hair was eomhed,
| and how sweet be leoked-her own dear boy.
/ During the latter part Of tho winter and early
! spring interesting religious meetings were held
at the Christian Commission rooms every even
/ ing, which were productive OF much good. Noe
| few of those in the hospitals were led to bo-
| lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ which not only
| brought joy TO Christians there but also TO
4 HEIR friends At h0fOa