The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-06
uINISTERING ANGELS.
The Touching "reminiscences Of a
Devoted Army Nurse.
by Mrs. Harriet Dada Eueas. NJ D.. Syracuse N II

Sergeant William Blunt, of the Cd Massachu-
sets, only seventeen years of age was a great
sufferer from a mortal wound. As | entered
the tent he said, looking round at the others:
" None of you know what suffering is but me"
He then prayed SO earnestly that lie might die.
One morning, hearing my voice in the tent, he
called, Lady, come here!" He looked up so
pleasantly and said, My father has come.
The surgeon in charge gave his father small
tent, to which his son was carried, and where
he was made as comfortable as possible, his
father watching anxiGusly by his side. His
first words to his father were: "Oh, father,
I've experienced religion, and am not afraid to
die" He regretted that he had not another
life 10 give for his country. He told his father
that he wished to be buried in the bright
folds of the stars and stripes. One afternoon.
as ] sat by him for a few minutes, speaking to
him of the better land and the brighter home,
he said II want you to pray for me when you
pray" told him | would; but in less than
half an hour was told 1.-The old mans son
has bled to DEATH" An artery had sloughed,
and he was no more
+ "To those who heard
His dying word.
He died a hero bold;
Tho tits sweet TO live,
To country give
My life-to God my sou
Misses Bell, Dysart and Duncan soon joined
us, and from early in the morn until late in the
evening we went from tent to tent, doing with
our might what our hands found to do for the
comfort of those to whom we came to minister.
The chaplains too were most faithful in at
tending to both the temporal and spiritual
wants of the wounded.
When first reached the 10Th army corps
hospital there were about eight hundred there,
but in ten days time the number was reduced
to three hundred, some having died and
others having left. OF those remaining quite
| number were Confederates, and the orders
| were to take as good care of them as of our
/ own wounded What win you take care of
me- too lady" was the inquiry OF wounded
Confederate. EYES," said /; I'VE treat you
| just as we want our boys treated when they
are taken prisoners"
| In one of the tents was John s. Lynch, of the
| Sd Alabama, in whom / became much inter-
estcd. He was an earnest, simple christian,
and his faith in God was so childlike Then,
too, he used to speak so tenderly of bis mother.
! One day he said If my mother only knew
| how kind you are to me. . 1t will kill
my mother for me TO die without her knowing
| of my fate / believe the Almig hty will
restore me-" But he was severely wounded in
his right thigh and kept growing worse. The
last rational words / heard him speak were:
Mother, you and / will meet III Heaven"
| In his porte-monnaie was found piece of
| paper, on which were these lines:
Work nor play on the Sabbath day,
Neither Idle away Gods holy day;
But think and sing of the Glorious King
Consider His goodness to every thing.
Climb above to the land of love
And seek the rest perpared for the blests
/ Where sleep the lambs Oh His breast.
Walking in the sonber light
We know not can live Alright.
He calls us to a land that's bright
His will be done; we know it's right.
/ sent letter by a flag Of truce giving her
| the particulars of his death, and after the war
/ learned that she received it.
About the 21st of July from one hundred
and fifty to two hundred of the patients were
moved to the general hospital, which was sit
uated about three fourths of a mile the other
| side of the town. Miss Bell and / were ordered
to go there and receive them as they were
brought in. The most of them were carried
! on stretchers. There were six rows of tents
and seventeen double hospital tents in a row.
| All the patients had good iron bedsteads good
mattresses, pillows, Sheets and everything need
| ed for comfort The surgeons and nurses all
had tents, besides those of the Christian and
Sanitary Commissions. The cooking house
| what part of it was not under trusS-was
| under shed, and Miss Hall was in charge of it.
Mrs. May was assigned to the first ward. the
writer to the second, Miss Dysart to the third,
and Miss Bell to the fourth.
A few days before we left the old camp a
young Massachusetts, boy had his leg ampu-
tated below the knee He was under my spe-
cial care, and with Others was brought on a
stretcher to this hospital, and | had him
placed In DIR. Mays ward, knowing he would
receive the best of care. In a few days he be-
came conscious that his recovery was doubtful,
and wrote farewell letter to his sister. The
date was on the cath, and on the 31st he
Corporal Theodore Buffers, of the I'd Massa-
chusetts died. He was as brave and noble a
youth as ever faced death on the battlefield.
The Sunday following, his only sister, to whom
he had written this letter, arrived, but too
late to see her brother. Her heart was nearly
broken on learning that he was dead and
! buried. In nay own ward were four uble
| tents, and have kept record of the names OF
all the inmates; how they were wounded, and
| the result in each case SO far as could learn.
August Sd we sat down to table TO eat for
the first time in two weeks.
| S. w. Woodman, of the I'd Massachusetts
/ from South Danvers, was III my ward, badly
wounded in his left arm. Three times the
| surgeons thought of ampntating it, but con-
cluded he was too weak to endure it. We
| washed the wound with strong acid and
| gave him the best of care and dict. After
| awhile he commenced to improve, and we saw
he was well enough TO go on to Philadelphia
to the hospital there. In January, 1866,
wrote to his mother to learn how he was and
received reply, written by himself. that he
was at home and apparently well.
On the 23d of September the good people OF
Gettysburg and the surrounding towns made
grand festival for those remaining in the
hospital. They brought chicken pies, bread
biscuits, butter, cakes, milk ice-cream, fruits
&c. After dinner, the boys, as an eyi
dence of their appreciation, did their best al
games, running races, &c. 1t was a great day
for them, and one long to be remembered
by all.
Miss Dysart and left Gettysburg October
%. The day before, we visited the battlefield
for the first time. The general hospital wa.
located on that part of the field where the Con
fedcrate General Ewcll,s forces were stationed
All the way from that part to Culp's Hill moth
ing could then be seen except the ground
here and there plowed up by the shells. Scat
tered about were stray knapsaeks, bayonct
sheaths and a few unmarked graves, till VIZ
came Hegf the breastworks which had beer
thrown up by the 18th army corps Genera
Slocum's. From behind these fertilization.
must have issued terrible storm of bullets
!, judging from the number of trees that ha6
been struck and killed and the trenches il
which were the Confederate dead. There, too
many of our boys received their wounds, a.
. fhn-y f,ad oil fall