Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-11-16
woMAN,s WORK IN THE REBELLIoy


perhaps never ~ill. fully comprehend the
peril.. the hsrdships. the fearful suffer-
ing, that they 90 eheerfally bore. in
order that We nigh, be, ~ We are to-day.
citizens Of free country. Many Of "
we're too young to realize the events Of
that time. Some had not yet entered
upon this field OF action; aud none, IN.
less In the actual presence OF the war
fsnd himself. could fully realize hh
dreadful demssnor.
But IL has been told ne. times wi,hou,
number. The battles there fought have
been waged again and again. In words.
,ha, We might know Of the vast ssen.
Zee by which our homes. and our honor
among the nations. were preserved for
u.. All the privs,iOns. al the suffering
and imprisonment, oil the horrors Of
battle. field. where precious blood was
shed for Us. unite 10 endear those heroes
to Us. TO bind Us IN gratitude to the living.
in r--srnee TO the dead.
Bu, let US not forget that there Vas
another element At work during those
dark days. that did much 90 bring abou,
the sloriou. results We know 80 well.
The women Of our country were no, idle.
And, a. the Pos, have invited me 10
s..i., them 10 their work to-day, !, seems
sminsn,ly fitting ihs, should remind
you Of ~Omans lsbOrs; her sacrifices
her presence upon the field Of battle.
Many Of you can remember the mother
Who. With tear. ia her eyes and prayers
on her lips. sent her beloved boy from
her. perhaps forever. We, she did this
slor,ing In the consciousness tina, in 90
doing she vas serving her country. Some
Of you bad wives OF s~ee,hearis, 10
whom the parting ". bitter as death.
In any parting. the one Who Is left !. the
greater .uHsfsr. aud In this case the
dread. the suspense. Was far wors. 10
endure than ~tre the fesling' Nth which
you marched into battle. Each battle,
a. IL occurred. ~. = fresh cause Coz
anxiety; and every scrap Of news, every
assurance Of safety. came like . ray Of
.unlish, TO the .adden,d hearts At home.
But the wiling band. ths, did 90 much
Cor your welfare there. bad not ended
their mi.ioa whsn you marched s~sy o.
unknown danger. Their labor. had but
jos, b,gun. Homes mus, be cared fcr
and bow iha, labor f,ll on ihose whom
you hsd lef,. l.rauri,.. comforts. you
had none The bare necsssfis. q life
-sre Ill 10 whi,h you could lay claim.
And. az the month. ven, b,. provision.
.nd clothing alike failed. Ttese were
supplied. by whom The loving fiend.
a, hJme. Every town bad IL "womsn''
Relief Society; and bon Af'sr boz.
heavily laden. va. SET, 10 those In need.
womsh'. po.l,iOn on the froh'isr ws'
perilou. one. Exposed tn hardship.
unknown TO Us. living In eon.,an, fear OF
Indian raids. she ys, wn LEI, the sole
protector q those Western hJmes. and
nobly she fulhll.d her trust
There ATE .one few instance. Of women
.ko. from spirit Of adventure OF attach.
men, 10 friend. in the army. dshed all
custom. and ia Disguise. joined the raaks
q. soldiers. The name II Miss LOUISE
W,llmsn. q Iowa, stand. prominsnily
upon ihi. lat. She enlisted Ia an lo-s
regiment; ~As in actual service ~ the
.iormins Of fort DOnsl.on. -hsre she
~s, wounded slightly. Ia the battle q
Piinbarg Landing she ~s' remarkable
for Der bravery. and here ~. Injured
sgain. Thi. time her ser VAS discovered
aud she va. dismissed from service az .
colder. bu, continued 10 sei,e /. nur.e
through the wsr. Helen Goodfidse.
sarah S,orer. Maria Steele. all are name.
familiar in ihi. re'peei. OILsr did
,dseiu.l work A. .pie.
And the noblssi. holis., work Of ell
~s, done. no, 10 the qui,, '.neii,y Of
home. but amid the horrors Of the bat
tie field Head. ye Who -iil. Of the ter
rbls sights there seen OBJ. the horors
q thA, scene Of carnage
"And here" cay, well.kno-n hi.,o-
ri.n. "in the fr, day. Of oonfasion and
misery. come. the Christian Sanitary
Commission. bearing leave. from the tree
Of life to the peri'hins. Doing with
their holy nigh, jr', VIA, the govern
men, never could DO. aud saving thou
sands Of lives that. but Zoe their AID,
mus, have been Lost" They are no, men
toned in history bu, their nance are
written on Thousand. Of grateful hearts
here and in heaven above. Gentle. del.
ies,ely. bred women leaving homes OF
culture and rfnemsnt for scenes % for
eign 10 their nsiure-vAs there no brav-
cry there. no true hsroi.m'
And 20 their honor be /, said. Union
is,s and Rebel. SHARED alike the treasure.
they boie-wtre nur.ed and cherished by
these noble women. and that. too. at
distance ola few hours ride from prison.
where our keroe. spgui.hed and died.
For three weeks after the battle OF
Gettysburg. the Commission tents stood
open. and during the, time 10000 meals
we're served TO sufferers on both sides.
who were waiting 10 take the cars for
Washington.
Says Abbott: Among the fr,, Of the
Christian Bands 10 come 10 our relief
after that battle. was the noble band Of
workers from the Church Of the Asesn.
.ion. in PhilsdelphiA The Sabbath after
the battle. the aisles Of thu, church re.
echoed 10 new sounds. not less holy. no,
lees go.pel.,sugh,. than the accustomed
sounds Of praise and prayer. Bat the
desk had given place to the sewing. ma
chine, and the kneeler were rolling band.
age. The sacred hour. Of tha, day had
not drawn TO a close. till tons Of stores.
and treasures Of money. were ready TO
be sen, to the sufferers. accompanied by
strong hands. TO AID in distribution" And
this is but one instance among thousands.
The work done by the entire Commission
during tie war Was 90 great a. TO be
slmos, Incredible.
"Mr. Amss. in her "Ten Years 10
wa.hing,on." cites an instance Of one
woman who. herself. collected SIC. 900
in money and raised and distributed over