The National tribune., 1888-12-06
THE ANGEL OF MERCY.
The Name the SoIdiefs Save Mrs. RlsIer.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
Of Nov. 8 | have read with much interest the
communication of Alice G. Risley (nee Farmerl.
If | mistake not knew her during the year
1864. / have seen her often on her visits at
Marine Hospital, New Orleans. She was called
by many of the boys the Angel of Mercy. /
am quite persuaded she rs well as the one who
advertised through your columns for one DR..
Backer is mistaken as to the Surgeon or Medi-
cal Director in charge of Marine Hospital If
my memory serves me right, and l think 1T
does, il was Dr. Bouchea--as we pronounced it
it was Box. He was from New York city, and
/ think returned there. He was loyal, SYM
pathetic and true Christian gentleman, and
ever on the alert to do the very best for the
suffering humanity under his care. | think
if the comrade who seeks to find DR.. Backer
will inquire for DR.. Bouchea (Bo-k), he may be
able to find him, if living in New York city,
or some of his family who may yet survive
him.
Now, with all the emphasis I can command,
/ wish right here and now to enter my solemn
protest against our Representatives and SEN
ators in the future calling the States that were
disloyal Confederate States" and also the
men who served in the Southern army Con-
federate officers or soldiers" / am reminded
that our great chieftains have repeatedly said
they were :" the so-called Confederate" May
it not be seen that by and by they will wish to
be recognized as the confederate states OF
America" and claim this as being conceded by
our statesmen which concession shall ulti-
mately be the means of holding us responsible
as Nation for all damages and obligations now
outstanding against the, rebellious States. l
go in for calling them just what they were,
and always let them be put upon the record as
such. Call them what else they may, protest,
as we'll as many thousand other old soldiers,
against their being called Confederate States
and Confederate soldiers"
They deliberately rebelled and felt proud of
it, and to-day many vauntingy boast of their
actions; let therefore, the title they so richly
merit and are proud of be given them. 1t is
their legitimate title; let them bear it. tt ~
were rebels, and so let them be called. Surely
the Jew is not ashamed to be called jew nor
is the Gentle ashamed to be called Gentle.
We are not ashamed to be called Union SOL
diers. Maybe | hear someone say you must
not say Union soldier, for that is Haunting
the bloody shirt. Let that be as it may, my
mind is, the rebel soldier {for such he wasl
who felt and said, and still feels and says, if
not himself by his Represen tatives in Congress,
that his cause and he were on the side of right,
surely he should not be ashamed of his title,
it being the one he sought and fought for Let
me say to the honorables when in Congress
assembled, beseech yon give the rebels their
due, and let us have no more mincing the mat
ter; do not any longer bring odium upon your
selves by giving title toa supposed something
that was nothing.
Say, boys, what is the matter with the Cd
N Y. Cav.2 Let us hear from some of you-W.
f. Poor ID NJ Y Cav Tribes Hill. N Y