The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-31

reference, such persons and only such might apply
] made the application and was accepted in No
vember, 1862, but we were not called for until jan
uaty, 1863
AT that time received orders to report for duty.
Twenty-thrce ladies reported to DIR. Hannaman.
Indianapolis, and all went in one company from
there to Memphis, Tenn. A train was chartered
for our company and supplies to Evansville Ind;
there we took n steamer, which landed us in Mem
phis, where we were assigned to duty In the Diff
ferent hospitals. Mr. Merritt of indianapolis, who
had charge of all, went down the river to supply
the great need OF our soldiers at Youngs Point,
etc.
Dr. Jeremiah Brewer, of Lawrenceburg Ind,
one of the Surgeons took me to the Gayoso Hos
pta where | was assigned to duty. DIR. Brewer
and myself were the only persons In that COM
pany who belonged to Dearborn County, Ind;
therefore the Doctor took great interest in my well
fare After II few months was transferred to the
Jackson, new hospital just being opened While
there j taken very i'll and sent home for
awhile. When returned to Memphis my daughter,
Abbie Ransom, ~ years oil age, was sent with me as
assistant We were both assigned to duty
in the u. s. A. General Hospital, Adams Block,
and remained there all Winter,
On June 90 1864. my daughter left me and re-
turned to our home, where she died Aug. 10. her
oath birthday, of that dreaded disease, typhoid
fever; but she died in the triumph of living
faith. She was very soon to have been married to
one Of the best of young men, Dr. Henry Rugar,
brother To Gen. Rugar.
The telegram to me was received eight days
after date; when l arrived l found my precious
girl had been gone five days. DR. Rugar arrived
some six hours before her departure. He found
gently.
As soon as consistent returned to Memphis, and
went from thence to New Orleans. While there
In the General Hospital, was ordered by the
Medical Director to go IA aid to the Surgeon, DIR.
MCClintoc, In charge of sick soldiers being trans
ferrCd from New Orleans To- New York City and
other points. We EN- bark ed on the steamship North
America Dec. 16. 1864 We had on board 203 en-
listed men, four women, including myself besides
the Stewardess aud n crew of A men. On the even
Ing of Dec. 81 we encountered terrible gale, which
continued with increasing severity until the morn
ing of Dec. %. During that night, Dec % our ship
having sprung alcak flied with water and sank
carrying with IL 1914 of our brave soldiers. Out OF
the BOB enlisted men we saved only 10. All that
escaped were rescued by Capt. II. l.. Libby in his
sai-bark, Mary l.. Libby. The whole number
saved from that sinking ship was 62, AZ OF that
number being the crew.
We arrived in New York City on the night oil
Dec. 80. The next day, Dec 81, 1864, took our
Is poor shipwrecsed boys to the hospital where
they could be cared for until able to go home
Most of them that were saved lived within a few
hours distance of New York City. Fifteen differ.
ent States were represented on that Inflated vessel
North America
These were trying times for all. Having lost al
my effects. and having been thoroughly drencheC
| in the briny deep and having no change of raimen
son, and an entire stranger Ia city like New York
with only ID cents OF money i'm my pocket, tbs
reader can imagine my condition. But tho dea
Lord raised up friends for me, and iE few hour
| the Sanitary Commission of New York City pu
| into my hands $50. and sent me to the New Eng
| land rooms. n temporary hospital, where 1 wa
tendery cared for TIL able to for myself which
was In February, 1865
| then returned to Memphis for n short time, bu
my health being impaired 1 could not go into Ga,
| hospital to perform duty. returned TO New Yorl
City, where remained for two years, doing a gen
| eral missionary work, which am still doing. Thi
/ day, Dec. Is, 1888 am 70 years of age and tia
dear loving Savior is still with me.-Eleanor G
| Ransom.