The National tribune., 1890-03-20
PENSIONS ron ARMY NURSES.

PENSIONS FOR ARMY NURSES.
The following Endorsements of the W.R,C. Pen
sion Bill for Army Nurses have reached the COM
mttee from prominent Members of the United
States House and Senate. you have not seen the
name of the Member of Congress from your own
district in the lists given, be and write him at
once TO support the bill with vote and influence.
am in favor Of MI such legislntiom.-J. NJ. Wiley,
NJ. G. of New York
Rest assured the bill will receive my cordial
suppori.-ll. G. Lodge, NJ. G., OF Massachusetts,
shall render the bill all the service in my power.
f. J. Turner, NJ. c., of Kansas
am ready TO assist in doing justice in all such
mnttcrs.-Jos. IL, Cultivate, NJ. g., Of Ohio.
God bless them in their old age, and may Con-
gress recognize their just e!aims.-E 5. Williams.
NJ c.. OF Ohio
| am doing everything | can to expedite such
legisaou.-S. =. Yoder, NJ c., of Ohio.
will do all can 10 aid The passage OF this BILL
Robert i. Kennedy, NJ. G., Of Ohio.
II is just and fair, and hope IL may pass.-Wm.
&. Cooper, NJ. G., of Ohio
WOMEN ON TIE RATTLEFIELDs.
v. w. Krise. l33d Pa, writing from Neigh,
Neb, makes the following inquiry, asking for in
formation in order TO settle dispute:
- Were there any women. Army Nurses or Sisters
OF Charity, ever on the battlefield cHriug for the
wounded IN any way? Aud II so, where? was
out over two years aud in many u battle aud Skin
mish, aud never saw Que of our loyal women while
ont, except now aud then one Mt an officers tent
not even in the field hospital, TO which II was my
lot To bc consigned once.
This letter referred to Annie Wittcnmyer.
National President. Womnn- Relief Corps, whose
wide experience during the war enables her to
spenl< with authority mud not from henrsny. Her
personal testimony, appended, will be found Of ex
ceeding interest and will bc followed by further
letters upon the subject, pertinent to the
present legislation in behalf of woman Army
Nurses.
DEAR TRIBUNE Ia answer to Comradc Krise's
inquiry. would say that know that there were
many noble, seit.=auriicing women along the front
lines who rendered good service in field hospitals
who helped to take of the wounded
during many Of the battles, aud who went over
the battlefield parts of It. ~ soon M the
conflict was over. some OF the bnttlefeids
extended for miles and can easily understand
that Il tomrade krise we'll to tic front during
the BATTLES lac would not Sc thc women who were
busy with the wounded iu thc rear, when they
went over the field where tho dead and wounded
lay. might speak OF somc of these women, but
desire to give positive evidences Ia this case.
propose to bring forward few leaves from my
own cNpgf4cucc A= ! WAS one of the women " ho
rendered. service while the battle ragged.
reached rIit-hurE landing ia io midst Of the
terrible battle oi shiloh April 1902. Our forces had
been driven almost to fhe river front Two gun
boats, the Concord and the Lexington, standing
woIi iu the stream threw their shot and she'll
over oar hrads and over our army into ihc cnemy's
ranks. tile Confederate forces we're near. The
great fleet of sleafusr- lying along thc shore was
cFuw deal with the wounded aud the banks ucar
the boats were covered with the dead. Two other
The wounded we're wing on sacks Of grain and
the floor, aud in tho brrls aud under the bertha.
Some were burning wills fever and thirst; others
furnishing for istek of food. We worked with
supcthuman energy all tnt dag, feeding the hum
gry, giving water - the thirsty. and dressing the
wounds Of thc beet wc could Nc made
aud distributed that IRy barrels of soup, while the
shells 81 the gnubbat~ went screaming
heads and the heavy guns oil both arnies were
laundering so our cars.
II was difficult task bat daring the last day Of
The hght went np the steep TivcrbnhS through
mud aud rain, aud walked over part 81 thc battle.
field The few tents neHr the back Tiled with
tIfu wounded. Ia one tcut found tiir of Gen.
sam Houston, 81 Texas. lie WAS Confederate.
and had been aevcriy wounded and tnlsen prisoner
prisons, for hc recovered.
l carefully examined the dead passed. to make
sure that life extinct. As went on ! saw two
soldiers coming toward mo. carrying wounded
conrade. They had made seat Of their hands, and
he sat upright, with his arms about their neeks.
lis siltIbosnm was torn open aud tho red blood
EtgcHncd FROM gaping wound near his heart. |
hurried to meet them, taking no heed Of the men
who gathering up the dead or tic Orderiies
who gaiiOpcd past me. DO set me down right
there hy that tree. he pleaded as reached him;
- caut go amy further - took n coat from the
arm OF one OF the soldiers aud laid IL down the
wet ground between the roots Of - trae and they
tcndcrly seated him upon Il.
OH Can't somebody pray for me-? y" lac gasped
for lac knew his likelihood fast ClgbinE away.
8 ! eat pray. answered, aud kueeling there
the wet ground beside him, with the raindrops
falling from the rain bufdencd leaves upon our
OF hiz hands plead whit the savior OF sinners he
mcTcifui 10 the dying pairoit and send the light
aud glory Of He lorgiving love To purify aud COM
fort His heart aud light the way 10 the Heavenly
Home. His mind remained clear aud he responded
earnestly 10 every petition
. IL - all right now, lac gasped; you needn't
pray any more"
held his hand TIL IL became cold and pnseess
the brave. strong men, hs comrades, who had
borne him, dying from the thick Of the fight stood
with uncovered heads, choking back their tears
When the last Tutoring of his loyal heart had
ceased ] closed his eyes la death, and we left him
there aud / went on. When 1 returned after AN
hour two, lies was still sitting there dead aud
cold but / passed on, for this aorcly wounded
needed care-thc dead could wait.
Suddenly the guuboats stopped firing and we
knew that The enemy retreating aud That IA
signal had warned them that their shells were fall
ng within the lines of our brave men, who were
pressing the rctreating forces. Was not this work
on the battlefield? However. ] got nearer the
field Of strife than HAT before the contest ended
aud again aud nglin went under the guns, a. / will
show la future nrticles-Annie Wttenmyer, Ma
tional President, W.RC.
Department Gieanings
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA.
nm.