The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-14

9 prtyafo'e fare and a pfiy9t9'b Dangers
ia, ThsJ We're dekft 3 IS he6psly and and
she resolved to be a mother to them.
Woe to the surgeon or assistant sur
geon. commissary or quarter
master, whose neglect OF his men came
to her eognizance. For such a one abe
had no mercy, and in more Instances
than one, by the herce torrent OF her
invectiye, or the more effective method
OF appealing to the commander of the
army, with whom she always had
great influence, sh8 procured their dis
misals from the service. Her will was
strong, and when she had determined
to do q thing IL would DO carried
through, whatever obstacles might
present themselves; yet, while even
officers of high rank stood appalled,
and yielded to her commands, she was
gentle and tender as mother to the
common soldiers.
At one time, while In charge OF the
Gayaso Hospital In Memphis, she left
the kitchen. where she had been pre-
pairing food for the sick soldiers, about
IL O'Clock in the morning, to look
around the wards. Coming to one
where there were a number OF badly
wounded men, she found that the as
around to attend to them, and as they
were on the special diet list, the poor
fellows, faint and hungry, had not.had
any breakfast. Upon making inquiry
as to the cause OF his being so late she
as1ertained that he had been drunk the
night before, aud was sleeping Off the
effects Of his debauch. Her anger
knew no bounds, and while she was
denouncing him In the strongest terms
he came in, and fairly trembled as he
looked at the enfaged little woman
that confronted him. He, however,
tried to put on a bold front aud in
CURED. why, what's the matter, Mrs.
Bickendyke9'
Turning upon him with seorn she
replied, "Mattew, enough You misera-
bic scoundrel! Here are these mon,
any one OF them worth thousand such
as you, who are suffered to starve and
die because you want to be off upon a
drunk Pull off your shoulder straps"
she continued as he tried feebly to
laugh OFF her reproaches, pull of
your shoulder straps, for You shall
not stay in the army another week.
The surgeon still laughed, but he
turned pale, for well he knew her
power. and she was as gooda as her word.
Within three days she had caused his
discharge. He went to head quarters
and asked to 10 reinstated. General
Sherman, who was then in command,
listened patiently, and then inquired
who had caused his discharge.
Il was discharged In consequence OF
Misrepresentation" answered the
surgeon evasively 'But who caused
your discharge" persisted the general.
Why" said the surgeon hesitatingly,
II suppose 1t was that woman, that
Mrs. Bickendyke. oh" said Sher-
man, "Well If it was her can do
nothing for you. SheTanks me-"
Such was the power possessed by
this noble woman, and this is but one
OF the many instances in which she
used that power in behalf of the sol
diers. Still she was but ono of the
hundreds who devoted four years Of
their lives In mhnistering to AMI car
ing for the men who left friends,
homes and all they held dear, to do or
die, so that they could hand down to
their cltildren u Union, even stronger
and fifmer than that given into tneil
keeping by their fathers.
Women were also called upon to
make sacrifices, which in many i'll
stances wrung their hearts. They saw
their husbands. brothers, sons and
fathers don the blue and go, they knew
not where, but In the lonely vigils oil
the night, when anxiety for the loved
ones drove sleep from their eyes, the
prayers OF thousands of women, pray
ers from hearts almost bursting Will
grief, would ascend TO the throne .
grace, asking that the protecting arm
of the God of battles should DO thrown
around their loved ones far away.
There was one aged woman in Phila
delphia, who has bsen termed the Cor
nelia OF America. Her name was MarS
| Ellet, and she was born on the 18th D
June, 1799 Her mother, Hannah ErwiT
Israel, O heroine of the Revolution
Mrs. Elects son, Colonel Charles Elicit
was killed In one of the battles OF tht
rebellion, and tho son of that SON died
from the effects OF disease contractor
in the army. A Clergyman, IN conpan.
with Mr.. George n. Stuart called upol
Mrs. Ellct in reference to some bust
moss connected with tho Christian Com
mission. in which sho took an activ
Charles Rives Eliot had just arrived
aud the clergyman upon being apprlseI
of the fact expressed the hope that TIN
Lord would sustain her under her be
reavement. Turning toward him, sh
replied that she hnd given her son
Colonel Ellet OF the Ram Fleet, an
BriEader General Ellet of tho Marin
Brigade, and four grandchildren; add
ing, 81 do not regret the git to m
country. II | had twenty sons Iwoul
give them all, for this Union must b
preserved. II / were twenty year
younger would go myself, and iigl
to the la st.
No less sacrificing was the splrl
manifested by Rachel Somer5 poo
but loyal women of East Tennessee
She was summoned to the improyisel
hospital where her son was dyln
from wounds received in fighting ~
, the old flag, She came accompanie
by another son, about ID years OF agt
, and as soon as she entered tho buildin
boy,
Mother" he family said, "goo l-by
} And you, Tom, good-by. Be OF goo
cho9r, mother, God will take caro- q
/ you and save save the" A low
, gurgling sound ratified in his throf
+ and he passed away, with the name q
| his country on his lips.
The stricken mother clos ID the eyelid
of her dead sou and then kissin
: again and again his calm, pale fac
, turned to 20 away. As sha did so, Iii
I chaplain, taking her.hlnd in his said
| her 1.-The Lord gave the Lord hat
, taken away" Looking up to him wit
) tranquil face and fearless eyes, III
, woman answered blessed he III
, name of the Lord" They have mu
, dered my husband, Mr.. Chaplin, an
/ my oldest boy and now John, too,
gone. Then laying her hand on II
, shoulder OF her living son she turno