The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-02-25
ON THE BATTLE FIELD.

requirements. l am plain-looking
enough to suit you, and old enough.
have no near relatives in the war, nc
lover there i never had a husband
and am not looking for one. VIII you
take meT In few days the answer
came, Report at once to my house, cor
ner of Fourteenth street and New York
avenue, Washington She labeled me
so nicely that think if | had been in a
box of glass should have gone through
safely, and gave me instructions to pro
cure transportation"
One very characteristic sketch of any
nurse experience is given by Mrs. Mar
garet Hayes of Los Angeles in this
book entitled Our Army Nurses" Her
page reads: "On the 18th of February,
1868, left my home in Mendoza, Ill,
for Chicago. Arriving there We went
to the Sanitary Commission room, and
were cared for by Mrs. Livermore, who
gave lis our commission, put us up a
lunch, gave us each pillow and small
'comfortab ble (there were no sleeping
cars in those days and started us that
same evening for Memphis, Tenn. An
other lady went with me who was as
anxious as ] to do something for the
boys in blue. We arrived safely, and
l was assigned to the Adams General
Hospital No. ., which had just been
opened 10 receive the sick and wounded
from Arkansas, in ward =, where there
were scyenty-two men. | think the
wardmaster was one of the kiIdest men
| ever knew. Poor fellow! He vent
through the war and returned to his
home with the regiment, but only TO die
soon after his arrival. There were a
medicine man and wound dresser, and
six nurses were detailed from among
the convalescents. My especial duty
was TO cook the extra diet, see that The
patients received it, wait upon those
who could not feed themselves, look
after the comfort of all, and, in fact.
make myself generally useful. \ part
of the time had two wards The boys
appreciated whatever l did for them
very much, and presented me with
valuable gold watch, which | still hold
as one of my choicest treasures. re-
maincd at the Adams until January,
1863. when | was transferred TO the
Gayoso, ana WAS discharged from there
at the close of the War. l often. think
of my boys, and wonder where they
al larc. The old ones are mustered out.
the young are now gray and old. and
would rot know me, nor | them, if we
should meet. | was Mrs. Maggie Mes
eroll then. They called me Sister Mag
gle. My first ward 'urgeon was DR..
Taylor Of Cambridge; next, DIR. Cole of
st. Louis. Then came DR.. Lard and
DR.. kcenOn, succeeded by Dr. Study. l
could tell many incidents if | could see
to write them, but am so blind | have
not been able 10 read since 1882"
Is it not a good soldiery report, and
without Il word of complaint at the end?
Here is au extract from the much
more detailed story of her experiences
given by another nurse, Mrs. Kaiser:
''Errly Sunday morning we were
reused by the drum calling to battle.
The mcn responded promptly. leaving
ine with only one attendant TO care for
the h.'ipless sick soldiers who lay on
the damp ground wrapped only in a
hlaukct. | gave them some coffee and
hard tack. with Il smile. and the assur-
ance that | would get them out of the
way OF the flying lead. The camp was
in the range Of the battle. and | knew
The regiment had no ammunition, and
must soon fail back, perhaps before
could ever get the men ready 10 go.
Several balls came tearing through the
tent, creating almost panic. We had
gone there in the dark. and had not
taken the trouble to find our position,
ana what TO do we cid not know. Sud
denly | thought of lieutenant who
had been sick lie d;-y before. l sought
among the tents and found him, and he
gGvy me The points of the compass and
fo,l Ire of y ravine near by where we
wJgt t..y to get the men. Those who
were unable TO walk we carried on
DoiGs, ;.nl thus all were transported but