New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-31
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lDAGE'
&
VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR
THROUGH THE WAR. NOW LIVING
IN BROOKLYN

The day Is here when country remembers her
brave dead by s.rewng their graves with flowers
while IN the great military display the SCARED
veterans follow their glorious old flags. like old
cronies, glad TO meet once again as they are near
ing the close OF the battle OF Nfe. Memorial Day
has aroused the patriotism OF a woman veteran.
Miss Adelaide w Smith. who went from Brooklyn
TO the front during the War OF the Rebellion f5r
the purpose Of caring for the sick and woundel.
Miss Smith has store OF interesting rern'li5
cences. both tragic and humorous. She Is an In
teresting talker we'll close observer. and
she pictures in a vivid manner the many strange
scenes she passed through. She is resident OF
Brooklyn, and acceded very graciously 10 the re-
quest Of the reporter for a short story OF her
experiences.
when the nrst sick and wounded were brought
20 NewYork" said this woman veteran. some
taken TO the Long Island College Hospital.
Immediately went there and offered my services.
which were accepted. After remaining there sever
a. months was sent 10 Bedlows Island. and had
charge OF the diet kitchen. When left l visited
among the hospitals, caring for the sick and wound
ed soldiers In every way. When the Sanitary Fair
was opened in New-York filled an ambulance with
the wounded from the New-England Rooms on
Broadway. which were under the direction Of Colo
mel Frank How, and took them TO the fair as OBJ
3ect-lessons. They allowed 10 be in the Arms
and Trophy Department. and nothing there was
more interesting than those living trophies,
"A shot had passed through the head OF one OF
these men, injurng his eyes that he was entirely
blind. He had lain two days on the battlefield at
Charlottesville the dead the third day. the
rebels, while looking the field, discovered that
he still breathed and they removed him. Another OF
the men, whose name Smith. lost both legs;
another named Barry, had lost both arms smith
for Barry. feeding and dressing him.
While Barry returned the favor by using his legs
in the service Of his egless comrade They natu-
rally became fond Of each other we remained at
the fair while IL was OPEN taking our meals there
Il raised" continued Miss Smith, with the as
s.stance Of Mrs Grant ara Mrs Mcclellan. who
had charge OF the Arms and Trophy Department,
500 ring the fo.r for the three helpless soldiers.
AT the close Of each day the vest pockets Of these
MANNED remnants Of men buged out with the
money that slipped into them by kindly and
sympathetic visitors.
The sword contest. which was waged at the fair
IN order 10 raise money for the wounded and 10 get
al the sentiment Of the people regarding the popu-
la.ty of General Grant and General Mcclellan. was
most exciting The votes 81 each. General
Grants wife did her best 10 have her husband win.
She secured many votes, and Mrs. Mcclellan
exceedingly vivacious, carrying her campaign
with vim and tact. Finally 500 votes for Grant from
the Union League Club Of Philadelphia decided the
contest.
Il went from New-York 10 the front" continued
Miss Smith, ITO City Point. Va, TO General Grants
headquarters. on passes from General Butler for
myself and three assistant nurses After my papers
Endorsed l went up the Appomattox to Point
Of Rocks General Buffers department where
Clara Parton was in charge. remaining there sew
eral weeks doing volunteer nurse duty. Then re-
turned 10 City Point 10 the Field Department. first
as Assistant Agent OF Jersey State and afterward
as New-York State Agent The first night l was
there was much disturbed by what sounded Ike
the moaning and groaning Of the wounded. In the
morning I called Surgeon Porter, who was in
charge of the hospital and asked his permission to
care for the suffering soldiers who must be in such
frightful agony. Surely said. something can be
done 70 alleviate their pain; their means throughout
the night went TO my very heart.
~"Why,' said Surgeon Porter. from what direc-