New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
BRAVE WOMEN OF THE WAR.
MRS. MARY A. BRADY AND MISS EL1DA
RUMsEY REMEMBERED.
THEY vtrRsEp AND SANG OUR SOLDIERS BACK
TO HEALTH AND HOPE-THE
ARMY LIBRARY.

home there have been many incidents In all war
history where women have taken n prominent anu
glorious part In the front ranks NO pages III
the whole chronicle OF any long strife are so iu'i
Of noble scf-sacriAcc those wherein we ma the
account OF the brave acts Of the noble women WHO
have left home and comfort to do their snare
wherever they found their presence needfui MOI
only have the women OF America shown love lot
their country by sending father. sons ana nus
bands TO tho conflict but there have also been many
instances 81 the most complete scf-enacemcn' an"
noble sacrifice among the women who nave eone
hravelv to the battlefield and there helped reheNe
the terrible condition or things Tint always pre-
walls.
Among other women who did much OF TINS ser
vice during the Civil War Mrs Mary a. Brady
who took upon herself the great task or relieving
the suffering OF the many soldiers sent 10 '"e
hospitals near philadelphia. Here hundrehs anu
hundreds Of men lay suffering the agony OF So"'
burning fever. and here. too were many men en-
during the weakness incident to the amputation OK
limbs TO make lie bcarablc to these patient sur
ferers was the work Mrs. Brady mapped out 'o'
herself At once she formed an association was
elected its president. and regularly each DAY she
sponi the time at the bedsdes OF the patients. dis
trihutlng not alone food and clothing nut hnd'hs
a few minutes to read aloud from the newspaper
or Eihlo and TO do that greatest service OF all 10
tho mon far from home-writc letters to the dear
ones who were trying hard to bear the suspense nj
q long distance.
AZ the scene of war shifted and the number OF
mon sent 10 Philadelphia grew less each month
Mrs Brady took her work to the camps along tho
/ Potomac CARRYING with her many boxes OF pro-
Visions and clothing which were greatly needed
These she gave out constantly. always finding IT
necessary the greatest judgment IN tho
distributions for where so much was needed IL was
difficult 10 make little accomplish the desired
end in the camps near and around Washington
she visited thirty thousand sick and wounded. ana
I'm many Instances she the first woman out
side the Regular Army nurses to come to these
camps Her experience proved that everything
was wanted" she wrote home. nnd she had
boxes constantly sent from Philadelphia with nee
cssary supplies. At Chanccllorvills she worked
mos, actively for the relief OF the wourded and
sick and again ut gettysburg cooking nursing.
helping bnndage. and always saying tho cheertui,
kindly word To the falling sufferer She worked
bravely and did untold amount OF good but her
strength could not long withstand the great strain
such a life put upon II. and so. after three years
Of the hardest bravcst work she was forced to re-
turn 10 her home whore she died from the
effects Of the great effort she had made to serve
her country.
MISS ELIDA RUMsEY.
throughout the entire period OF tho war the city
% Washington contained many soldiers from NIL
parts Of the North and West. most Of whom were
fairly well educated all OF whom could rcad. but
most Of them wore without any Of the comforts or
NE except what they could stow away In the cor
ucrs 81 their kuapsacks. for heavy marching orders
10 not leave spac. for carrying much but absolute
necessities \ large number n these men In Wash
ington were hal' sick. fair portion OF them but
able to hobble around on canes and clutches. and
the one thing above all els" that they craved was
/ good. honl'hy mind occupation something TO re-
ii~vc tho long tcIiousness 81 tho days which TO
/ an unoccupied person made Of countless
hours This great help came TO them through the
/ Soldiers FREQ Library. which was established.
/ books contributed and the entire system managed
through tho efforts and under the supervision OF
Mt. Ea moy The story OF . hSM ts s y9uHn n
tormncd 10 All them IS somewhat unusual N ne
morning group ~ soldiers were standing langulily
arouni the groVrls Of prison. when young
/ man passing n7'rN y ihrf would LIZ 10 nay" "
/ song some auywerci inArercntly "Ycs" others
sad nothing Ia few minutes a sweet. young
/ girl with fcdd'nlng checks. which told of tho
ncwnc-s Of tho situation FOR her, stood among
/ them. and IN clear. rwoot voice sdiig The Star
/ siaheled Tanner. Th" e1'ct was eeetric WIN
a. that young woman stepped down from inc
together to raise her 50 all might SEQ her ~ she
sang. she was Inspired with new enthusiasm and
/ cin she coud dcdicntc to her country ana soon
her slight young form became frequent and ever
/ ma, M noted the need Of soma place whore iii
sorts ~ reading matter could be obtained by the
/ s"lilcrs' Free Librarv This library was not only
/ - reading room. but from 1t Miss RIm-cy and her
/ helpers sent out many boxes OF books. papers and
e to RS'S e s a' bS camps the work she S"d
| distributed over two thousand Bibles and many
thousand sheets Of writing paper md envelopes. In
many cases performing tho work OF amanuensis as
we'll
10 obtain money for the cause she gave many
] concerts. always singing herself. and when she
/ sang the patriotic airs which had go warmed tho
/ hearts Of tho sick soldiers the applause the
! greatest Money readily raised In this way.
/ ana rapidly spent In cnargng the work
/ az tho library In December 1862. Congress do
mated plot Of ground for tho building. and In
very short time 2,co Volumes wcrc housed, tho
number increasing constantly ms the good work
/ became known. Gradually the detail work OF tho
/ library putSn charge of the soldiers who. on
account OF severe Injuries were unable to return
10 active service, and as the library thus needed
less al her personal attention she entered tho field
1 81 more active service In company with Mr.
| fowle whom she nftcrward married and with
whom she did most active work In the Sunday
services held I'm the Han of Representatives. They
ioifed Of tho relief expeditions TO the field and
many sad message OF love did this brave woman
| many dark lonely night was frightened by her
| sweet singing 1t was also due to her that many
brave soldiers grave now bears his name and home
on it's maidstone, rather than that most pathetic
| OF I'll marks. Unknown"
Woman may not take the sword or bayonet In
defence OF her dearly loved land. yet by her gentle
| administrations and thoughtful deeds OF kindness
she may alleviate the suffcrIngs OF thousands OF
men who would otherwise perish OF thirst lack of
! nourishment and homesickn~ss but for her foster
Ink care. her unlimited capacity for sympathy and
| her iniultive knowledge OF the wants OF tho pa
tlont.
MATS THAT ARE THINGS or BEAUTY
becoming hat or bonnie. IL always an interest
ing and important subject to n well-dressed wom-
STYLES n