The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-01

ING oRDERS-A WOMAN'S WORK.
Early in the Spring of 1861 Twas return
ing from the far West, and as sat wait
ing for the train which was TO bear me tC
nv adopted home in New England, and
was meditating upon the events whlch
had occurred during the past lew
months, the record of which was destined
to blacken the fair pages oil Aneilcail
history, / was aroused from my reVene by
a voice in the street crying New YORK
papers-Fall of Fort Sumter-Presldent
Proclamation-Cal for rs, 600 men!
This announcement startled me, while
nv imagination portrayed the coming
struggle in all its fearful magnitude. war
civil war. with all its horrors, seemed IN
evitable, and even then was ready 10
hurst like a volcano upon the most happy
and prosperous Nation the sun ever shone
upon. The contemplation OF thls SAD
picture filled my eyes with tears ana my
heart with sorrow.
n is time Twas not an American. / was
not Obliged to remain here during inns
terrible strife. i could return TO my na'Ne
land where my parents Woulo weiI"ne
me to the home OF my chIldhoed, ota my
brothers and sisters would reloIce at ny
coming; but these were not the thoughts
which occupied my mind. 1t was not my
inten ton, or desire, to seek my own pei
sonal ease and comfort while SO muci
sorrow and distress filled the iand 4 e
great question to be decided was, VIVA
can I do What part am | to act IN TINS
great drama9 ] was not able TO decloe ioi
myself so / carried this question 10 the
Throne of Grace, and found a satisfactory
answer there.
Five years previous to the time o.
which j write / left my rural nome, no.
far from the banks of the St. John $ River
in the Province of New Brunswick, and
made my way to the United States. An
Unsuitable thirst for education led me tc
do this. for | believed then as now thal
the foreign missionary field was the one
in which ] must labor, sooner or iateI.
I had come here a stranger with but iittie
10 recommend me to the favorab bic notice
of the good people except letter from me
aston of the church to which / belonged,
and one from my class leader. Notwltn-
standing, had found kind friends to nell
me in all my undertakings, ana WheuiSf
in business, education, or spiritual ad-
vancement, / had been ASSISTED DeyoIu
my highest expectation.
GOING TO THE FRONT.
Ten days after the Presidents procla-
nation was issued / was ready to start
for Washington having been employed by
the Government and furnished with all
the necessary equipments 1 was 10 go
to the front and participate IN all the ex-
citement of the battle sceneS-or, In other
words, be a field nurse.
The great West was stirred to its center,
and began to look like a vast military
camp. Recruiting offices were filled WIN
men eager to enroll their names as de-
tenders of their country, and women were
busily engaged in preparing all the COM
forts that love and patriotism could sug-
gest for those who were so soon to go
forth TO victory or to death, while the
clash of arms and strains OF martial
music almost drowned the hum oil IN.
dustry and war became the theme Oh
every tongue.
About this time ! witnessed the de-
parture of the first Western troops which
started for Washington. The regiments
were drawn up in line, fully equipped fof
their Journey, with their bright bayonets
flashing in the morning sunlight. IL was
On the principal street Of pleasant little
village of about 600 inhabitants, where
there was scarcely a family who had not
a father, usband, son or brother IN that
little band of soldiers who stood there
ready TO bid them farewell, perhaps for
years, perhaps forever.
farewell address was delivered by the
village pastor and a New Testament pre-
scented TO each soldier, with the following
inscription: Put your trust in God, and
keep your powder dry" Then came the
leaye-taking; but it is too painful TO dwell
upon. The last fond word was spoken,
the last embrace given, then came the
order March," and amid the cheers OF the
citizens, with banners proudly floating
and the bands playing The Star Span
gled Banner" they moved forward on
their way TO the Capital.
On Iooki me- back now upon the scenes
of that morning notwithstanding have
looked upon others much more thrilling
since then, yet ] cannot recall that hour
without feelings Of deep emotion. While
stood there and beheld those manly forms
conyulsed with emotion, and heard the
sobs Of those whom they were leaving be-
I pfp fhaa1E Cod that /
free and could go forward and work, and
was not obliged to stay at home and
weep A few hours more and too was Oh
my way TO Washington.
NOES AT BALTIMORE.
When I reached Baltimore / found the
city in an uproar. Mobs were gathered IN
the streets and the utmost excitement
prevailed and as the crowded cars moved
through the city toward the depot, the in
furiated mob threw showers of stones,
brickbats and other missiles, breaking
the windows and wounding some OF the
soldiers.
Some of the men could not forbear firing
into the crowd, notwithstanding their or
ders were to the contrary; however, 1T had
good effect, for the mob soon dispersed.
They probably had not forgotten the 9th
Mass. and the Pennsylvania troops which
had passed through short time before.
The cars soon reached the depot and
started Immediately for Washington
where we arrived in due time, weary, and
In great need of food and sleep.
Soon after reaching Washington COM
menced visiting the temporary hospitals
which were prepared TO receive the sol
diers who arrived there sick. The troops
came pouring in so fast, and the weather
being extremely warm, all the genera
hospitals were soon filled, and it seemed
impossible 10 prepare suitable or com
Portable accommodations for all who re
quired medical attention
There are many things in connection
with this war that we are disposed Il
find fault with, and We think the blame
rests upon such and such individuals
but after investigating the matter we fin,
that they are all owing to a combination
of circumstances entirely beyond the con
troll of those individuals, and il require
time to bring about the desired results
This has been my experience with regar
TO the hospital department.
BEGGING FOR COMFORTS.
After walking through the streets TO
hours on sultTy southern day in scare
of one of those temporary hospitals,
would find a number of men there deliri
Gus with fever. Others had been sun
struck and carried there, but no physical
to be found in attendance. Then | woul
naturally come TO the conclusion that tn
Surgeons were all slack concerning thei
duty. but upon going to the Office Of tn