The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-01
BATTLEFIELD ANGELS.
Brilliant Work Performed BY Women During The
War Of The Rebellion. -

UdI uI no n5oohOh
Apropos of the Grand Army gather
ing, held in September in Philadelphia.
and the activity OF the women In pre-
| pairing for the reception and entertain-
mend of the guests. IL is timely to re-
call the work performed by the wom-
en- on the field during the great strug-
gle which gave rise 10 the organization
of the Grand Army of tho Republic.
ON the field at Gettysburg, like an
! angel OF light and hope. the mlnistra-
lions OF Miss Cornelia Hancock were
the first To be given by a woman 10
the Second Army Corps and no one
questioned her right 10 be there BE-
cause she was a woman, but rather all
rejoiced that she had come as a mes
senger from God 70 the dying ana
wounded, says the Philadelphia Record.
Although her work was very exhaust
ing. and such as strong man would
shrink FROM she remained in the field
hospital until a general hospital was
established and then transferred her
services 10 IL. For her services at Get
tvsburg she received medal, which
HItpIMdlu UttbIllt ~ ltaAHr Pti 1 NlAih ~
ed her I'm good stead more than once.
Sne served IN Washington in the Con-
qaband Hospital at Brandy station,
after the battle. and was the first
Northern woman TO enter Freiericks-
burg. where her services were speedily
cale,l for by the thousands OF wounded /
already There. She not only bound up
wounds and soothed fever-tossed pa
tients. but cooked suitable foods FOR
rhose who were able 10 eat and in this |
way saved many lives Until the close |
OF the war she was actively engaged |
at various point. and doing good work |
at all. Her home was then in New Jer- |
scy. but IL has been for a number Of |
years in this city. Miss Hancock is an |
officer i'm the Army Nurses Association. |
Mrs Elizabeth Chapman is another |
nurse who is affectOnately remem- |
bered by the hundreds Of boys in blue" |
who came under her ministrations and |
motherly care. When the Civil War |
broke out she was busy housekeeper |
living in keokuk Iowa. but the ca. |
OF duty 10 relieve suffering was so |
strong that she went TO the hospital |
ana worked all day going home at |
night TO attend 10 her home duties and /
not taking thought for herself or time |
TO rest the tired body.
She had given TO the service her |
husband. her son and son-in-law She |
was enrolled as a regular |
nurse and was sent 90 Memphis. Tenn.
and was i'm the hospitals and on the |
boats. She with the sick soldiers. often |
suffered for proper food. but all was
borne uncomplainiagly. and her cheer
ng words often caused the weak and |
lomes'ck soldiers to take oqi fresh /
and grasp the hope of life held |
nut TO them. Mrs. Chapmans home is 4
n the state Of Illinois.
Every New York boy knew of Aunt
'ecky Young" during the war. for she
ras their only friend and helper. In |
sol she made application to go to the |
ront as nurss, and was roughly told |
lat 1t was no place for a woman the |
rum corps could take care OF the sick |
nd wounded" but her womanly in |
ttncts tol1 her better than that. and |
he authorities soon found IL to be i'm |
50 number Of women were |
mustered in at Binghampton, y. Y. as |
rmy nurses. Aunt Becky" met Them
Vt Beltsvine. Nd. and cheered the
learts of the soldiers by unpackng and
hstriputing the boxes brought TO them
rom friends al home. She went 10 the
ield hospital of the Ninth Corps. where
'he remained as matron and nurse until |
he close OF the war The loving appel |
alton SHE bears was bestowed upan her |
)y DIR. French, the assistant surgeon Of l
he One Hundred and Ninth New York
volunteers. After the war Mrs. Young
TO Des MOisnes Iowa. and bo
anne a member OF the Wcman's Relief
,orps also of the Army Nurses Assoc
iation
In the West there rs no more famiI-
ar name than that OF Mother Kicker
yke. and none more revered by the
emnant or the great army which went
Z the call OF Lincoln to fight the bat
les OF the Union. Wherever there was
uneiing she was there ready to allie
late IL. She came of revolutionary
lock. and lis an Ohoan by birth. When |
ne cholera broke out in Cincinnati i'm
'3I. she went 10 the hospital. and ac-
uired that skill in nursing which made
or work 50 successful in after years.
she served as nurse through the en-
re war of the rebellion. and after
ards when $40 many soldiers were out
employment, she secured transporta- |
on for them 10 Kansas, and also se
ired loan OF $4,000 for their use. In
'at way she had much 10 do with the
'ttling Of that State nv SO MANY Vet Z
ans The Kansas Woman's Relief |
orps has built and fully equipped "a. /,
'me and hospital at Ellsworth. which