The National tribune., 1899-01-19
NURSE and SPY.
The Adventures of q Woman
il Hospitals, Camps and
Battlefelds. !.
II u
BY s. EMMA E. EDMoNDS.
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

|
BY s. EMMA E. EDMoNDS.
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
The services of Emma Edmonds, the
famous Union nurse and spy are here
related by herself in a manner that has
| seldom been surpassed in narratives OF
the dramatic sort by women. A native Of
New Brunswick, but full of sympathy
with the principles for which the Unto n
| armies fought, she entered the service of
the Government. -
l noticed in the Western Department
that the Chaplains were much more faith
full to their trust and attentive to the
sick and wounded than the Chaplains in
the Army of the demonstrating them as
class. $50. 4s
One man, in speaking of his Chaplain
said: HE is one of the best men in the
world; he has temperance meeting once
a week, prayer meeting twice a week,
and other meetings as he is able to hold
them; and then he labors personally
among the men. He also comforts the
sick and dying. l saw him with one OF
our comrades before he died, watching
and praying with him; and when he died
he closed his eyes and prepared him for
the grave with his own hands,"
Another said cover at Frederick tow n
as our lines were beginning to give way,
| and many thought the day was lost, our
Chaplin stepped right out from the ranks
| between us and the enemy's lines, knelt
down upon the ground, and lifted up his
| voice in most earnest prayer to God for
divine help in that hour of need. l never
! felt in all my life as | did at that
moment. An inspiration, as from God !,
seemed to seize us all we rallied, charged
drove the enemy before us, and gained
the important victory at Fredericks town,
which perhaps has saved to us the State
of Mississippi"
And yet another soldier gave testimony
like the following, with regard to a Chap
lain who had followed his regiment
through every battle in which it had
participated. Said he: "He was with us
day after day, and as soon as a man fell
wounded he would take him up in his
arms and carry him out where the Sur
day | saw hin, his clothes, from head to
foot, were literally dripping with the blood
OF dead and wounded men that he had
carried from the b9ttlehtll."
This noble Chapl ain reminds me Of a
brave soldier in the Army Of the Potomac
who was in the hottest f..the battle at
Antietam, where the bullets were sweep
ing ike death hail through the ranks.
The line wavered; there were strong symp-
toms of falling back on the part of his
regiment. This man rushed toward the
coDr bearer, who Stood heSitating, seized
the standard, and advanced with firm and
rapid step several PAGES in front Of the
foremost man; then thrustiDg down the
flagstaff into the ground he looked up at
the banner, then at the wavering line,
and said "rhere,l boys; come up to that
At one of the hospitals pear Vicksburg
H. 49, he
Confederate army, having been con
script.d by the rebelsS and remained that
len!t.I Of time before he found an 0ppor
tunity to- eScape.jg
He was an educated and highly intelli
gent young man., and il was deeply in
tereStilg 10 listen 10 his account OF the
Southern side OF this rebellion. said ne
The women down South are the best
re cruiting officers; for they absolutely re-
iuse TO tolerate, ar admit TO their society
any young man who refuses TO enlist; and
very often send their lovers, who have moi
enlisted, skirts and crinoiine with note
attached, suggesting the Il priateness
of such a cOstu ale unless l4iey donned
the Confederate Uniform al once.
l have often thought OF this trait of the
Southern ladies' character, and con-
;rasted it with the flattering receptions so
layishly bestowed upon our able-b0died
home guards by the New England fair
ones who profess TO love the old flag and
ieSpise its enemies. And ] have won
dered If an extensive donation OF "crino-
line would not be more eiIectual in filling
W our ranks than graceful bows and
bewitching smiles.
The following touching incident illus
trates the Southern style of increasing
their army and furnishing offenders:
,ynen the rebels were raising q. force in
Eastern Tennessee two brothers by the
name of Rowland volunteered. 4 younger
ftonr Hiatt rof, til
enlist, was seized and forced into the
army. He constantly protested against
lis impressment, but without avail lie
then warned them that he would desc ri
the first opportunity, as he would not
fight against the cause Of right and good
They were inexorable, and
ne was torn from his family and hurried 10
the field.
At the battle of Fort Donelson Row
land escaped from the rebels in the
second days fight, and Immediately
loined the loyal army. Though now Ia
that he was in righteous cause and
for a worthy end. In the bat
tie CT Pittsburg Landing he was taken
prisoner by the very regiment to which
ne had formerly belonged. This sealed
ais fate. On his way to Corinth several OF
1i5 old comrades, among them his two
orotherS, attempted to Kill him, one OF
them nearly running him through with a
oayone5. He was, however, rescued by
the guard, and Lr ought to camp.
Three days after the retreating army
had reached Corinth, Gen. Hardee, in
whose division was the regiment claiming
this man as deserter, gave orders to
have Rowland executed About O'Clock
IN the afternoon, the same day, some
20 900 Tennessee troops were drawn up in
Two parallel lines, facing inward, 300
Yards apart. The doomed man, sur
rounded by the guard detailed from his
own regiment To shoot him, marched with
4 firm step into the middle of the space
jetween the two lines OF troops. Here his
srave was air ady dug, and black nine
;9f1i1 ltg be i le it. p mi or of re-