The Somerset reporter., 1900-06-07
Women In the War.

Following Is an epitome OF the address
made In North cemetery, Skowhegan
Memorial Day by Rev. H. A. Markley
After the death of Dorothea Lynde
Dix In 1887 we first learned of an invalu
able service which she rendered at the
outbreak of the Civil war. Through her
wide and intimate acquaintance with
leading men of the South she had learn
ed of the plan of seige upon Washington,
and after cutting off railroad communi-
cation with the North and West, declare
the slave power the de Jdct0 government
OF the u. s. She made IL known to
President FELTON,, OF the fhila. and
BALTIC. X. r and his spies soon became
members Of the bands OF armed men
drilling at several points along the line
of the railroad. Lincoln was brought
safely to Washington via Philadelphia,
and provision was made beforehand for
getting the troops into Washington
spite OF broken railroad connections.
One does not like to think what might
have been had the plot succeeded.
OF great importance, too, was the ser
vice of Anna Ella Carroll Of Maryland.
She became trusted adviser OF Pres.
Lincoln with access to his presence at
any time. And In the fall of 1861 the
government sent her into the West to
study the situation. The president,
Sec'y Stanton, and others high In au'
thority, repeatedly gave her credit for
the plan of the campaign which began
with the fall of Forts Henry and Donel'
son and by crushing the Confederacy's
left flank, struck the first telling blow
10 nf
FIske on 1.-THE Mississippi 10 the Civil
War" brings out 1.-THE illuminating truth
that the Rebellion was really crushed In
this field"
Other women served as soldiers, scouts
and spies, one of them entering the enc
mys lines eleven times and securing
valuable information.
Best known Is the service OF women
at home and at the front In the work OF
the Christian and Sanitary Commissions.
The Crimean war had shown the world
that the soldiers greatest danger was
not in the enemy's weapons, but In
disease. There was every reason to
believe that the regular medical service
Of the Union army would be inadequate.
Hence the activity OF the women, even
before blood was shed, and increasing
with the need to the very close OF the
war. Nurses at the front brought to
the sick and wounded the food and care
without while they must have persisted
Which In almost every city and large
town there were branches engaged 10
gathering money and supplies. The
idea of holding sanitary fair originated
with Mary A. LivermOre, and with its
successors some 81, zoo, 900 was secured
In brief the result WAS the saving OF
100000 lives. In previous wars the
deaths by disease, and deaths upon the
field OF battle, were as to lin the Civil
war, as 2 to l.
But there was no nobler patriotism
that that Of the woman who gave their
loved ones. One lost son and -four
grandchildren, but "did not regret the
sacrifice. Had twenty sons | would
give them ALL" And another standing
by the bedside of her dying husband
(married there but an hour before) said,
"Yes, we are ready, he to go, and | to
stay. l was prepared for this when
gave him to God and the country"
kuskin Is right, the women of a coun-
try are responsible for its wars, and
without their approval or permission, no
war people can carry on war, much
less win one. The historian finds the
women of the North Id '6l-'65 worthy of
the men and the country they loved.