The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-01-18
MISS MARY HILL DEAD
Known AS the Florence Night.
inRale of the Army of North
ern Virginia.

Mary S. Hin, widely known and beloved
throughout the South, and especially in THU
State, died last Tuesday in Brooklyn at thu
age of eighty.two wears.
Miss Hill took important part in ,ht
alienation of the suffering of Confederate
Louisiana soldiers during ne war, and wa.
SO highly thought of by President Jefferson
Davis that she was sen, by him on several
delicate, confidential missions to Europe
during the time Of the war.
She was a native of Ireland, but came to
this country in her youth and settled near
this city. AT the outbreak of the war, her
brother, Sam Hill, enlisted in Capt. Monag-
hairs company of the Sixth Louisiana In
fantry, and this patriotic act on his part led
Miss Hill to espouse the cause of the South
with all her heart and soul.
During the terrible seven days battle
around Richmond, she was in charge of the
Louisiana hospital marion. The hospital
itself was under the direction of DIR. Felix
Formento. During that time of trial she
acted angel of mercy and earned the
name of the ''Florence Nightingale of the
Army of Northern Virginia. In order to
be near her brother, she on several occasions
accompanied the armies in the field, and was
looked upon with reverence by all who came
in contact with her. Among those who were
wounded, who have reason to remember her
services with gratitude is Capt. 3. T.
Walshe of this city, who received a telegram
from the Northern city announcing her
death.
Besides giving snlace and relief to the sick
and wounded. she also did other services for
the Confederacy. During the time that
Gen. Butler held this city she suffered arrest
and was imprisoned in the Julia street prison
for women because she carried letters
through the military lines investing this
city. The British consul interceded for her
while she was in prison, and she was re
leased on the ground that she was British
subject. She often acted the bearer of
tidings from wives, mothers and sisters in
this city to the soldiers at the front, and the
replies sent in answer to them.
She went North, where she died, in order
to be her nephew, William Van
Slooten, who a civil engineer Of Brook
Ign, but she always retained her love for
the soldiers who had worn the gray. When
the associations of the Army of Northern
Virginia and Tennessee started the Soldiers
Home, she was named the first matron of
the nome by Gov. NICHOLS and served with
out compensation until the institution could
be established upon a firm footing. She
took strong and active interest in all meas
ures likely to be of benefit the soldiers.
and always subscribed to the various enter
tainments and benefits given in their inter
est. Her death was fastened. by the tragic
ending of the Aife of her nephew few days
ago.
The body will arrive in this city Sunday
for interment, and arrangements for the
funeral will be made later.
Miss Hill a woman of unselfsh and
beautiful character and was beloved
wherever she known. Her brother,
Col. Sam Hill, who lives Monroe. La,
is her only surviving relative.
Before the she teacher in the
schools of this city. She woman Of
independent means and the work she per-
formed done from the purest motives
of patriotism. Her charity widespread.
1t was one of her custours, whenever there
was was gathering of the Confederates in
this city, to furnish boutonnieres for the
members of the Army of Northern Virginia.