The Washington times., 1902-10-05

| Alexandria also took part in the
work. and ten other hospitals were es-
| tablished there.
| At the height of the war there were
twenty y-one hospitals in and around
Washington. The citizens of the Ma
tional Capital devoted time, money, ev-
erything to the task of caring for the
performed a generous and noble work.
and In those hours of suffering and
gloom endearea themselves Iastinsiy 20
the hearts Of thousands Of the men who
on Tuesday will march again over the
broad expanse Of Pennsylvania Avenue
that saw their glory in '65.
| 1t Is likewise matter OF no small in
terest that among the legions of women
who joined hands in caring for the af-
| fiicted. no one took more earnest or
| sympathetic interest in the wounded
than Mrs. Lincoln, the wife of the Presi-
dent. She regularly visited the hospitals.
carrying flowers and such little luxuries
as could be procured. 1t is said that
her daily visits were looked forward to
by the men as ray Of sunshine.
The civil war changed Washington al
most in a day from a sleepy Southern
town into a city of hospitals and camps.
On July 1, 1861, 10000 were at the COM
rnanG Of the Secretary OF War. Scarcely.
four months later $4,000 Union soldiers
were encamped in and around this city.
As time passed this host OF waiting men
grew. in less than year the number
many more sick and wounded soldiers
lay in the score of hospitals. At this
time the various approaches TO tie city
were guarded by $50 forts and batteries,
consisting of more than 1900 guns.
The Washington OF those times has
rhe period. It says;
A Journalists Description.
Long lines OF army wagons and artil-
lery were continually rumbling through
the streets: at all hours of the day and
night the air was troubled by the clat-
ter of salloping squads of cavalry, and
the clank Of sabers and the measured
heat OF marching infantry were ever
present to the ear. The city was under
military government. and the wayfarer
was liable to be halted anywhere in
public buildings or on the outskirts by
an armed sentry who curtly asked his
business. Now and again, just after
some great battle near at hand, the
Capital afforded most distressful spec
tacle. The Washington hospitals were
never empty. but at such times they
were crowded with the MANNED and
wounded. streaming back from the fields
of slaughter They arrived in squads of
& hundred or more. bandaged and limp
ing, ragged and disheveled, blackened
with smoke and powder. and hobbliHS
with weakness. They came cropping,
hobhling. ard faltering, so faint and so
longing for rest that ones heart bled at
The piteous sight
During the month of August, 1862.
Washington was ioeded with vast tide
of wounded and sick soldiers, who had
been brough; into the city from the va
rous camps and battlefelds within q
radius of many miles.
At the close of the year 1852 there
were about 14,c0O sick ard wounded SOL
diers at one time in the hospitals OF
Washington. Georgetown, and Alexan-
dria. And had it not been for the gen.
erous aid of the churches in the matter
more than two-thirds OF that vast host
of afflicted would probably have been ut
terly unable to find refuge anywhere
for miles in this section Of the country, !,