The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-22
MOTHER B!CkERDYkE'S DAY.
Annual &. 4. 10. CampfITes in Memory
Of n Farrous Army Nurse.
From the Utica Observer

Two wears ago the Kansas department
Of the q. A. X. set apart July 10 as Mother
BiCkerdyke's" day. this being the date OF her
birthday. Among the many nurses who gave
their lives to the work of taking care of the
sick and wounded during the civil war she
was one of the most noted. In memory
OF what she did. the posts of Kansas have
arranged to have suitable exercises and to
honor and perpetuate her name by celebrat-
ing July 10 now and in the future, by camp
fires
Mrs BiCkerdyke was born in Knox county
Ohio. her maiden name being Mary Ann
Ball She was descended from Revolution
airy ancestry She married Robert Bicker-
dyke. who died in 1856 When the war broke
out the first buele call sent her to the front
with no commission except from the Lord
Almighty" as she told an offensive young
officer who asked her by whose authority
sha had set up her soup kettles on the battle
field She was matron OF large hospital
in Cairo, where the people OF Illinois sent all
their supplies. Her trustworthness was
proverblal,
At the battle Of Fort Don elson she was
first to follow and help remove the w0un ded
TO the nearest hospitals. At Pittsburg land
ing 5000 wounded soldiers were under her
core, following the army she had charge of
| dispcnsable in camp. hospital and field that
| Gen, Grant gave her II pass that permitted
| her to go anywhere within his lines and draw
unou any ouarterrnaster for transportation
! for her supplies
At one time when milk and eggs were
soroly needed for tho sick and wounded. she
told the physicians she would go North and
yet milk and eggs for her boys and when the
r,dicnled the idea telling her it would no i'm
possible to get them or to bring them IL they
could be obtained. she replied: IN bring the
COWS and the hens and we'l have things fresh. g
She took several hundred disabled soldiers
North with her and brought back 100 cows
and 900 hens all of which were given for the
sick soldiers.
drunken surgeon. who was making him
self obnoxious was ordered out of the hospital,
and when he complained to Gen. Grant the
reply was "Oh. if 1t is Mother Bickerdyke.
I cant do any thing for YOU She outranks
me
following the arm" wherever needed She
had charge Of an imprOyised hospital at the
foot Of Vision Ridge, where 1000 men were
under her care, She also had headquarters
Mt huntsville. Ala. Resaca, Kingston, Altoona.
and went With the army TO Atlanta
When the soldiers who had been released
from Andersonvlle Prison were sent to Will
minGton il wos she who. took care of them
and nursed them back to health and strength
When the, war closed she did not cease
her labors for the soldiers. A rich bank err
gave her $4,000 W 18th which to assist old sol
dicrs TO purchase homes In Kansas and hun
dreds were enabled to procure homes in that
State She secured pensions for many old
veterans and did the samc for 800 army nurses
She introduced into the hospitals through
her originality, and indomitable courage
system of cleanliness and thoroug hn ess
| which soothed and comforted the agonies
of the wounded and saved the lives OF thou
sands of soldiers
a
of the New York City Board Of Missions she
lahored for orphans and for the outcast and
destitute Of all classes, She provided for
10 600 orphan children and rescued thou
sands Of SHINING mon md women In the slums
Of New York. OF the wron gdoer she said
Pes ALWAYS sure Of two friends God and
work after the forest fres in Michigan and
when the grasshoppers destroyed every thing
In KANSAS,