The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-25


 or the gray. In fact. the mingiing of the Northern and Southern soldiers in the same hospitals was very common throughout the war. and combatants thus brought together usually forgot the na- uonai grievance, and, having made friends. amicably discussed the little unpleasantness between the States
 It was while caring for wounded Fed eral soldier on the field of battle that Mrs. Hopkins received her first wound and later. during the conflict near Rich, mona she was again wounded while SUD- porting Confederate soldier whose umb was being amputated On this occasion the wound proved so serious as to neces. sitate her being carried from the battle held in an ambulance. She never entirely recovered from its effects. but was lame for the rest of her life.
 Mrs. Hopkinss efforts were exerted not only in establishing hospitals and nurs- ing the sick, but also in endeayortns to oiscover the surest and quickest methods or giving relief and restoring health to the wounded. It has been said that no member or the medical corps. either worth or South, ever met with such suc- cess as she secured in the treatment of that insidious and dread hospital foe gangrene. and thousands of soldiers throughout the country undoubtedly owe tneir lives to her successful method of treating this most dangerous and refrao tory disease.
 As public recognition of the high es. teem in which her services were held ths vfgnette of this heroic woman was placed upon the face of the twenty-five cent note ot tne Confederate currency of the State of Alabama. '.
 The surrender at Appomattox left Mrs. Hopkins. as 1t did many another brave, seif-sacrificing Southern woman, desti- tute She has given her all to '"The Lost Cause" and had declined to accept any compensation for her services during those four years of warfare A year af- ter the war closed Judge Hopkins died and her circumstances then became most distressing. The facts relating to her true condition becoming known. a purse was at once started throughout the Southern States for her benefit. made up of voluntary contributions from grate- full soldiers. eager to offer this testimo- nial of their appreciation of her heroic and unselfish ministration to the sick and suffering among them. Upon hearing of their intention, Mrs. Hopkins. with that nobility of soul which ad ever char acterized her actions, at once declared that not one cent would she accept from the impoverished Confederate soldiers who were struggling against such fearful odds to provide for their own poverty stricken families and reclaim their de. vastated homes.
 It was several years after "the furling of the banner before Mrs. Hopkins again returned to the Southern home, but no President of this great republic ever re- ceived so enthusiastic an ovation as that which greeted this woman veteran upon her first visit South after the downfall of the Confederacy.
 At every station along the entire ruote from Alexandria to Alabama ex-soldiers, each bearing about him some token. of '"The Lost Cause" either an empty sleeve crutch. or a t6ttered remnant of Con- federate uniform, crowded about her like eager children. and grasping her hands, invoked heavens blessing upon this wo- man who had been indeed a ministering fering. And these were but voicing the sentiment of their great commander-in- chief, who thus expressed himself in a letter addressed to Mrs. Hopkins: '"rhe | soldiers and the whole country owe you a debt of gratitude which can only be can celed by blessing your memory" Tn 1873 while on a visit to Mrs. Barne- we'll of Mobile, Mrs. Hopkins was waited upon by delegation of honorary and active members of the Mobile Rifles. The company stacked arms in front of the house, and while the band played "Dixie'' they marched into the spacious drawing room where the family was assembled, and here. forming a solid square, with | inclined heads and caps in hand. stood at salute while their captain presented to Mrs. Hopkins a handsome silver ser vice.
 So much for the war record of this dis | tinguished Alabamian, representing as it | does a vivid portrafture of a woman's un- selfish heroism We will now turn to that | romantic episode which touched and mingled with her after-life. and by a for tunate dispensation of Providence so hap oily blendid the Blue and the Gray.
 Near the close of the war General Romayn Ayres, one of the most distin- gushed officers of the Federal service, while stationed in the Shenandoah Valley was exceedingly annoyed to learn that a party of his soldiers had ruthlessly set fire to the residence of Hiram Opie one of the most prominent citizens of the community. He hastened in person to the scene, and used every available means to extinguish the flames. Finding that his efforts were in vain, and hearing that the mistreess of the home had been car ried from a sick bed to one of the negro cabins on the premises. he immediately repaired thither to offer his regrets and also his services in procuring her other and more comfortable quarters. Now, the object of greatest interest and solici- tude in this cottage at that time was a we bit of humanity which had but two days before opened its wondering eyes upon this vale of sorrows, Tor such indeed was the beautiful Shen0 ndoah after the | memorable Sheridan ride. As the gal | lant general stood within the door of the cottage, courtenusly offering his apologies to Mrs. Opie for the carelessness of his soldiers, he little realized that in the diminutive little lady snugly tucked away among pillows and comforts, in an i'm provised crib made of two split it-bottom chairs, he had unconsciously met his future fate.
 Some sixteen years later the General while travelling from New York to For | Hamilton. became suddenly captivatet with the charms of pretty winsom,