The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29

manned in the service until the close of
| the war;
Mr. turned to his mother, who was
! visibly affected. Mother, you might have
plans had not miscarried.' Then to the
| captain he said: Mother was under fire
| more than once during the war"
/ shall be glad to hear her story" said
the captain, were you dispensing hospital
supplies
distributing sanitary supplies My only
brother had been reported mortally wound
ed in the second assault on Vicksburg, but
letters of later date assured us that he
still lived. and was in field hospital near
the Yazoo river.
II begged to be allowed to go to him, but
my friends said it would not be possible, as
all civilians and women had been sent
North. Then an appeal was made to Gov
ernor Morton, who gave me nurses pass
for the hospital boat you mentioned, and an
order for a stateroom for my brother on the
return trip. On the boat l met several la
dies who were going to the relief of friends,
and who had pledged their services as
nurses. No sooner had we reached the
Yazoo than wounded men began to arrive.
One Of the ladies became violently ill when
she met her wounded brother; he had re-
ceived five bullets iii one charge, out was
hopeful OF recovery. L sat beside him all
, night and assisted the surgeon who opened
large abscess caused by one of his
wounds. Afterwards l heard that he died
before the boat reached ST Louis.
My brother was in a hospital almost
rebel batteries plowed up the ground
within sight and shells from the mortar
boats in the Mississippi illumined the dark
ness as they burst over the doomed city.
Volleys of musketry kept us uneasy day
and night. for no one, could tell how long
the Union army could keep the repels WITH
in their Notifications.
ssTo avoid the narrowing scenes on the
hospital boat, remained at the field hos
pitaI about ten days. awaiting summons
to go on board. At length we were notified
to be at a certain landing by III a: m. the
next day. Leaving the hospital at daylight,
we reached the landing at oclock-there
was no boat in sight. and not human be-
ing to answer our anxious questions.
Besides my brother. l had charge OF
Captain Barber, whose leg had been arnpu-
tated below the knee, and two soldiers,
who were detailed TO assist In nursing:
To sustain my little company l pretended
to think that the hospital boat had not
heart i knew that the boat was at the
landing the evening before. and was heavily
loaded. We were left behind!
There was no alternative but TO return
TO the hospital. and that could not be done
before the cool of the evening 1 delayed
telling the officers the sad truth as long
as possible. When told they both declared
they would not go back; they would rather
die on the bank of the river. lima CINE my
feelings The ambulances must return 10
the hospital and there was not house
within ten miles.
The nurses went up and down the river.
IN the forlorn hope OF finding another boat.
government control. and il was almost GER
tain that no officer would dare TO take us
without an order. as our passes were only
good for the hospital boat
About. o'clock small steamer came
down the river. and soon after a gunboat
arrived as convoy. The captain of the
steamer positively refused TO take us as
passengers. said he had no accommoda-
tons or provisions. and that he might have
10 land us in much worse place than the
hospital. But he finally consented To al
low the wounded men 10 rest in the cabin
until he received his orders.
when the officers on the gunboat heard
our story they secured our passage TO
Helena, whittier the steamer was ordered.
But here new difficulty arose. Accord