The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1904-10-21
"reminiscences of Army Nurse.

"reminiscences of Army Nurse.
Il was married four days after thu
first shot was fired in the civil war,
said Mrs. Susannah D. Clark. one O
the army nurses who attended the
recent G. A. R. convention held II
Boston.
Mrs. Clark was the first volunteer
army nurse to receive pension in
this country, obtained by special act
OF Congress on June q, 1890.
"You see, when the war broke out, y
said Mrs. Clark, Il didn't have any
brothers to enlist, and my dear father
was too old, as was also my husband,
for he was just twice my age, being
then rs years old. So you can imagine
what q patriotic young person was
when brought our honeymoon to an
abrupt end by announcing to my hus.
band that was going to the front as
a nurse, for I was the only one who
could represent our family, and l felt
It was time when each family
should contribute at least one dear one
to our glorious cause.
$50, bidding my husband and father
goodbye. with the tears running down
my cheeks, left the old homestead,
where had spent SO many of my girl.
hood days-perhaps never to return.
Il saw my first service during the
battle of Bull Run, and later l was
nurse during the battle of Gettysburg;
but l saw most of my service in the
city of Harrisburg, in the hospitals
there, and you understand they didn't
have hospitals then as they do now.
II have had the honor of being a
nurse in two wars, and it was during
the Spanish-American war that Secre.
tary Alger requested that a tent be
set up for my own private use on the
grounds where my two grandsons were
confined in the Dennison hospital at
Lexington, Ky. ...r .r...I
AT one time during the civil war |
took care of the wounded soldiers OF
tho Corn Exchange militia of Phila
delphia, of which Capt. Marshall of
Company F was member; and, the
being near our home,
number of the wounded were taken
INTO our house. l remember that the
captain himself was given my own
'oom, and how we did have to hustle
o keep the soldiers supplied with
cast and coffee at their first return. ,
ng signs Of health! #e@ 8A3 I
These wounded soldiers were cared {
or at my own expense, but was only 9
90 glad to think had the home and '
he means necessary for the purpose.
During this convention have met
'achel Harris, the only colored nurse :
rho was present at the convention. +
Ter history is an unusually interesting :
ne.
when the war broke out she was a i
ave. and she ran away from the !
antation In Memphis, taking her two q
lildren with her, one child being then y
lily months old, the other 4 years y
age.
when she reached the union lines
e soldiers took her children and
red for them and gave her q posi-. =
IN as nurse In the hospital. =,
"A certain regiment, the name of =
1ich I have forgotten. adopted the .
tie 4-months-old daughter of Rachel J
arris (the boy had died soon after a
aching the union lines), and the SOL ~
ers Of this regiment have cared TO, :,
e child ever since. She is now Mrs. :
nily E. Woodley of New York. =
Nov, don't you think have talked .
ough for one timer" asked Mrs .
ark. as she shook hands, saying: = =
here are not many of us left to at. :
I'd the conventions, but If the Lord "
ares my health expect to be in
'nver next year to attend the con- u
ntion to be held there" g