Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-10-15
"reminiscences of Army Nurse.

"reminiscences or Army NURSE.
81 was married four days after the
first shot was fired in the civil war"
said Mrs. Susannah D. Clark. one of
the army nurses who attended the
recent G. A. r. convention held in
Boston.
Mrs. Clark was the first volunteer
army nurse to receive a pension in
this country, obtained by special act
of Congress on June 81, 1890.
You see, when the war broke out,
said Mrs. Clark, q 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 25 years old. So you can imagine
what a patriotic young person l was
when 1 brought our honeymoon to an
abrupt end by announcing to my hus-
band that 1 was going to the front as
a nurse, for 1 was the only one who
could represent our family, and l felt
it was a 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, 1 left the old homestead,
where had spent so many of my girl
hood days-perhaps never to return.
81 saw my first service during the
battle of Bull Run, and later l was
nurse during the battle of Gettysburg;
but 1 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.
Il have had the honor of being
nurse in two wars, and it was during
the Spanish-American war that Secre-
tary A1ger requested that 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.
AT one time during the civil war
took care of the wounded soldiers OF
the Corn Exchange militia of Phila-
delphia, of which Capt. Marshall of
Company F was a member; and, the
encampment being near our home,
number of the wounded were taken
into our house. 1 remember that the
captain himself was given my own
room, and how we did have to hustle
to keep the soldiers supplied with
toast and coffee at their first return
ing signs of healthi
These wounded soldiers were cared
for at my own expense, but 1 was only
too glad to think L had the home and
the means necessary for the purpose.
During this convention l have met
Rachel Harris, the only colored nurse
who was present at the convention.
Her history is an unusually interesting
one.
when the war broke out she was
slave, and she ran away from the
plantation in Memphis, taking her two
children with her, one child being then
only months old, the other years
OF age.
when she reached the union lines
the soldiers took her children and
cared for them and gave her a posi-
ton as nurse in the hospital.
"a certain regiment, the name of
which l have forgotten adopted the
little 4-months-old daughter of Rachel
Harris (the boy had died soon after
reaching the union lines), and the sol
diers of this regiment have cared for
the child ever since. She is now Mrs.
Emily E. Woodley of New York.
Now, don't you think 1 have talked
enough for one timer" asked Mrs
Clark, as she shook hands, saying:
There are not many of us left to at
tend the conventions, but if the Lord
spares my health l expect to be in
Denver next year to attend the con-
vention to be held there"