Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-03-28
CAMP FIRE
>@8RgRS!zs
TALES OF FAMOUS BATTLES
Aged Woman Recalls Stories Of Death
and Disaster Witnessed During
Civil War.

Mrs. Jennie Thompson Long, who
lives at 523 Oak street, Wheaton,, Ill,
Is rs years old, and for nearly half a
century she has told to wondering
listeners her stories of death and dis
aster that came under her Eyes on
famous battleflelds OF the Civil war,
wher she acted as nurse for three
years. Here are incidents from among
the many in her store of recollec-
ton:
Il was one of thirty nurses that Gov.
Morton of Indiana sem out at the be-
ginning of the war. | was assistant
matron of the corps. Our first serv-
fee on the battlefield was at the first
battle Of Bull Run. 1t was a terrible
place, and the day was like the night.
Trees we're cut off by the shot and
shells, buildings were knocked down
and everywhere were the dead and
the dying.
"One man was brought in shot
through the head, and he was calling,
not for water, as most Of them were,
but only, My son! My SOM!
81 asked him his sons name, and
then l went out among h wounded
through the dust and mud and the
blood. Canteens of water were slung
over my shoulders and / gave drinks
to union and rebel alike. l had not
come to work for the Union. l had
come to work for God. And l found
the mans son, with his legs shot on,
and l had him carried to where his
father lay. They couldn't live, but
A.4 ~ IL c,~~1 Ltr FnfhnV'C hand
and he said he felt better.
cat the second battle Of Bull Run
saw forty soldiers buried in one
trench. One in a gray uniform was
still living, and l told the men That
they we're burying the bodies, but
they said, DO you think we can stay
here until he dies, little nurse? ia
not do such a thing as this l said, and
Just then a chain shot struck down the
five men hat were standing by my
side. But 1t did not harm me. The
Lord protected me.
Il was at the. battles where the big
generals were l sewed a button on
for Gen. Mcclellan and he gave me q
quarter. At n camp an old coloreo
woman made big corn pones and sold
them for 81. / got one and l was go
ing past Gen. McClellan's tent with II
when the general stopped me. Where
are you going with hat corn pone, lit
tie nurse?' he asked-they all called
me that-and l told him, and he said
Can't l have some?' I let him cut on
a piece of the pone and he gave me 6
dollar and told me to get another
pone, SO hat we could all lave
some.
AT Vicksburg the nurses were or
the hospital boat, and Gen. w. T
Sherman came down there with hi
big horse and asked the nurses tt
leave the boat and get some air. HI
said he would give them a guard 81
they could go around on land, but ev
cry one was afraid. Isn't there an.
one that's brave enough to Gomez h
asked. My heart was pounding away
but ! spoke up and said. I'm no
afraid, general He laughed and said
Good for you, little nurse and h.
held his great, freckled hand SO tina
l could step from it into the saddle
of his horse. He led the horse about
and in one place we were all at tn
top Of a bank. A dredge was working
below, digging a place for a gun hel
l had a premonition of evil. We
better get out of here l said. Some
things going to happen All right
said the general and laughed and le'
the horse back, and we had s~carcel,
got away when the land where W
had been standing all caved in. Tn
general turned and looked at me. Ar
you a prophet, little nurse? he asked
/ knew that something was going t
happen. | was born with a veil owe
my face.
Il served as an army nurse tire
years. After the war l was marrie'
to a soldier INC for fifty years | live
in Chicago and worked as a city mis-
sionary."