Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27
CAMP FIRE
MAAAS'snORIES
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 IS 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 battIefelds of the Civil war,
where she acted as nurse for three
years. Here are incidents from among
the many in her store of recollec-
ton:
was one of thirty nurses that Gov.
Morton Of Indiana sent out at the be-
ginning of the. war. I was assistant
matron of the corps. Our first serv-
ice on the battlefield was at the first
battle of Bull Run. It was a terrible
place, and the day was like the night
Trees were 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 mos of them were,
but only, My son! My son!'
Il asked him his sons name, and
then I went out among the wounded
through the dust and mud and the
blood Canteens of water were slung
over my shoulders and 1 gave drinks
to union and rebel alike. l had not
come to work for the Union. | had
come to work for God And I found
the mans son. with his legs shot on.
and ] had him carried to where his
father lay. They couldn't live. but |
cut the bullet from his fathers head,
and he said he felt better.
AT the second battle Of Bull Run l
saw forty soldiers buried in one
trench. One in a gray uniform was
still living, and I told the men that
they were burying the bodies. but
they said, Do you think we can stay
here until he dies, little nurse?' I'd
not do such thing as this I said, and
just then a chain shot struck down the
five men that were standing by my
side. But 1t did not harm me. The
Lord protected me.
Z was at the battles where the big
for Gen. Mcclellan and he gave me a
quarter. At one camp an old colored
woman made big corn pones and sold
them for 81. I got one and l was go
ing past Gen. McClellan's tent with It
when the general stopped me. Where
tie nurse? he asked-they all called
me that-and I told him, and he said.
Cant / have some? l let him cut off
a piece of the pone and he gave me
dollar and told me to get another
pone, SO that We could all have
some.
AT Vicksburg the nurses were on
the hospital boat, and Gen. w. T.
Sherman came down there with his
big horse and asked the nurses to
leave the boat and get some air. He
said he would give them guard SO
they could go around on land, but ev-
cry one was afraid. Isn't there any
one that's brave enough to Gomez he
asked My heart was pounding away,
but l spoke up and said, I'm not
afraid, general He laughed and said,
Good for you, little nurse and he
held his great, freckled hand so that
l could step from 1t into the saddle
of his horse. He led the horse about.
and in one place we were all at the
top of bank. A dredge was working
below, digging place for gun. Then
had a premonition of evil. Wed
better get out of here / said. Some
things going to happen All right
said the general and laughed and led
the horse back. and we had scarcely
got away when the land where we
had been standing all cayed in. The
general turned aud looked at me. Are
you a prophet, little nurse?' he asked.
l knew that something was going to
happen. l was born with veil over
my face.
L served as an army nurse three
years. After the war | was married
to soldier and for fifty years lived
in Chicago and worked as a city mis-