The Washington times., 1914-05-06
SAW WARS HORROR,
VOLUNTEERS AGAIN
Mrs. Ella K. Newsom in Charge
Of Hospitals With Armies of
: the ConfederaCy.

Patriotism is not confined to the
young alone. but retgns with equal ar
DOR in the breasts of the old. When
one has passed through wars fire and
fame, has seen death and devastation.
has taken care of and nursed wounded
soldiers, and then in old age when the
flag again calls her SONS and daughters
To the front. noblr asks that she may
80. surely such an example is inspir-
ing to. the highest degree.
Mrs. NElla X. Newsom. who served
with the Army of the Confederacy
from 1861 to IS. and las stored up in
her mind all the horrors which were
hers during those dark. bloody years.
again offers herself as a nurse, and,
formed that her age is a bar, still she
hopes that what she wants to do for
her country. once more united against
the common enemy. mdy inspire some
nurse to brave the dangers and perils
of modern warfare and offer herself
for service. ready TO give relief and
comfort. the influences and moral
strength which soldiers need when do
Ing battle for the republic.
Warns of Camp Perils.
Mrs. Newsom warns against filth and
its attendant diseases i'm camps, and
states that during all her service as
hospital nurse during the trying years
of the war between the States, there
we're more deaths resultant from un-
sanitary conditions than from wounds
received in battle.
Go feel what | have felt: go kneel
where ] have knelt: go see what / have
seen. and every mothers heart would
be bowed in prayer that another war on
this continent might be aVerted, or If it
cannot. that our boys may be cared for
when the days of agony come-the long.
fevcred nights. the suffering from
wounds and tropical diseases.
Only the actual participants in war
can have a realization of its horrors.
During our civil war | was in the
hospital service from the first gun to
tn, last. and. being with the Confederate
army, saw more of suffering from lack
Of hospital supplies, medicines, and
sanitary appliances We were block
aided continually, and il was with great
effort that we kept up with the constant
demand for more and more.
During the first year of the war I
was sent to Bowling Green, Ky. to
take charge of the hospital there. l
found conditions unbelievable. Union
sentiment prevailed, and there was
neither sympathy nor help for the Con-,
tederate. Gathering up A carload OF
hospital supplies. I took my five serv-
ants and rushed over TO my new station.
did, indeed. find state of things well
nigh inconceivable. General Floyd had
come over to Kentucky from Virginia to
Join Johnston's army. and he solicited
me TO take charge of his hospital. and
u was there that 7 first fourd out the
terrors of camp life. even without the
agony of wounds.
Saw Agonies of War.
Prom lack of proper sanitary appli-
snCes and also leaders to compel cieanlI-
ness, the camp had become Il veritable
pest hole Disease had come in, and il
was with the greatest difricnlty that It's
inroadS could be checked. On top of
all the suffering. more from sickness
than wounds. came the order to retreat.
and the agony that those poor soldier
boys endured during our retreat was
sufficient to cause me to deplore war.
We have our army in readiness now,
and lot US hope that it is not only pre-
pared to fight a human enemy. but that
nothing has been left undone in prepar-
ton for the battle against camp dis
cases and pestilence. Let our last wal.
that of 1928. be another warning, and let
us remember the great numbers who
left these shores, never were under fire,
and vet failed to return.
Mothers, wives. sisters, and sweet
hearts pray, pray continually for our
BOYS in this coming conflict.
"A nations honor may demand this
second war with Mexico, but a nations
yeomanry must suffer and die to uphold
il