The sun., 1915-11-07

Sixth Massachusetts,, that fought its
way through Baltimore, brought my
playmates and neighbors. the partak-
ers of my childhood the brigldes of
New Jersey brought scores OF my
brave boys. the same solid phalanX
and the strongest lesions from old
llcrkimer brought the associates OF my
seminary days. They formed and
crowded around me. What could
do but go with them, or work for them
and my country?
The patriot blood Of my father was
warm in my veins. The country
which he had fought for / might at
least work for. and | had offered my
service to the Government in the ca =
pacity of u double clerkship at twice
Sl,iOO "a year, upon discharge Of two
disloyal clerks from its employ the
salary never 10 be given Ia me. hut 10
be turned back into the United states
Treasury, then poor to he csgary. with
no currency. no credit But there WAS
no law for this, and il could not he
done and | would not draw salary
from our Government in such peril. SO
| resigned and went into direct SER
vice of the sick and wounded troops
wherever found
When the battle Of Bull Run was
fought Clara BartuQ was one of the
first to nurse the wounded. Al the
he ght of her passion to 20 to the front
news came that her father was des-
perately il. at North oxford. She
hastened at once to his bedside and
told I'M of her secret determination
to be "a nurse oG the field of battle.
"Go. if it is your duty to go" replied
the old patriot. raising himself on his
pillows. II know soldiers. and they
Will respect YOU and your crrand."
That settled it In March, 1862, fol-
owing the death Of her father, she
returned to Washington, determined
to break conventions and override the
red tape Of the army rules.
It took all her powers Of persuas on
TO get permission to 60 to the front.
Such a thing was unknown. Not only
had no woman gone To the firing line,
but ii was before organized aid had
come To the relief of the soldier, be-
fore the two great and noble commits
sions, with which she WAS never con-
nected. had found their way directly to
the front. When, after the vcbuffs Of
months, Quartermaster RuCker showed
sympathy and insight enough 10 grant
her the necessary passports she burst
nto tears, then hurriodly departing
she Immediately loaded her supplies
upon railroad car and started for the
front.
For five days and five nights before
the battle of Cedar Mountain she had
but three hours s'eep. Then came the
second battle of Bull Run. She had
there and at Chantlly.
"rhe slight, naked chest of q fair
haired had caught my eye" she once
recalled "and dropping down beside
him | bent low TO draw the remnant of
his tom blouse about him. when with
IA quick cry he threw his left arm
across mv neck and. bury ing his face
in the folds of my dress, wcpt Ike Il
child at his mothers knee. took his
head in my hands and held il until his
great burst of grief passed away. And
do you know me- he asked at length,
i am Char.cs Hamilton, who used to
carry your satChc. home from school.
NY faithful pupil, poor Charley. That
mnngled right arm would never carry
Il satchel again,
"About 3 O'Clock in the morning
observed a surgeon with his littlo
iiickcring candle in hand approaching
me with cautious step far up in the
wood. Lady he said as he drew
near, will you 20 with me? Out on
the hills Is a poor distressed lad, NOR