The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-07-24

Gibson, in charge of the military hos
pital at Richmond, Va, called upon
the Sisters of Charity of Emmittsburg
to come to the aid of the wounded in
that section. With the consent of Bish-
op McGill, several sisters set out from
the church hospital of St. Francis de
Sales and began their duties at St.
Annes military hospital, building
then unfinished, but thoroughly ven-
tilated and free from dampness. Under
their charge were 300 patients, men
wounded in the skirmishes of Bethel,
Romney, Rich Mountain, Carrick's
Ford and Manassas, the last battle be-
Ing known as that of Bull Run. It oc-
Cured July 21, 1861, and resulted dis.
astrously for the Union forces. The
sisters, silently going their rounds,
could hear the reverberating sound of
the shot and shell. Gradually the hos
pital became too crowded and others
were built in and around Richmond
as rapidly as possible. AS they were
made ready for use, the surgeons ap-
piled for more sisters, and often and
often these women were without the
necessaries of life.
Nearly all of the sisters who could
be spared had been sent from the
Mother house at Emmittsburg, when,
on June Z, 1861, came telegram from
government officials asking for nurses
for the wounded at Harper's Ferry.
Despite the severe strain it entailed
upon them, the Superiors sent three
sisters, who endured extreme discom.
fort from the excessive heat, delays
and other disconcerting incidents of
the journey to Frederick City and
thence to Harper's Ferry. Hardly had
order been brought from chaos. when
the whole Confederate army was or
dered to repair Immediately to Win
chester, where the sisters work re-
commenced in one of the largest hos.
pitals. Here, several more sisters
were added to the nursing corps. Their
labors were continuous and incessant,
hardly allowing them pause for rest or
food, until the c0nvalescent soldiers
left for Richmond.
Among the most notable figures at
this time, in the order of the Sisters
of Charity we're:
Mother Anthony OConnell, black
cap, Sister of the Mother Seton
branch, who was native of Limerick,
BY her work at and after the battle of
Shiloh, April and z, 1862, she won
unfading laurels. She and her brave
followers spent months in Nashville,
Tenn, bestowing attention on the sick
and wounded of both armies. From all
the others she stands out in strong
relief, her person reverenced by the
Blue and the Gray, Protestant and
Catholic, and the love for her became
80 great that the title Of the Florence
Nightingale of America" was confer
red upon her, so that her name became
household word in every section of
the North and South.
"One of the most conspicuous of
those who gave up their lives, martyrs
to duty, was Sister Mary Consolata
Conlon, who, in the Goth year of her
age, yielded up her spotless life while
In attendance on those sick of typhoid
| fnvnr noS
Lookout, and she gave up her whole
being as generously as she had offered
her Jealous labors. She was buried
on the banks of the Potomac with
military escort, but the grave today
ranks among the unknown
IF earnestness of purpose, nobility
of character, unaffected piety and
humility, with great natural executive
ability count for anything, Sister Mary
Gonzaga ranks high in the radiant
galaxy Of intrepid women whose lives
have illumined wartime history.
"Her activities centered about Sat-
terlee Military Hospital at Philadel-
phia, where on June 8, 1862, she, with
40 Sisters assembled from all parts
pf the United States, took charge of
(this hospital at the earnest request of
,Dr. Walter +. Atlee, a physician of
unquestioned integrity and high stand
fling in the Quaker City. During the
years those Sisters cared for $4,000
Union and Confederate soldiers.
"None of the Sisters who gave time,
talent and strength in the cause of
suffering humanity at this time did
finer work than the Sisters of Mercy
Although they were subject to the
call of duty, no matter whence it came
their service was conspicuous on the
Southern battlefield.
"At the request of Vicar Genera
{ STAIRS Of New York, nine Sisters from
st. GATHERINGS Convent of Mercy
started on their mission for the Mill
tary hospital at North Carolina or
June 10. 1862. They worked with un
remitting zeal at Newbern, Mississippi
&! Continued on page A.