The Washington herald., 1915-01-10
SICK SOLDIERS HAIL FRANK
B. FAY.
January 6.

B. FAY.
January 6.
Fifty years ago today the sick soldiers
in the army hospitals at City Point. Va,
nailed as a friend and comforter Frank
B. Fay, of Chelsea, Mass, who had given
Of his private means and had devoted all
his time since the beginning OF the war
to humane work among the men in the
ranks
The record OF philanthTopic devotion
to the cause of the union does not bear
brighter name than that of Frank B.
Fay. While others worked for organiZa-
tions. like the great sanitary committee
he worked alone. supporting his own
wagons and camp and paying his own
way.
Wherever the red tide of battle flowed
Mr.. Fay was at hand with loads OF medi-
cines. bandaEes, stimulants, clothing and
hospital luXuries for the use of the sur
Geons. Very often, when the wagon
trains of the army had not come up. these
things enabled the surgeons and nurses
to save life. They carried comfort to
thousands OF sufferers, first and last.
Mr.. Fay had an instructive sense of
where his wagons would do the most
good. Whenever the army was in need
it was morally certain that Mr.. Fay
would be there
After a battle, when the army halted
and hospitals were established, he was
on hand for hospital service with his
staff Of workers. These included his
niece. Miss Helen L. ellison, a sweet
girl. who sang to the sick and seemed
their ministering angel
Then the work of establishing diet
kitchens, of preparing delicacies and
nourishing food for the weak, OF writ
ing letters home. OF nursing. of cheer
ing the suffering and the homesick-
the latter an important item-was car
ried forward by this self-appOinted help
er AMI genuine friend OF the soldier.
Agent of the Soldiers.
At the beginning of the war Mr. Fay
was mayor of his home city Of Chelsea.
From the first he worked for the
sodiers-ftting out companies for the
front looking after the families left be-
hind, dealing with the Commonwealth
and the national government in the
matter of pay for the enlisted men, and
the like
This led TO his becoming the financial
agent OF the Massachusetts soldiers un-
der the title of allotment commissioner,
when law was made that permitted a
soldier to allOt his pay to his family,
through the town from which he came
This position called for great deal
Of wearing work. which Mr.. FAY did
cheerfully. and without interruption Of
his philanthropic activities, that grew
steadily from the first. and gradually at
tanned first Importance in his life.
though he never neglected the business
OF allotment commissioner.
At tho first battle Of Bull Run Mr.
Fay was on hand to help with the
wounded. He went through the subse-
quent Virginia campaigns, perfecting
his system of aid for the soldiers He
worked always in harmony with the
sanitary commission. and in Grants
overland campaign of 1854 organized an
sion. This was designed for personal
service among the soldiers. for getting
a little closer to them than was pos
sible through the regular channel of
field and hospital work.
Picked men and women were enlisted
in the work, and throughout the cam
paign they were to be found in every
camp where a kindly hand was needed
to soothe a fevered brow, write a last
letter home, bestow needed tri1es on
convalescents-needle and thread.
sheet of writing paper. a towel. were
precious possessions often, which other
wise the soldier could not obtain.
Thus the summer was passed. with
the winter. and the army in permanent
camp at Petersburg, Mr.. Fay withdrew
from this work and resumed his indie
pendent ministrations, drawing as be-
fore on his own funds.
Remained TO the End.
The dignity and devotion Of this labor
can scarcely be conceived in time of
peace. Without hope OF reward or pref
erment without official recognition
without title or rank. Mr.. Fay went on
his business OF doing good with the ex-
aIted spirit of a patriot and a Chris
tian.
He became widely known throughout
the Army of the Potomac" writes a
biographer. and was welcomed every
where. His sober gray dress, his tall
spare form. his rather long hair. his
ice made him so marked a personality
that the way was opened for him where
civilians were not generally allowed to
go. He was a privileged person, and
II was a strong type of character that
could win that distinction In the rough
and-tumble of army life, where, with
out rank. individuals were submerged in
the mass, and we're passed by and for
gotten.
But tnougn pTNueBeu' HS "oS never
in the way, yet was always a hand in
emergencies with his abundant stores
and his wise and kindly ministry. He
was a great administrator in these af-
fairs, and had a rare gift Of seeing the
right thing to do at the right moment,
and swift power of execution which
was always efficient and sure"
Such a man as this was an honor to
the republic, and was worthy Of wider
fame than history has accorded him.
Mr.. Fay was destined to be with Grant
through the bloody seven days in which
Lees army made its dying fight. to
bind up the wounds of friend and foe
alike in the red wake OF the two armies
between Petersburg and Appomattox.
and TO carry cheer and comfort into the
hospitals at City Point until. under the
blessings of peace. they were closed for
want Of patients.