Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-01-12
HIS HOSPITAL VISIT
The Stranger Who Inspected the
Federal Quarters.
He cHEERED A FEW PATIENTS
But the Secret Of the Unknown Doc
tors Influence Did Not Become APP
parent Until the Next Day and After
He Had Taken His Departure.

/ 1t was IN the spring of 1862. when
Stonewall jackson. marching down the
I Shenandoah valley. bad won a bril-
liant victory over General Banks,
whom he drove north until the friend
ly Potomac interposed It's screen and
/ he found safety and care for his sick
4 and wounded in the hospitals Of Fred
/ erick.
| A new nurse had been assigned to
. one Of the hospitals the day before the
battle-a Massachusetts woman named
| Charlotte Mckay, widowed and made
| ehildless within single year. The
4 patients she had under her care were
mostly Federals OF course. but there
was good sprinklng OF wounded
Confederates who were prisoners Of
war.
One day. Just after dinner time, the
chief surgeon entered Mrs. Mckay's
ward. accompanied by stranger. The
man had the appearance of student
His head was bent and his brows were
drawn together. with two deep lines
between them. as II he had spent long.
thoughtful hours at his desk. and his
eyes. the color of blue steel. swept the
ward with keen glance that seemed
to take in everything. His grizzled
beard showed that he was no longer
young, but his step and bearing were
elastic and vigorous.
''Dr. Janeway is from Louisiana" ex-
planned the chief as he introduced the
stranger He had to abandon large
sugar plantation there when the war
broke out because of bis loyalty. He
was surgeon In the Crimean war and
so is interested in seeing how We do
things here"
The stranger chatted Genially with
the nurses and the surgeon. discusse !
their operating facilities, compared
them with those of the Crimea. ques
TONED them about the rations OF the
prisoners and accepted steaming cup
of hot soup from the nurse.
The prisoners were watching and lis
tening to all that passed, In strong con
trast to TIE sullen Indifference they
had shown before. One young Virgin
ian. tall and muscular. looked as If be
We're about TO spring from his cot.
That boy looks like be came from
near my place" observed the southern
Unionist. MAY speak to him."
Yes. doctor; you may talk to any OF
them"
With curiously quick and noiseiess
step the visitor reached the bed and
conyersed for a moment In tones that
were inaulible TO all but the young sol.
der. He returned In moment.
II was mistaken. chance resem.
blance deceived me. The man SAYS he
is .hankering for a drink nurse
told him would ask you for It."
The wounded man drank the water.
stretched out on his side and appeared
to sleep. while the two surgeons went
on to another ward and presently left
the building. Mounting his horse, DR.
Janeway babe a cordial goodby to the
chief, bowed with deep respect to the
two women and rode slowly out of the
hospital grounds
The prisoners were in better spirits
| the next morning laugh passed
| from time to time. 1t was alIn,st as IL
| some excellent joke unknown TO their
attendants had raised their courage.
Did you know the gentleman who
| was here yesterday" Mrs. Mckay
/ asked the boy soldier. The lad grinned
| up at her and replied.
Yes. ma'am."
You did: Who was hep
1T was Stonewall Jackson. ma 'am.'
The nurse stared. then she said;
You're making fun OF me. Pryor.
| our armies