CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR-THE SPIRIT OF 1861-FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - UPRISING OF THE NORTH-EXCITING SCENES AND INCIDENTS. - In Boston with my dying Father-His early History-Surrender of Fort Sumter Uprising of the North President Lincoln's Call for Seventy-five Thousand Troops - Their Rendezvous in Faneuil Hall -Departure of the Massachusetts Sixth for Washington-Scenes at the Boston and Albany Station - Interview with Mr. Garrison and Wendell Phillips-The Massachusetts Sixth attacked in Baltimore-War Scenes in Auburn, N. Y.-My Return to ChicagoImpressive Scenes in the Republican Wigwam - Cairo, Ill., a strategic Point - North and South hasten to seize it - Chicago Troops arrive first and take Possession - Increased Preparations for War— Washington carefully guarded-Defeat at Bull Run- The North nerved to Power and Purpose - The South exultant in SelfConfidence - Lines now sharply drawn between loyal and disloyal States 85 CHAPTER II. LOYAL WOMEN OF THE NORTH-THEIR PATRIOTISM AND DEVOTION - HEROINES OF THE BATTLE-FIELD HOMEWORK AND RELIEF SOCIETIES-SCRAPING LINT AND ROLLING BANDAGES. The Patriotism of Men paralleled by that of Women - Notable Examples-Testimony of President Lincoln-Blunders of Inexperience - The Havelock Mania - A Woman Soldier in the Nineteenth Illinois-Sent out of Camp, she attempts Suicide - Is rescued and joins her Husband - Madame Turchin, Wife of the Colonel - Her Bravery and military Skill - Her Ability as a Nurse - She defeats a Court-Martial-Other military Heroines- Annie Etheridge of the Third Michigan - Bridget Devens of the First Michigan Cavalry— Kady Brownell of the Fifth Rhode Island — Georgianna Peterman, the Wisconsin Drummer-Girl — Army Stories of military Women Bandage and Lint Craze-Local Relief Societies - Queer Assortment of Supplies - Cars flooded with fermenting Goodies - Great Waste and Loss - Liberality of the People continues Wiser . 109 - Early Ignorance and Inefficiency of Officers-The Cause of Sickness and Death in Camp- Letters from the Front in Proof - Fearful Mortality of British Soldiers in the Crimea, in 1855 - Occasioned by similar Causes - Local Relief Societies organized New York Women show practical Wisdom- The Sanitary Commission evolved from their Methods - Plan of Organization drawn up by Dr. Bellows - Sanctioned by the President and Secretary of War — The Commission soon conquers all Prejudice — Its Work very extensive -Inspectors sent to Camps and Hospitals-Monographs prepared on the Hygiene of the Army - Portable Soup-Kettles" "Hospital Cars" - Forty Soldiers' Homes - Claim, Pension, and Back Pay Agency-"Hospital Directory". "Battle-field Relief Service" -Ten "Branch Commissions" - Relief rendered at Shiloh and Antietam - The Supplies, or Money for their Purchase, Made or Collected by Women 66 123 CHAPTER IV. MY FIRST CONNECTION WITH THE SANITARY COMMISSION— HOME SUPPLIES FOR THE SOLDIERS-A PEEP INTO THE BOXES-LETTERS FOUND INSIDE-ODD CONTRIBUTIONS. Local Societies merged in the Commission - Become identified with the Chicago Branch-The Secrets of the Boxes of Supplies - Notes packed in with the Clothing-They are tender, pathetic, heroic, and comic-A letter-writing Army-"Consecrated Chicken, be jabers!" 99 "Comfort-bags "Butter an' Chase, bedad!" "Benedictions" in the Murfreesboro' and Vicksburg Boxes - "One Box a Month"-Ingenious Wisconsin Farmers' Wives - Women in the Harvest-field - A Talk with them- Generosity of a "Tail CONTENTS. 69 Rooms of the Chicago Commission - The Din of Draymen and Packers -Sewing-Rooms for Soldiers' Families "The Perfume of the Sanitary" - The dingy little Office - Immense Work performed in it-Judge Skinner, the President - Mr. Blatchford, Treasurer – The "Quartette" of the Office- John Freeman, the "Man of all Work"- William Goodsmith, our Sheet-Anchor"- Mrs. Hoge, my Friend and Co-Worker- Volunteer and transient Help- Women, Girls, and Soldiers - Drayloads of Boxes - Ladies seeking Information-Express Messengers - The Morning Mail — The aged Father and his dead Son-"What ails the little Fellow?" — A Bevy of Nurses- A sorrow-stricken Mother-Soldiers from the City Hospitals-More loaded Drays - More Men and Women come A CAMPAIGN PLANNED BY A WOMAN-DESPERATE BATTLES -TERRIBLE SCENES ON THE BATTLE-FIELD-TERRIFIC General McClellan supersedes General Scott - Missouri becomes the Field of Battle-General Grant wins a Victory at Belmont - Fleet of "Ironclads" for Service on Southern Rivers - The "Tennessee Campaign" planned by Anna Ella Carroll, of Maryland-Plan adopted by President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton-Carried out by General Grant-The "Court of Claims," in 1885, decides in her Favor-Fort Henry on the Tennessee captured by Gunboats - They fail to take Fort Donelson on the Cumberland-General Grant attacks by Land - The Fort surrenders, after Three Days' Fighting -"Unconditional Surrender Grant!"-Joy of the Northwest- Frightful Suffering of the Wounded - Many frozen to Death on both Sides - The People move to succor the Wounded — Immense Quantities of Supplies forwarded-Seven thousand Prisoners sent AFTER THE BATTLE-MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN A MILITARY HOSPITAL-A DEATHLY FAINTNESS COMES OVER MENERVING MYSELF FOR THE WORK-TOUCHING SCENES. Mrs. Hoge and myself visit the Hospitals of St. Louis - Our first Experience Boisterousness of new Recruits - The grim Silence of Men who had "been under fire”—Our remarkable Hostess-Conspicuous and unflinching Loyalty - Her "Hospital Kitchen" and "Hospital Wagon' "Eleven Hundred Soldiers' Letters !"- The Donelson Wards- - Their sickening Odor and ghastly Sights- Horrible Mutilation of the Men - A deathly Faintness came over me- The Wounded and Dead robbed on the Field of Battle-Plucky Fellow -"They couldn't be bothering with us"-"Afraid to die!""Send for a Methodist Minister!"-The Magic of Song- The mental Conflict of the Night that followed-St. Louis sitting in Gloom-Sad Wedding in the Hospital - Death of the Bridegroom. 184 CHAPTER VIII. I BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO HOSPITAL WORK-FILTH AND DISCOMFORT, NEGLECT AND SUFFERING-LEAVES FROM MY EXPERIENCE - MESSAGES FROM THE DYING TO LOVED ONES AT HOME. Cairo an immense Basin, partially filled-Skilful Pilotage needed — Comfortless Hospitals-"My Wife came this Morning”—“Bring me a drink from the Spring"-The "Brick Hospital" a Marvel of Excellence - "Sisters of the Holy Cross" its Nurses - The young rebel Prisoner - Longing for his Mother-"Philip Sidneys" in every Hospital - Mary Safford my Companion the second Time- Her Method of Work-Her Memorandum Book and Baskets - Something for every one-"You are the good Fairy of the Hospitals" Men crying for Milk- Mourning the Loss of "Mother Bickerdyke” — Wounded Soldier from "Island No. Ten" Noble Letter from his Wife-"The Children needed him more than I"-Eulogy of Mary Safford - Her Career since the War - Professor in the Boston University School of Medicine. 201 CHAPTER IX. AWAITING THE BATTLE OF SHILOH PREPARATIONS FOR THE WOUNDED - AWFUL SLAUGHTER-VARIED PHASES OF HOSPITAL LIFE-“MISSING.” A Perfect Military Hospital-"Mother Angela," the Lady "Supérieure” — “White-winged Sun-bonnets" - Battle of Shiloh - Ap CONTENTS. palling Slaughter on both Sides - Rebel Prisoners' Ward-"Youuns is very good to we-uns!" -The Rebel Surgeon's Fear- Meet an Old Acquaintance among the Rebel Wounded - The Valiant Eleventh Illinois - Great Prejudice against Protestant Nurses— The "Sisters" preferred-"They never see anything, nor hear anything, and tell no Tales!" - Good General Strong, Post Commander at Cairo-Am sent to St. Louis for Invalid SoldiersTurner's "Descriptive List" Missing-Found in the Clerk's Office - General Curtis discharges him He also furloughs young Brackett-Great Jollification in the Ward- They accompany me to Chicago 71 217 THE DARKEST PERIOD OF THE WAR-MY VISIT TO WASHINGTON IN 1862- -STRANGE EXPERIENCES ON THE JOURNEY-PITIFUL SCENES IN A CONVALESCENT CAMP. Woman's Council called in Washington-Mrs. Hoge and myself the - Great Indignation of Visitors - Amy Bradley takes up her Abode in the Camp-Great Improvement follows -"The Soldiers' Journal" - We visit President Lincoln. 232 CHAPTER XI. LIFE IN A CONTRABAND CAMP- WASHINGTON IN 1865-A CONTRABAND PRAYER MEETING-MY INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY STANTON - THE DRUMMER-BOY OF THE EIGHTH MICHIGAN. Fugitive Slaves rejoicing in Freedom - Prayer-meeting in Camp - Meet old "Aunt Aggy' "An Episode of Slavery-"Thar's a Day a-comin'!" Lively Praying - Tempestuous Singing - Intense Sectarians - A Boy Philosopher-Visit Washington in 1865 - Great Changes- Deserters from the Enemy-Runaway Negro with a |