72

CONTENTS.

Six-Mule Team - Courtesy and Kindness of Secretary Stanton -
Meet Admiral and Mrs. Farragut - Their Simplicity and Geniality
- Lieutenant Cushing, the Hero of the Ram Albemarle - Other
Eminent Notabilities - The Drummer Boy of the Eighth Michigan
-Enlists with his Teacher-Charlie petted by all - His Teacher
and Captain shot at James Island - Fierce Life of the Eighth
Michigan-Charlie shares it All-Struck by a chance Shot
Fatal Result

257

CHAPTER XII.

A TRIP DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI · AMONG THE SICK AND

DYING OUR MISSION AND STORES-LOVING MESSAGES

FROM HOME · A BRIDE'S SONG FOR A DYING SOLDIER.

The Army encamped at Young's Point — They cut the Levees - Great
Sickness results - Special Relief Corps sent down-Mrs. Colt, of
Milwaukee, and myself attached to the Corps — Our Programme
Outfit - Some of the Messages entrusted me Our wheezy Boat-
Disloyal Officers - Musical Talent on Board - Singing in the Hos-
pitals
Scene in a Memphis Hospital
Touching Episode
"Mother, don't you know your Boy?" - Our Headquarters in
Memphis, at Gayoso House - Women Secessionists- To be sent
within Confederate Lines- A stormy Interview—“Allows me to
be at large!" We embark on the Tigress for the lower Mississippi
- A dreary Journey.

--

280

CHAPTER XIII.

ALONG THE DREARY RIVER-SAD SIGHTS IN A REGIMENTAL HOSPITAL-JOLLY BATTERY BOYS-I AM WELCOMED TO CAMP BY OLD FRIENDS.

Perils of the lower River - The Tigress and its disloyal Officers - The Stewardess a Virago-"I could throw you overboard as if you were a Cat!"-Lake Providence and its fathomless Mud — “The Sanitary Commission's got mired!” Go down to Milliken's Bend -Distribute Supplies to Hospitals-Sorry Plight of a Wisconsin Regimental Hospital Surgeon-General Wolcott, of Wisconsin, breaks it up-In the Camp of the Chicago Mercantile Battery -"What a Hubbub! What a Jubilee!" - Evening Prayers in Camp - The Boys get Breakfast "The Victuals will taste better if you don't see the Cooking!' - Leave for Young's Point General Grant's Despatch Boat Fanny Ogden gives me Passage

295

OPPOSITE VICKSBURG ARRIVAL AT GENERAL GRANT'S HEADQUARTERS-MY INTERVIEW WITH HIM— MY PETI

TION-A TOUCHING STORY.

We call on General Grant-Reticent, patient, and persistent - We put ourselves on "short Rations" of Talk with him-Stories of his Intemperance foul Calumnies-His chivalric Defence of General Sherman-Am entrusted with a Variety of Errands to him- My Decision concerning them - Second call alone on General Grant"The Gibraltar of America" - The General is very accessibleNot hedged about by Formalities-The most bashful Man I had ever encountered-"I will let you know To-morrow "- Discharges twenty-one invalid Soldiers, and gives me Transportation for them - One dies in Memphis - Another dies in Chicago, almost Home. 308

CHAPTER XV.

I AM INSTALLED HEAD COOK IN A FIELD HOSPITAL-CHEERING UP THE "BOYS"- CAPRICIOUS APPETITES-MY RIDE WITH BLACK SOCRATES — VICKSBURG.

Large Field Hospital at Young's Point - Am put in Charge - Cater to the capricious Appetites-"Tea and Toast" for a forty-fiveyear-old "Boy"-"Tea! tea! tea! from the homespun Teapot -Lemonade under Difficulties Men transferred to Hospital Steamer City of Memphis-Visit to the Thirteenth Illinois"Socrates" and his Six-Mule Team-"Mules is dat mean dey has ter be licked!” — Accomplishments of the Thirteenth Illinois -"The stealing Regiment " Accompany the Engineer Corps down the Levee - Peep into Vicksburg with a powerful GlassNo sign of Home-Life - Rams Lancaster and Switzerland run the Blockade - One destroyed, the other disabled.

319

CHAPTER XVI.

COMING UP THE RIVER-A FREIGHT OF LIVING MISERYGOING OUT FROM THE LAND OF BONDAGE-AMONG SICK SOLDIERS, CONTRABANDS AND REFUGEES.

A forward Movement - Gunboats run the Vicksburg Batteries - They convey Transports down the River - Troops cross and beleaguer

74

CONTENTS.

Vicksburg-We take Passage in the Maria Denning for CairoThe Boat packed with human and animal Misery-Sick Soldiers comforted by our Presence-Johnny, the Virginia Refugee, given to my Care - His History The tempestuous "Praise-meetings of the Contrabands tabooed - Refugees encamped on the River Bank-Signal the Boat to stop - The Captain dares not - Fears Treachery - Meet Ford Douglas at Lake Providence — Agree to take a slave Boy to Chicago, despite Illinois "Black Laws"

339

CHAPTER XVII.

THE STORY OF THREE LITTLE ORPHANS-SMUGGLING A PLANTATION WAIF THROUGH " EGYPT”—THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD-SAFE AT LAST-AFFECTING MEETING.

We find three Orphan Refugees in Camp Convalescent, Fort Pickering
Their pitiful History-We take them to the Chicago Home of
the Friendless - Adopted by an Iowa Family-Cairo makes Addi-
tion to our Cares - Lizzie the Orphan Refugee from Missouri - Go
aboard the Chicago Sleeper, with Johnny and the black Lad — The
stuttering Porter hides the black Boy-"D-d-d-dat Woman's slep'
mighty little fo' mos' s-s-s-six Weeks' 'She's d-d-d-done got mon-
st'ous sick"
We defy "Egypt" and the "Black Laws" - Reach
Chicago at Midnight-Sunday Morning, hunt up the black Lad's
Mother Affecting Meeting - Sarah Morris tells her Story -
Johnny and Lizzie cared for

-

66

356

CHAPTER XVIII.

OUR BATTERY BOYS-A SECRET DRILL-THE DISCOVERY – OFF TO THE FRONT-GOD-SPEED AND FAREWELL TO MY SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOYS-EXTRACTS FROM THEIR DIARIES.

-

Our Church in Chicago The Morale of its young Men Memories of the Past - A loyal Congregation What happened at Evening Service - Sudden Disappearance of our young Men - A peculiar Sound from the Sunday-School Room - Tramp! Tramp! Tramp !- We stealthily open the Door and peep in - Our Discovery - "We have all decided to enlist"- An unspoken Prayer - All but two of our young Men are mustered into the Chicago Mercantile Battery The Grief of Parting-Solemn Consecration - An affecting Farewell Extracts from their Diaries-A jolly set - Roughing it without Whining - The Art of Frying Cakes - "Sweet Times here" The Siege of Vicksburg-Awaiting the Battle-Army

Life at the Front

We keep up Communication with our Boys-A Country devastated by War― An unexpected Visitor

75

369

CHAPTER XIX.

THE STORY OF OUR BATTERY BOYS CONTINUED A DISASTROUS EXPEDITION—A TRAP OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION-SCENES OF HORROR-THRILLING ACTS OF BRAVERY AND DEVOTION.

Changes among our Boys - Breaking down under the Hardships of War The Battery constantly shifts its Encampment - Working hard to kill Time - The Humorous Side of Life in Camp - History of "Doggie Doggett," the Canine Member of the Battery-His Exploits and Unknown Fate-Lost in the Service - Unfortunate Expedition Up the Red River - Charging the Enemy with a Baggage-Train-Our Boys fall into a Trap of Death and Destruction - A terrific Charge by ten thousand Rebels - Overpowered by superior Numbers Retreat or Surrender the only AlternativeThe Guns of the Battery captured — Death of Lieutenant Throop Sergeant Dyer shot while spiking his Gun - Many of our Boys are taken Prisoners-Hugh Wilson's Devotion - Only eight of our Boys return at the Close of the War.

4

387

CHAPTER XX.

THE FIRST GREAT SANITARY FAIR-RAISING MONEY FOR HOSPITAL RELIEF-A GREAT AND MEMORABLE DAY-A MOTLEY PROCESSION THREE MILES LONG.

Continued Needs of the Hospitals lead to a great Sanitary Fair-A Woman's Enterprise from the Beginning - Large PreparationsSeventeen Bushels of Fair Circulars and Letters sent at one Mail - Mrs. Hoge obtains Help from Pittsburg and Philadelphia - Potter Palmer from New York-Boston and Connecticut contributeThe whole Northwest ransacked for Attractions - At last, Men catch the Fair Mania - Their varied Gifts - Opening Inaugural Procession Captured rebel Flags borne along-School Children in Carriages and Omnibuses-Convalescent Soldiers from Hospitals - Procession of Farm Wagons, with Vegetables-Procession halts on the Court House Lawn-Firing of thirty-four Guns announces the Opening of the Fair

409

STORY OF THE GREAT FAIR CONTINUED - ITS SIX HALLS PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S DONATION UNEXAMPLED ENTHUSIASM -"GOD BLESS THE FARMERS."

Profusion of Wares and rapid Sales - Daily Excursion Trains - President Lincoln donates the Manuscript of the Proclamation of Emancipation Large Quantities of Food sent from the Country to the Dining-Hall-How Dubuque furnished her Quota of SuppliesPicturesque Scene-Hall erected for Donations of MachineryOur Bargain with the Builder - A Revelation and its ResultsCounty Court Room transformed into a "Curiosity Shop". Rebel Flags, and Battle Trophies-Slave Shackles and Collars - Large Loan Collection of Art Works-Anna Dickinson's Lectures — Dinner to Northwestern Governors, Congressmen, and other Dignitaries Gift of Live Stock Auction Sales on the Sidewalk . . 427

CHAPTER XXII.

LAST DAYS OF THE GREAT FAIR-SOLDIERS' DAY-TOTAL RECEIPTS NEARLY ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARSINTERESTING ITEMS AND INCIDENTS.

pitals

dents

Dinner given by the Ladies to eight hundred invalid Soldiers in Hos-
Lady Managers dined by Gentlemen, who serve the Feast
Mighty Frolic- Completely tuckered out!"-Items and Inci-
Afghan made with Money found in a dead Soldier's Pocket
- Contraband's Gift-Donation of Octogenarians - Mite of the
German Woman - The Luck of the Chickamauga Soldier- Major-
General Herron of Iowa in the Fair - Letters of Gratitude from
Soldiers in Hospitals-"Must see that Fair"—"All I have” —
Safe place of Retreat - Pleasant Greetings -"A Soldier's Psalm
of Woman"-Cheers for Lincoln-Cheers for the Soldiers -
Cheers for the Ladies of the Sanitary Commission - Specimen of
the Soldiers' Battle-cry- The Dead

CHAPTER XXIII.

450

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA-DEATH-BLOW TO THE REBELLION-SURRENDER OF LEE - ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN — THE MARCH OF EVENTS.

The End draws near-Sherman's March to the Sea-He finds the
Southern Confederacy a Shell to be easily crushed — Much Anxiety