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and children, and all other noncombatants. They not unfrequently inflicted severe wounds on innocent children, which either resulted fatally or in a life-long disability. In an instance of this kind, which occurred at Chattanooga, on that ever memorable event, a little girl was struck by a piece of shell, causing her to lose a leg. If I mistake not, others there received similar. wounds. I shall never forget some poor frightened ladies who sought out our hospital for protection, leaving their aged and invalid mother. They had secured and erected a tent by which to shelter her from the scorching sun and rain, when soon came a shell whizzing over their tent, and falling near by, causing a renewed scene of terror and excitement in their already badly frightened minds. But a truce to this part of our story, as there are others much more competent to give a correct and more interesting history of the frightful events of that, as well as other events of the war.

Sunday, the 23d, late in the evening, found us at Dalton, Georgia, where we remained until Sunday, the 25th, when we left for Calhoun, where we were welcomed by some of the kind inmates of our hospital, who had preceded us. They had a warm breakfast in waiting, which we shared with them, not waiting for a very pressing invitation, as we had to take the cars at Dalton before the hour of breakfast. Houses were soon procured, and all hands went to work fitting up wards to receive patients. Quite a number were sent to us in a short time, who were placed in comfortable quarters, and every possible means were used to add to their comfort and well being. We had hoped to remain there for a considerable length of time unmolested; but, Oh, vain hopes, how soon were they blasted. All the hard labor which had been so cheerfully performed for the benefit of the wayworn and invalid soldier, must be as a blank, and the already exhausted sufferers must be hurried from their beds of comparative ease and comfort, to seek shelter

themselves, with nothing but the canopy of Heaven over them, and a blanketless earth for their couch. The Yankees were near by, and General Forrest in pursuit. Preparations were rapidly made for sending our convalescents to other camps, and those fully able for the field to active service. We were informed that the enemy was advancing. Orders came for us to prepare for another exit from the impending danger. I do not think I ever had my sympathies more keenly aroused than at that time, when not only the convalescents, and others who were not severely wounded or diseased, had to be moved, but, the poor fellows who could not help themselves had to be taken by apparent rough hands and sent off, while others who could not be moved had to be left to the cold mercy of the Federals— who were known by all to be void of feelings for Confederate soldiers, as well as citizens. However, our kind and energetic Dr. Burton, and his assistant, Dr. Williams, remained, from whose hands they recived all the attention they possibly could give them under the circumstances. The remainder of us took our departure for Griffin, Georgia, on the 17th of September, arriving at Atlanta the same day. We remained there until the 20th, awaiting further orders; and at one o'clock the same day we arrived at our place of destination.

We were soon at work preparing for the reception of the sick and wounded from the field of Chickamauga, that ever memorable battle then just opening. It was but a few days before our hastily fitted up wards were filled with those noble braves, who required all the aid that stout hearts and strong arms could possibly give them. And then, with all that the best of surgeons and nurses could do, many of the poor fellows, who had stood the merciless fire of the heavily concentrated forces the enemy brought against them, and now to see them suffering the last pangs of death, after so nobly defending their banners on that bloody field'

was heartrending in the extreme.

If ever men deserved

the elogium of the poets to their memory, and inscribed on tombs, surely those never to be forgotten heroes did

"Who, their liberty to gain,

For hours stood the awful fire
On Chickamauga's plain.
All honor to the gallant boys,
Who nobly warred that day!
We proudly weave rich garlands
To deck their war-scarred brows;
And heave a sigh, a tear, for those
Now numbered with the slain,
Who sleep beneath the crimson sod
On Chickamauga's plain.

And we'll ne'er forget their chieftain
Who led the van that day,

And nobly cheered our Southern boys
Thoughout the dreadful fray.

Long may he live-our gallant Bragg!
To hear the cheering strain

of victory won by his brave boys,
On Chickamauga's plain !"

Many were the victims of that day who were crowned with unfading wreaths of honor, who, after long weeks of untold suffering, yielded up their lives nobly, a sacrifice on the altar of their down-trodden and bleeding country, and who are now sleeping in soldiers' graves, under the care of the kind and patriotic citizens of Griffin. It is due the ladies of that pleasant little city, and its vicinity generally, to acknowledge, with grateful heart. their untiring kindness and undoubted patriotism in rendering every valuable assistance in behalf of the needy and suffering soldiers placed in their midst to die, or recover from disease or wounds, as their fates indicated. It will ever be a pleasing thought that it was our good fortune to have our lots cast among those who were so kind to us during the short time we remained in Griffin. But a hard fate decreed that I should not remain there long. Again I

must bid adieu to my suffering soldier friends. Pardon me, kind reader, for again repeating what to me was so sad a remeniscence, or the story of parting with my patients. Toward them I felt as though they were my own household; and on me they seemed to depend for everything that a sick and wounded soldier so much wanted; and to know that I must leave them, helpless, and deprived of any effort in me to give them relief, was indeed hard. Eternity alone could tell the depth of grief that I felt; and justice will be meted out to those who were in authority, and who ungratefully, (as was the case in many instances), to show their power and authority, deprived one of doing that which duty and love of country alone prompted, simply because one wished to do justice to poor suffering heroes, and there was not a sufficient amount of money placed in their pockets, and their honors were not in every minor matter consulted. These men held bomb-proof positions by dishonorable means. If the soldiers had received one-half the supplies allowed them by the Government, or if, the kind donations of ladies, had been found on their tables, some of the luxuries of diet, that cost the Government of these upstart subofficials neither money nor trouble, or if they had received but one-half of the many and very valuable comforts allowed them, or needed and deserved by them, notwithstanding those same officials were enjoying at the same time the very things donated by private citizens, and appropriated by the Government for the sole use of those same soldiers, not only of the most desirable provisions, etc., but fine brandies, wines, and all such articles, fourfifths of which the persons for whom they were intended was consumed by those same bloated, spider-like, bombproof officials, while the poor soldiers, who had stood as a wall of fire in defense of the rights of those same men's lives and property, while their own dear ones were in dis

tant States, over-run by the enemy, half starving, insulted, and their property pressed by the Government officials, and the remainder taken by the Federals, the lives of many brave soldiers would have been saved; yet, the few comforts donated to them were used by those in power, who never had been in camp, or in line of battle. If one of the matrons or nurses got possession of a small portion of those comforts, and distributed them among the suffering and half-starved soldiers, they were soon dismissed. I only speak of this for the benefit of those whom it concerns, as none will receive it as their own but those to whom it belongs, for a true soldier in authority knew how to treat his subjects, while the other class either knew not, or would not, give them justice. Even a cloak of religion could not hide the fact that the wolf was there. in the guise of the sheep, or good man.

Unfortunately for our country, a great many of the most important offices were filled by that class of men who felt no interest in the welfare of the country, only so far as their own personal interest was concerned; and, as a consequence, everything that could be turned to their own advantage was so managed, regardless of country, or the poor soldiers who were unfortunate enough to be under their management; therefore, thousands, for whom much was donated by private citizens, as well as set apart for their use by the Government, actually suffered for the necessaries of life, to say nothing of the luxuries.

On the 25th of October we bade adieu to our patients, amid their tears, mingled with our own, at the same time receiving their kind wishes for our happiness and welfare, with every assurancé of gratitude to us for the little we had done for them.

My thanks are due Doctors Gibson, Richardson and Wright for their kind treatment to us as co-workers with

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