SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUNDED IN TRANSPORTATION. 53

properly stimulated, skilfully treated, and supplied with all the comforts and delicacies of the Sanitary Commissions. What must have been the sufferings of these earlier heroes of the war, when racked and torn with joltings that taxed my utmost strength, when in perfect health, in a few miles' ride, God and themselves only know; but through all this, their patience failed not, and their fortitude remained unshaken. I well remember, while in St. Louis, meeting a sanitary agent who had just returned from a journey to take supplies to the sufferers at Pea Ridge. He said he had seen a deal of war before, but never such a mass of mangled, parched, filthy, unshaven and unshorn humanity as he saw at Pea Ridge. I asked how they bore this accumulation of horrors. "Like angels, not men," he said; "and were as grateful for the supplies I took them as if they had been convicts, not heroes who had earned them!" This spirit was born with the army, and remained with it from the beginning to the end, and has baffled all investigation to discover its cause. It was one manifestation of God's power in the work of our national redemption.

But to the hospitals. In some respects, the arrangements of those in St. Louis differed from any that we have seen elsewhere during the war. A large marble front building, five stories high, had been rented at a nominal price, and fitted up as a military hospital. In the nature of the case, the ventilation could not be as perfect as in a building erected for the purpose; but the admirable arrangements for bathing, dietkitchens, and all possibilities of light and air, marvellously supplied the deficiency. An efficient, intelligent, and refined female was placed in charge of the diet-kitchen, which means

simply, a room, range, and cooking-utensils, suitable for the preparation of delicacies for the sick. The specialty to which I refer is this: over the wards of these hospitals presided tender, earnest women, from the best families of the city, who had volunteered to visit them daily, administer to the comfort and welfare of their inmates in various ways, and see that each man was supplied with all that he required or desired, if suitable for him. The effect of this arrangement was more easily felt than described.

I have visited many institutions more spacious, complete, scientific, and inviting in their externals; but have never seen one that had such a home-like air, such an abandon of manner among the inmates, such a perfect confidence, manly independence, and manifest sense of motherly and sisterly kindness, as the St. Louis Fifth Street Hospital, except Mother Bickerdyke's hospital at the Gayoso Block, Memphis-in fact, wherever she was found. We had an admirable opportunity of witnessing the routine of these noble women's daily hospital labors, as we sojourned under the roof of an old and dear friend at St. Louis, who not only stood firm when patriotism was at a discount, but devoted herself and her abundant means to the relief of the suffering soldiers. A daughter at home conducted the correspondence for the ward, notified wives and mothers that their loved ones were smitten with disease, or prostrate with wounds, or perchance sleeping the sleep that knows no waking. A precious lock was clipped from each weary head before it was laid away to rest. The cherished photograph of wife or mother, that had been carried next his heart' or clasped in his dying hand, the porte-monnaie, the watch,

ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL.

55

the chain, the knife, the Testament-almost the only treasures a soldier can cling to through the march and fightwere carefully secured and transmitted, with words of love. and sympathy, as if from the pen of kindred.

Each day, as we sat at breakfast, large covered baskets were brought in, filled with choice dainties from the bounti ful table, and a raid made on the well-filled larder of the cook. She received her orders for so many gallons of soup at noon, or fresh boiled eggs, or rice puddings, or sago, or jelly, as the case might be, for each man had been consulted, his wants recorded and gratified, unless forbidden by the surgeon. The sons were delegated to purchase oranges and grapes, to be carried to the ward at such an hour. The carriage was ready to convey us thither when we rose from the table, the mistress of the mansion, oftentimes, not to return to her luxurious home till daylight had departed. Within a stone's throw dwelt two noble women of large means, who had come from Philadelphia and joined in this labor of love and patriotism. Years afterwards they had the mournful privilege of sheltering one of St. Louis's noblest hospital laborers in their Philadelphia home, when she had contracted a fatal disease in a hospital of that city, where she was studying surgical nursing for the purpose of laboring as nurse for the soldiers more efficiently than ever. The very countenances of the men told the tale of such womanly, refined, unselfish devotion to their interests. When no minister of God was near, these holy women read the Bible and prayed with the humble, oft penitent heroes, and went : down with them to the shores of the silent river.

One morning, when walking a ward of the Fifth Street

this

ble organization and efficient management of the various James E. branches of hospital relief under their care. Yeatman, Esq., devoted his entire time to the work of the Commission, and brought all his rare executive ability, large business experience, and humane heart, to bear upon great scheme of benevolence and patriotism. Not satisfied with incessant labor at home, he visited the active field of almost the entire Western army, and from personal inspec tion and contact with the men, became infused with their spirit, appreciated and understood them and their necessities. His courtesies, and the opportunities afforded to us as delegates of the North-Western branch of the United States Commission, were of much valse, and were gratefully appreciated. Dr. Eliot, his co-laborer, is so extensively known for his ability, earnestness, and single-heartedness, that it will be readily understood that two such men, sustained and surrounded by the actie band of women with whom we met, and of whom we hear, were able to perform a work and bless our Chen any, se sam back the stealthy foe, and with God's best art brusnds of lives and incalculable sudeg villily at the beginning to the end of ze van Le Teen massica and the United States Saattare 7mm.ss, if whch I shall soon speak, walked så se sum armies, and maintained to the is 5 te laws, y mi vissene rivalry without jealousy

SKETCH OF U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION.

59

CHAPTER III.

Sketch of U. S. Sanitary Commission.-Its origin.-Its work in hospital cars and at the battles of Eastern and Western armies.-Poetic contribution by a private.-Dr. Bellows and Mr. Yeatman.

FROM the fact that the supplies of the United States Sanitary Commission were found not to be keeping pace with the expansion of the army, it was determined by the members of that Commission to call together the female representatives of its various branches, in order to organize more thoroughly the work of supply, and secure a steady, reliable stream of those comforts, found by the experience of almost two years, to be so indispensable to the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. Mrs. Livermore and myself were selected by the Board of the Chicago, or North-Western Branch, to represent them in the Woman's Council, held at Washington, November, 1862. In the face of almost insuperable obstacles of a domestic character, we yielded to their urgent wishes and attended the meeting.

We had both labored with the Commission from the beginning of the war, as occasion demanded, but were not familiar with its history or plans; content to work as opportunity ton we met the representative women

but none from the West. We

ascertaining the cause and