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CHAPTER X.

Transport hospital life on the Ruth.-Sanitary stores dealt out.-Death and burial of a hospital nurse.-Suddenness of soldiers' deaths.— Schoolmaster soldier.-Young brothers of the 33d Missouri.-Sick soldier behind a wheel-house.-Confiscation of cattle.-Sketch of sickness and death of a Wisconsin soldier.-Camp-cough.-Sight of St. Louis ladies on guard.-Isolation of individuals and regiments in the army. Visit from Miss Breckenridge.-Prayer-meetings on transports.-Sabbath services on the Ruth.-Col. Pile's remarkable sermon.-Trip down the river on a gunboat.-Gen. Fisk's moral influence in the army.-Faithfulness of surgeons.-Convalescent soldier

nurses.

OUR hospital life on the steamer Ruth was of thrilling interest. A brief sketch of its history will be the type of thousands of others. It had not the advantages of a hospital transport, as it was extemporized unexpectedly when entirely cut off from commissary, quartermasters' or sanitary depôts, to procure cots or covering. The stores that we had brought were for use on boats or hospitals, fitted up and in running order. They were found to be invaluable in this case, as, strange to say, they were the only hospital supplies on board the fleet.

The main cabin of the Ruth was one hundred and fifty feet in length and twenty feet in breadth. In the course of a few days after leaving Helena, its entire length was covered with sick soldiers, suffering with pneumonia, rheumatism, fever and measles. The men were obliged to lie as closely

as possible, leaving scarcely room for the sick cup or plate. There were no comfortable cots, clean sheets, or soft pillows. Providentially, we had some boxes of shirts among our sanitary stores, sufficient to furnish each man who passed through the hospital.

The men were brought to us just as they had come from picket, or guard, or the march, often covered with mud and soaked with water, uncombed and unwashed. By dint of "faculty," we collected vessels sufficient to have them thoroughly washed, which was our first prescription; then combed and refreshed with a clean shirt, and dry, warm socks. It is impossible to convey any idea of the effect of these first luxuries. We found by experience that a large portion of the ailments of soldiers arose from impaired digestion, the consequence of uncooked or improper food. A comfortable, home-like meal, after thorough ablution, had a magical effect, and in many instances, this simple treatment, twice or thrice repeated, effected a cure-always produced great relief.

We roasted apples by the barrel, stewed dried fruit by the half barrel, prepared green tea in large tin-buckets, and scrambled eggs, and picked codfish in yard-square iron pans.

These luxuries were dealt out carefully to the patients, with the approval and direction of the surgeons, who said this treatment did more than medicine for many, and greatly assisted all who required medical treatment. Our detailed nurses carried the trays of nourishing food, while we followed with the tea, white sugar, condensed milk, and soft crackers. The smile of joy and expressions of grati

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tude induced by these simple comforts, were deeply affecting. As a thin hand was held out for a cup of tea, a feeble voice said, "Lady, that cup of tea you gave me tasted just like the old woman's at home. God bless you! it has set me right up." Another said, "That tastes like mother had made it ;" and still another sturdy farmer, down with the measles, cried out, "You ladies beat all natur'; where did you larn to make tea? It beats the old woman's, and I'll write her word, and she'll be glad to hear it."

It

Scrambled eggs were considered a rare dainty. We allowed each man two, and it may be readily imagined, it did not require many meals to empty a barrel. Although the men watched these luxuries with the craving of convalescents, the absence of selfishness was surprising. was not unusual to hear the remark, "Give it to him; he needs it more than I do. He is so old, or so young, or kind of delicate, or not used to roughing it." Even when the poor mangled bodies were brought on stretchers, these brave men would say, "Raise me up higher in the bunk; I can bear it better than he." Of all the sick that passed through our hands, we lost but one, and his death was an unexplained mystery. He was one of our most faithful nurses, and we had learned to trust him for others, but not for himself. He was too unselfish to remember his own wants. There were two brothers, nurses; both so true and faithful, we felt they had left a good and noble mother. After serving dinner to the sick, he said he "felt strange and sleepy," and lay down with his head on a haversack. We heard nothing of it till we were making preparations for supper, when we inquired for him.

He was then insensible and struggling in convulsions. One surgeon said he had a congestive chill, another, congestion of the brain, and a third, that he had taken morphine in mistake for some other medicine. The matter was never decided. He battled the grim monster manfully, and we watched him till 12 o'clock, when we retired, as the surgeon said he might live till morning.

At early dawn we were beside him. Busy preparations were being made for an expected engagement, but he lay cold and silent, heeding nothing. Beside him was a youth of eighteen, pale and spiritless, for, alas! the crowded state of the hospital rendered it impossible to separate the nurse from the other patients. As soon as the breakfast was ready, we brought it to him, but he refused even the scrambled eggs and green tea. He was twitching nervously. I said," Would you like to change your place?" "Oh, yes,” he replied, eagerly, "for he kicked me all night long in his struggles, and I could not get away."

The watcher had not realized the state of the uncomplaining boy when the nurse was dying. I asked the men on the opposite side of the boat, if they could possibly make room for him. With soldierly generosity they contracted yet a little more, and left a vacant space for him. With a leap he reached it, and fell fainting. His nervous system was entirely unstrung. After stimulants, and an hour's rest, he ate his breakfast with an appetite, and in three days was with his regiment. Doubtless he would have soon sunk beyond hope, unless removed, soothed, and strengthened.

The sudden and unexpected death of the soldiers in the miasmatic Southern climate, was remarkable and inexplic

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able. They drooped gradually; still kept on duty, and almost immediately after their admission to the hospital,. sometimes even before, would lie down a day or two and be gone. I have seen a man take a cup of tea, put it to his lips, throw his head back, and expire, never having complained of anything but weakness. Comrades have often lain down together, feeling faint and weary, and one has awoke to find the other a corpse-the spirit 30 gently released that none had suspected its flight. I have seen the half-finished meal pushed back, and the spirit departed, before the plate could be removed. Death was so stealthy and sudden in his approach, that an icy breath seemed to have instantly congealed the life-blood at the fountain, and not a pulsation followed. The flame did not flicker, but was extinguished, as though a passing gust had quenched it, and all was dark and silent. I am inclined to think the brave and resolute natures of these men endured without complaint, till the silver cord was almost unreeled, ere their weary heads rested on even a knapsack.

After our sad morning's work we passed to the upper deck for air and change. As we looked, a body of soldiers moved down the plank, bearing the corpse of our faithful soldier-nurse. His blue coat was his shroud, and his blanket his winding-sheet. A grave was rapidly scooped out of the side of the bluff, and the body deposited and covered. His saddened comrades, and bereaved and stricken brother, came back hurriedly to take their places in the ranks of battle about to move, and risk the same fate. Such is war. Gen. Fisk had made all arrangements to have a military funeral, but orders to move at once had been received, and forbade delay.