Nurse and Spy in the Union Army: The Adventures and Experiences of a Woman in Hospitals, Camps, and Battle-Fields — John Shaqi
Nurse and Spy in the Union Army: The Adventures and Experiences of a Woman in Hospitals, Camps, and Battle-FieldsEdmonds, S. Emma E. (Sarah Emma Evelyn)
History
Nurse and Spy in the Union Army: The Adventures and Experiences of a Woman in Hospitals, Camps, and Battle-Fields
Edmonds, S. Emma E. (Sarah Emma Evelyn)
Edmonds, S. Emma E. (Sarah Emma Evelyn), 1841-1898; Nurses -- United States -- Biography; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Hospitals; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Medical care; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Participation, Female; United
The despondency of the few was soon removed, and the patience and
cheerfulness of the many rewarded by the arrival of the provision and
baggage trains. We then exchanged our camp for one in a more pleasant
locality, where there was more wood and not quite so much water, which
added much to the comfort of the troops. The enemy soon found out our
position, and did not fail to inform us of the fact by frequently saluting
us with an immense shell, or thirty-two pound cannon ball, which would
burst over our heads or fall within a few rods--often within a few
feet--of our tents. We remained in that camp just one month, and,
notwithstanding the enemy shelled us night and day, I never saw a man or
beast injured by shot or shell in camp while we remained there.
I presume many of my readers will remember seeing or hearing of the old
saw-mill which stood near a peach orchard, and which the soldiers
persisted in running, to the great annoyance of the rebels. That old
saw-mill deserves to be immortalized in song as well as in history; and if
it stood in any other than a christian land, it would undoubtedly become
an object of idolatry. There it stood, in perfect range of the enemy's
batteries, a target at which they never seemed tired of firing, while our
brave soldiers risked their lives in sawing lumber for the purpose of
laying board floors in the hospital tents, to secure some degree of
comfort, for their poor sick comrades.
Time after time the mill was set on fire by the explosion of shells as
they passed through it, but up would go some brave young hero, and stand
in the very jaws of death while his companions would hand him bucket after
bucket of water to quench the flames. As soon as the fire was
extinguished the men resumed their labor, and the old mill steamed away
with all its might, as if proud of the "stars and stripes" which waved
from its summit, and of being permitted to show its patriotism and zeal
for the glorious cause of freedom by working for good old "Uncle Sam" and
his noble sons. Then it would give vent to its pent up wrath in hisses and
shrieks, bidding proud defiance to Jeff. Davis and his minions, who were
trying in vain to stop its humane and patriotic efforts. For more than
three weeks those brave men kept the steam up in that mill, until their
object was accomplished, having to stop almost every half hour to repair
the ravages of shot and shell. Notwithstanding the constant fire of the
rebel batteries, the dilapidated appearance of the mill from its effects,
and the danger of the situation, yet not a man was killed in or about it,
and not one wounded, to my knowledge.
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