Tribute to Florence Nightingale by the Countess of Lovelace--Outbreak of the Crimean War--Distressing Condition of the Sick and Wounded--Mr. W. H. Russell’s Letters to _The Times_--Call for Women Nurses--Mr. Sidney Herbert’s Letter to Miss Nightingale--She offers her Services 94 CHAPTER XI _PREPARATION AND DEPARTURE FOR SCUTARI_ Public Curiosity Aroused--Description of Miss Nightingale in the Press--Criticism--She selects Thirty-Eight Nurses--Departure of the “Angel Band”--Enthusiasm of Boulogne Fisherwomen--Arrival at Scutari 110 CHAPTER XII _THE LADY-IN-CHIEF_ The Barrack Hospital--Overwhelming Numbers of Sick and Wounded--General Disorder--Florence Nightingale’s “Commanding Genius”--The Lady with the Brain--The Nurses’ Tower--Influence over Men in Authority 123 CHAPTER XIII _AT WORK IN THE BARRACK HOSPITAL_ An Appalling Task--Stories of Florence Nightingale’s Interest in the Soldiers--Lack of Necessaries for the Wounded--Establishes an Invalids’ Kitchen and a Laundry--Cares for the Soldiers’ Wives--Religious Fanatics--Letter from Queen Victoria--Christmas at Scutari 140 CHAPTER XIV _GRAPPLING WITH CHOLERA AND FEVER_ Florence Nightingale describes the Hardships of the Soldiers--Arrival of Fifty More Nurses--Memories of Sister Mary Aloysius--The Cholera Scourge 160 CHAPTER XV _TIMELY HELP_ Lavish Gifts for the Soldiers--_The Times_ Fund--_The Times_ Commissioner visits Scutari--His Description of Miss Nightingale--Arrival of M. Soyer, the Famous _Chef_--He Describes Miss Nightingale 171 CHAPTER XVI _THE ANGEL OF DEATH_ Death of Seven Surgeons at Scutari--The First of the “Angel Band” Stricken--Deaths of Miss Smythe, Sister Winifred, and Sister Mary Elizabeth--Touching Verses by an Orderly 183 CHAPTER XVII _SAILS FOR THE CRIMEA AND GOES UNDER FIRE_ On Board the _Robert Lowe_--Story of a Sick Soldier--Visit to the Camp Hospitals--Sees Sebastopol from the Trenches--Recognised and Cheered by the Soldiers--Adventurous Ride Back 192 CHAPTER XVIII _STRICKEN BY FEVER_ Continued Visitation of Hospitals--Sudden Illness--Conveyed to Sanatorium--Visit of Lord Raglan--Convalescence--Accepts Offer of Lord Ward’s Yacht--Returns to Scutari--Memorial to Fallen Heroes 204 CHAPTER XIX _CLOSE OF THE WAR_