I waited for an up-bound steamer all night. I could not sleep; my heart and brain and blood seemed to be on fire. Thousands of despairing, suffering men were all around me; it seemed as if sleep had forever left my eyes and slumber my eyelids. All night long I waited for an upward-bound steamer, and while I waited I wrote letters to the wives and mothers of the men who had asked me to write for them. About daylight a boat came up from Vicksburg, bound for St. Louis; and I boarded her for Memphis, leaving Miss Shelton at the house where we had taken board, to complete the task of letter-writing. When I reached Memphis, I drove directly to the office of the medical director. An orderly was the sole occupant of the office. He informed me that the medical director had gone out hunting, and would not be back till evening. I was greatly disappointed, as I had hoped much from him, but I was not discouraged. I decided to appeal to the commanding general. The adjutant-general was the only person in the office. “I wish to see the general,” I said, addressing the adjutant. “The general is sick to-day, and cannot see any one. Perhaps he can see you to-morrow.” “My business is important and urgent; I cannot wait till to-morrow. Will you take a message to the general for me?” “I cannot do that, madam; the general is very sick, and I cannot disturb him, but perhaps I can attend to the business.” Thus encouraged, I began in a very energetic manner a statement of the condition of the sick and wounded at Helena. In the midst of it the door opened, and the general stood before me. I took in the situation in an instant, realizing that, sick or well, or whatever his condition, he was the man who had the authority, and I immediately turned to him with the case. I pleaded for those men as one would plead for his own life, and I concluded with a definite request: “I want you, General, to send down four steamers immediately, fitted out with cots and supplies, to bring all these suffering men away from that death-trap.” He said that it should be done. “But, General,” I continued, “I want the order issued before I leave this office. I want to go back and tell the men that the boats are coming--it may save some lives.” “I assume, madam, that the order has been given,” said the adjutant, “and I will promulgate it immediately.” “May I depend on you to send the boats down there by to-morrow noon?” “The boats will be there without fail.” “Remember,” I said, “I have no other appeal but the newspapers and the great, generous people of the North who sustain them, if you fail.” “I hope, dear madam, that you will make no mention of this in the papers--the boats will be there.” These last words were uttered as he closed the door of my carriage. I hurried away, as a steamer was coming in, and I desired, if possible, to get back to Helena that night.