Under the guns : $b A woman's reminiscences of the Civil WarWittenmyer, Annie
History
Under the guns : $b A woman's reminiscences of the Civil War
Wittenmyer, Annie
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
When the two great generals took their leave, every colored person in
the neighborhood knew that the smaller man was General Grant, and they
were watching to get another glimpse of him. Both generals thanked
us for inviting them, and assured us that it was the most restful,
home-like visit they had enjoyed since the war began.
It was my privilege to dine with them on several occasions after
that, and to dine with General Grant at the White House during his
presidential terms; but there was not the enthusiasm and novelty on
those occasions that clustered around the dinner and visit in the
shell-wrecked house after the fall of Vicksburg.
General and Mrs. Stone live at their old home in Mount Pleasant, Iowa;
but the two great captains of the Union hosts are gone--McPherson
falling in the midst of the struggle on the bloody field of strife near
Atlanta, Ga., and Grant, after passing through untold perils, passing
peacefully away, and even in death immortalizing Mount McGregor.
LIBERTY HICKS.
As we were on our way to the brick church hospital, at Helena, Ark., a
very large man, with his hair curled and hanging over his shoulders,
passed us and looked back, my secretary and myself both imagined, in an
impudent way. When we reached the hospital we found him there. He put
himself in our way as though he wished to speak with us, but we both
avoided him. At last he came up and said to me, “Madam, I want to speak
with you; there is a man over here that the doctor thinks will die. I
thought maybe you’d come over and pray with him. I’ve been trying to
lead him to trust the Lord Jesus, but he don’t seem to find the way.”
How that great stalwart fellow was transfigured before us from a rowdy
to a saint. And as we went about the hospital everybody said, “If it
wasn’t for Liberty Hicks I don’t know what we would do.” It was not
long till a great cake of ice was floating about in the barrel of tepid
water that stood near the pulpit, and lemons from our supply were in
many a fever-parched hand. We found out afterwards that Liberty Hicks
was an Illinois soldier, and though big, coarse, and strong of body,
he was as tender in his ministrations as a woman, and as faithful as
tender. And although it was not our privilege to ever meet him again,
our good wishes have ever followed him.
Liberty Hicks was a grand hospital worker. I heard of his labors
afterwards, for he accompanied the sick up the river. But like many
others he overworked, and I learn from his daughter who lives near
him in Illinois that he is permanently disabled. It must, however, be
a great consolation to him now, in his old age, to know that by his
faithful services he saved many precious lives.
TRADING TOBACCO FOR COFFEE.
Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood and some of the state officials of Iowa
came down to visit the army during the siege of Vicksburg. I was
invited to go with the distinguished visitors on a tour of inspection,
as was also Mrs. General Stone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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