NURSE AND SPY IN THE
UNION ARMY:
COMPRISING
The Adventures and Experiences of a Woman in Hospitals, Camps, and BattleFields.
By S. EMMA E. EDMONDS.
Published by Subscription only by
W. S. WILLIAMS & CO., HARTFORD, CONN.
JONES BROS. & CO., PHILADELPHIA AND CINCINNATI. J. A. STODDARD & CO., CHICAGO, ILL.
1865.
Entered
According to Act of Congress in the year 1864, By W. S. Williams & Company
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States,
For the District of Connecticut.
Printed by Wiley, Waterman, & Eaton, Hartford, Conn.
To the
Sick and Wounded Soldiers of the
Army of the Potomac,
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This Volume
Is Respectfully Inscribed
BY
The Author.
EMBELLISHMENTS.
PORTRAIT Engraved on Steel by Geo. E. Perine, N. Y. Disguises
and other Scenes, Drawn and Engraved on Wood by R. O'Brien, New York.
PAGE.
PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR, Frontispiece. HOSPITAL TREE AT FAIR OAKS, 17
CATERING FOR HOSPITALS, 94
DISGUISED AS A CONTRABAND, 113
MAKING HOE-CAKE FOR A SICK REBEL, 153
ACTING ORDERLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD, 178
RIDING FOR LIFE, 217
RELIEF FOR THE FAMISHING, 228
DISGUISED AS FEMALE CONTRABAND, 263
AN INTERESTING PATIENT, 272
PLAYING POSSUM, 295
PAYING A DEBT OF GRATITUDE, 316
BURSTING OF A SHELL IN VICKSBURG, 358
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PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.
No apology is necessary for adding one more to the numerous "War Books" which already fill a large space in American Literature; for, to the general reader, nothing connected with the Rebellion can be more interesting than the personal experiences of those who have been intimately associated with the different phases of military life, in Camp, Field, and Hospital.
The "Nurse and Spy" is simply a record of events which have transpired in the experience and under the observation of one who has been on the field and participated in numerous battles--among which are the first and second Bull Run, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, the Seven days in front of Richmond, Antietam, and Fredericksburg--serving in the capacity of "Spy" and as "Field Nurse" for over two years.
While in the "Secret Service" as a "Spy," which is one of the most hazardous positions in the army--she penetrated the enemy's lines, in various disguises, no less than eleven times; always with complete success and without detection.
Her efficient labors in the different Hospitals as well as her arduous duties as "Field Nurse," embrace many thrilling and touching
incidents, which are here most graphically described.
[Pg 6]Should any of her readers object to some of her disguises, it may be sufficient to remind them it was from the purest motives and most praiseworthy patriotism, that she laid aside, for a time, her own costume, and assumed that of the opposite sex, enduring hardships, suffering untold privations, and hazarding her life for her adopted country, in its trying hour of need.
In the opinion of many, it is the privilege of woman to minister to the sick and soothe the sorrowing--and in the present crisis
of our country's history, to aid our brothers to the extent of her capacity--and whether duty leads her to the couch of luxury, the abode of poverty, the crowded hospital, or the terrible battle field--it makes but little difference what costume she assumes while in
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the discharge of her duties.--Perhaps she should have the privilege of choosing for herself whatever may be the surest protection from insult and inconvenience in her blessed, self-sacrificing work.
The moral character of the work,--being true to virtue, patriotism, and philanthropy--together with the fine embellishments and neat mechanical execution--will, we trust, render it an interesting and welcome visitor at every fireside.
[Pg 7] CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.
Pages 17-28.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR--MY HOME AND MY DUTY--I ENLIST IN THE CAUSE--EXCITEMENT AT THE WEST--TROOPS ON THE MARCH--MOBS AT BALTIMORE--TEMPORARY HOSPITALS--UNAVOIDABLE EVILS-- BEGGING FOR COMFORTS--SUPPLIES FOR THE SICK--CAMP HOSPITALS--THUNDER STORMS IN CAMP--A DYING OFFICER--SOLDIERS IN THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS--PREPARATIONS FOR THE ADVANCE.
CHAPTER II. Pages 29-41.
MARCHING ORDERS--REMOVAL OF THE SICK--A YOUNG PATIENT--VISIT FROM HIS MOTHER--MARCH TOWARD MANASSAS--COLLECTING SUPPLIES--FATIGUES OF THE MARCH--PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--A CAMP PRAYER MEETING--DIVISIONS DETAILED--MY PLACE ON THE FIELD--"RATHER CLOSE QUARTERS"-- A BATTLE SUNDAY--SKULKING FROM THE FIELD.
CHAPTER III. Pages 41-54.
WATER FOR THE WOUNDED--COL. CAMERON KILLED--SCENES ON THE BATTLEFIELD--BURNSIDE'S BRIGADE--CAPTURE OF GRIFFIN'S AND RICKETT'S BATTERIES--REBELS REINFORCED--THE PANIC AND RETREAT--THE WOUNDED AT CENTERVILLE--MY RECONNOISSANCE--AN INSANE WOMAN ON THE FIELD-- HIDING FROM THE ENEMY--RETURN TO THE WOUNDED--EXPECTATION OF CAPTURE--ESCAPE FROM
THE REBELS--MY WALK TO ALEXANDRIA--FOOTSORE AND WEARY--ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON--LETTERS
FROM DEAD SOLDIERS' FRIENDS. [Pg 8]
CHAPTER IV. Pages 55-70.
WASHINGTON AFTER BULL RUN--DEMORALIZATION OF THE ARMY--SICK SOLDIERS--HOSPITAL SCENES-- EXTRACTS FROM MY JOURNAL--SYMPATHY OF SOLDIERS--FISHING FOR THE SICK--A FISH-LOVING DUTCH-MAN--REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY--A VISIT TO THE PICKETS--PICKET DUTIES AND DANGERS--THE ARMY INACTIVE--MCCLELLAN'S ADDRESS--MARCHING ORDERS AGAIN--EMBARKATION OF THE ARMY
FOR FORTRESS MONROE--THE CROWDED TRANSPORTS--DESCRIPTION OF THE MONITOR--HER BUILD,
ARMAMENT, TURRET AND ENGINES.
CHAPTER V. Pages 71-82.
ARRIVAL AT FORTRESS MONROE--THE VILLAGE OF HAMPTON--VISITING THE CONTRABANDS--ARRIVAL OF FUGITIVES--A REAL "CAMP MEETING"--FEEDING THE NEGROES--CAMP MISERIES--MULES--MISS PERIWINKLE'S MULES--THE COQUETTISH, THE MORAL, THE HISTRIONIC, AND THE PATHETIC MULE--OUR JACK--LINES OF LOVE--MY BOX AND PRESENTS--A THREE-STORY CAKE--A SERENADE AND SURPRISE PARTY--GOOD AND BAD CHAPLAINS--THE MORALS OF THE ARMY--SLANDERS ABOUT SOLDIERS.
CHAPTER VI. Pages 82-97.
THE MARCH TO YORKTOWN--SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES--CAMP COOKERY--DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN
THE ARMY--ARRIVAL OF TRAINS--CHANGE OF CAMP--TRYING TO SHELL US OUT--THE OLD SAW-MILL--A
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CONSTANT TARGET--ASSAULTS ON OUR OUTPOSTS--A REBEL APPEAL--YORKTOWN AND VICINITY--THE SITUATION--BALLOON RECONNOISSANCES--PROF. LOWE ON HIGH--REBEL VIXENS--A CURIOUS VISIT--A STRANGE HOSTESS--SHE TRIES TO KILL ME--I WOUND HER AND CAPTURE A PRISONER--A CONVERSION-- THE SECESH WOMAN BECOMES A FEDERAL NURSE.
[Pg 9] CHAPTER VII. Pages 97-109.
A LOST FRIEND--DEATH OF LIEUTENANT JAMES V.--HIS BURIAL--THE GRAVE BY NIGHT--MY VOW--A SOLDIER-CHAPLAIN--RECOGNITIONS IN HEAVEN--DOUBTS AND DISSATISFACTION--CAPTURE OF A SPY-- MY EXAMINATIONS AT HEADQUARTERS--MY DISGUISE AS A SPY--I AM METAMORPHOSED INTO A CONTRABAND--HIRED AS A COOK--BISCUIT MAKING--THE DOCTOR'S TEA.
CHAPTER VIII. Pages 110-121.
MY FIRST SECRET EXPEDITION--MY WORK AMONG CONTRABANDS--PICKAXE, SHOVEL