GRANT.
Nearly all the Sisters that could be spared had been sent from the mother house at Emmittsburg, and were engaged in performing works of charity on the battlefields and in the various camps and hospitals. On June 7, 1861, a telegram was received from the authorities asking that a number of Sisters be detailed to serve the sick and wounded soldiers at Harper’s Ferry.
In spite of the severe strain that it entailed2 upon their available assignments, the Superiors made the sacrifice of sending three Sisters. These brave women left Emmittsburg on June 9 for Frederick City. Mother Ann Simeon cautioned them to act with prudence3, lest they meet with trouble, as they had the Northern Army and its sentinels 37 to pass in order to reach their destination. An orderly had been sent to escort them, but the Sisters passed their intended guide without knowing it, he going by them on the road to Emmittsburg.
An expected engagement kept villagers and farmers quietly at home. Men cautiously whispered their fears or opinions, and the sight of people bold enough to travel just then was a matter that occasioned mild surprise. For this reason the Sisters tried to huddle4 in the rear of the stage coach, hoping to pass unobserved. During a brief halt for the mail in one little town the driver opened the stage door and handing in a letter said in a loud voice:
“Sisters, a gentleman in Emmittsburg desires you to put this letter in a Southern post office after you have crossed the line.”
The eyes of the curious and astonished people were on them in a moment. The Sisters were not aware that the driver knew of their destination, but they remained quiet and made the best of the incident. The heat was excessive. One of the horses gave out on the way, and another had to be hastily substituted. After some delay the party arrived in Frederick City. A few sentinels stood here and there, but no one paid much attention to the new arrivals. Before they started again, however, a number of men gathered around their carriages, saying: “Why, ladies, where are you going?” Several of the men asked questions at the same time, but the Sisters stared at them blankly, and civilly answered anything except what the gossips most desired to know.
As hostilities5 had stopped the railway cars the pilgrims had to continue their journey in the stage-coach. Almost sick with heat they journeyed on until 38 another horse succumbed6. This meant more trouble and suspense7, but it was borne with heroic patience.
The most exciting adventure was yet to come. The rocks of the Maryland Heights on one side, and the Potomac River on the left, came in view. Just as the carriage was, seemingly, proceeding8 smoothly9 on its way there came a sudden grating sound and then an abrupt10 stop. “We’re stuck!” ejaculated the driver, with more force than elegance11. The carriage was so tightly fastened that it was feared the vehicle would have to be abandoned and the remainder of the journey made upon foot. The driver swore and stormed about, while the Sisters meekly12 looked on in silence, fearing to further irritate him with suggestions. Finally the carriage was extricated13 and the pilgrims proceeded upon their way.
About twilight14 the Southern pickets15 were seen, for the South still held a portion of Maryland. The first soldier inquired where the Sisters were going, and with what intent. He then passed them on to the next guard, and so on until they came to the last, who said: “We have just received such strict orders regarding persons crossing in or out that it is not in my power to pass you on.” The captain of the guards was sent for, however, and the Sisters were transferred over the Potomac Bridge. Great cargoes16 of powder had already been placed on this bridge, so that, in the event of the enemy’s approach it might be destroyed.
Harper’s Ferry is at the junction17 of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the Potomac separating Maryland and Virginia. A summit above the town, standing18 between the two rivers, is called Bolivar Heights. On this elevation19 was located the military hospital where the 39 Sisters were to labor20. A neat little Catholic church was located about midway between the valley and the town.
BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.
The hospital was filled with the sick, and around the town lay thousands of men just arrived from the most remote Southern States. A cold wet spell had preceded the present heat, and many of the men were ill and lay in their tents until vacancies21 opened for them in the badly sheltered houses in the town. The men in one regiment22 had contracted measles23 on their march; this spreading among others with the exposure incidental to army life thinned their numbers before the ball and the sword had begun their quicker work.
On reaching their lodgings24 the Sisters found supper prepared, and after disposing of this they soon retired25 to rest. The stillness and darkness of the town was frightful26. No sound but the Sisters’ voices or footsteps was to be heard. Not a light gleamed from the fastened windows for fear of discovery by the hidden enemy. The whole army had been sleeping or resting on their arms since their arrival, expecting an early attack.
The medical director, who had sent for the Sisters, came early in the morning and took them to the hospital. With his assistant he escorted them from room to room, introducing them and saying to the patients: “Now you will have no cause to complain of not getting nourishment27, medicine and attention at the right time, for the Sisters of Charity will see to all these things.”
The town had been by turns in the possession of the North and South, and was therefore completely drained of provisions and necessary conveniences for the sick. Notwithstanding these difficulties things were beginning to look more comfortable, when a telegram was received from 40 Winchester ordering the whole Confederate Army to repair to that town immediately. The Northern Army, it was announced, would attempt to cross the Potomac above and below Harper’s Ferry, thus surrounding the Southern Army and cutting off all supplies.
The soldiers moved at once, with the exception of those who served the sick, and those who were to collect the tents and finally destroy bridges and tracks. Provisions were cast into the river by the wholesale28, in order to deprive the enemy of benefit. Then came new orders to wait a while, but the invalids29 had already been removed to the depot30, to await the return of the cars from Winchester. Arrangements were now being made for the destruction of the bridges and tracks, and the Sisters were sent to remain with a worthy31 Catholic family far away from these structures. During the night one explosion after another shook the grand bridge and seemed to shake the mountains. The little Catholic church, the only one that had not been applied32 to military purposes, was filled and surrounded by the frightened people. The worn-out pastor33 was their only consoler.
The Sisters looked at the awful destruction around them, and felt encompassed34 with desolation. All the next day they hourly expected to be called to the cars, but no word came. They now learned that the ladies of Winchester had written to the medical director requesting him not to let the Sisters of Charity serve the sick, as they themselves would wait on them. The Sisters knew that the ladies had been enthusiastic in caring for the Confederate sick and, thinking the delay was owing to the embarrassment35 the doctors might experience in regard to this, one Sister, acting36 as spokeswoman, said to them: 41
“Gentlemen, we are aware of the ardor37 with which the Winchester ladies have labored38 for your poor men, and also know of their desire to serve the men alone—that is, without any aid of ours; therefore be candid39 enough to allow us to return to our home. If you feel any difficulty respecting the ladies of Winchester tell us. The Sisters consider it reasonable that they should wish to serve their own people, and will not be offended, but rather feel grateful for your friendly candor40.”
The physicians replied that they did not care for the objections that had been made to the Sisters; that the ladies of Winchester could never do for the sick what the Sisters of Charity would do, and therefore unless the Sisters insisted on returning home the doctors would hold them to their undertaking41.
The physicians begged the Sisters not to leave the town, but to await the signal for departure. Expecting all day and even until 11 P. M. to be sent for, and feeling that rest was absolutely necessary, the Sisters were preparing for bed when the kind lady of the house came into their room, saying: “My dear, poor Sisters, a wagon42 and your baggage are at the door for you.” They soon left their benevolent43 hostess, who wept to see them pursuing such hardships. It was a genuine farm wagon, with two negroes as drivers. The worthy pastor of Harper’s Ferry, who was determined44 not to leave the Sisters entirely45 to strangers, attended to their trunks and found seats for them. The heavy spray from both rivers was thick in the air. Here and there a star appeared between broken clouds, giving barely light enough to see the sentinels at their posts. One of these, advancing, asked the countersign46, which the pastor gave him. The wagon, running on the 42 high terrace edge of the Potomac River, made, with the darkness, a gloomy prospect47 for the Sisters.
On reaching the depot an officer met them and offered to find them a shelter until the cars would arrive. He took them across two boards that formed a temporary bridge. By the aid of his lantern they could see water on either side of them, so that they had to watch carefully and pick their steps lest they slip off the boards. At last he opened the door of a little hut, which was almost washed by the river. Here they entered and sat down, resting their foreheads on their umbrellas until between 3 and 4 o’clock, when a rumbling48 outside announced the arrival of the cars. The train reached Winchester five hours later. Almost the entire town was occupied by soldiers, so that accommodations at hotels were not to be had for any consideration. The zealous49 priest, who was still with the Sisters, took them to the church, and afterwards went in search of lodgings for them.
The church, which was of stone, and was one of the poorest old buildings in the place, was located in the suburbs. A crowd of ignorant and curious men and children followed the Sisters as they walked to the edifice50. As they entered the church the bystanders crowded in and about the door. When the Sisters went by turns to the confessional the village men and boys hurried outside and peeped through the cracks at the penitents51, peering into their very faces. Soon the priest went out and as he did so he shut and locked the door after him. After some time he returned, although the Sisters feared that it was just possible he had lost his mind and would not come back. They knew his hardships had been excessive, because, 43 besides being sick and without food or sleep, he had many other inconveniences to contend with. But he returned and took them to a plain, worthy Catholic family.
The following morning being Sunday they walked to the church, and just at the gate had to halt to let a company of soldiers, on their way to Mass, enter the church. About twenty or thirty Catholics constituted the congregation usually, but on this day the soldiers and Sisters made quite a crowded assembly. After that the Sisters waited patiently for the doctors to take them to the scene of their labors52. The Reverend Dr. Costello had called on them from time to time, informing the authorities that the Sisters were ready to go to work among the sick. The medical director finally asked them if they must remain in one hospital, or whether each Sister could take charge of a separate one. He was informed that their number was too small to divide and they would remain at one of the hospitals.
The heads of families in the city of Winchester remained in town, while grown-up daughters and children were sent to country seats, the mothers of these staying at their houses, receiving and serving as many sick soldiers as they could. The Sisters received much kindness from these ladies, for they knew that the common rations53 of the soldiers were very rough. Indeed, one of the greatest distresses54 of the Sisters at this time was that they had not more for the poor sick.
The Sisters began their labors in one of the largest hospitals in Winchester. They worked incessantly55 day and night, frequently not pausing long enough to take necessary food and nourishment for themselves. Such 44 labor began to show on them, especially as they were only three in number. The doctors said that while more nurses were needed there would be no way of sending for more Sisters except by one of them going home and returning with the others. Affairs had reached such a crisis that only the Sisters of Charity could travel now. One of them finally started off for the mother house, going by car, then by stage, and then crossing the Potomac in a flat canoe. Then she traveled by foot as fast as possible, and after running for a mile reached the railroad car before it left the station.
The evening of next day she reached St. Joseph’s, at Emmitsburg, where she was received as if from the grave. The anxious Superiors had heard nothing from or of the Sisters except what meagre news was published of the movements of the two armies. Sister Euphemia, afterwards Mother Superior, left St. Joseph’s at once with three companions for Winchester, to relieve the Sisters there. At the same time a telegram was sent to Sister Valentine at St. Louis instructing her to go immediately and replace Sister Euphemia in Winchester, who was to proceed farther southward, for in Richmond, Va., the Sisters were almost overcome with continuous duty. The Sisters, now six in number, continued their labors in Winchester until very few remained in the hospitals. The convalescent members of the army had been leaving Winchester for some days, going towards Richmond. The Sisters themselves finally proceeded towards Richmond.
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1
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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3
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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huddle
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| vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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6
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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7
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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11
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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12
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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13
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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15
pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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17
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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18
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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19
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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20
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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21
vacancies
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| n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺 | |
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22
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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23
measles
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| n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子 | |
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24
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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25
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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26
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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27
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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28
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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29
invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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30
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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31
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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32
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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35
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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36
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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37
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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38
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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39
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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40
candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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41
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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42
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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43
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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44
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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45
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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46
countersign
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| v.副署，会签 | |
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47
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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48
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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49
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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50
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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51
penitents
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| n.后悔者( penitent的名词复数 )；忏悔者 | |
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52
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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53
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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54
distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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55
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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