The work done by the Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Vincent during the war was of a high order. The first of the Sisters to enter the service as nurses were Sisters Anthony and Sophia. Both were sent to Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, O., on the 1st of May, 1861. On the evening before that date a peculiar6 holy calm was upon the beautiful convent, which is located on a hill top, just within the limits of Cincinnati. The structure, surrounded by cedar7 trees and well-cultivated grounds, had in it the appearance of nobility, religion, peace and charity. The golden rays of the setting sun glanced, then darkened as the Sisters were enjoying their evening walk. A messenger suddenly called for the Superior. The Mother leaves her religious family to attend to business. Only a few minutes elapse when she 203 returns to inform her Sisters that his honor, the Mayor of Cincinnati, and the Most Rev8. Archbishop Purcell earnestly request the Sisters of Charity to attend the sick troops who are stationed at Camp Dennison. There were no commands; all willingly volunteered to nurse the sick soldiers. Preparations were quickly made, and on May 1, 1861, five members of the community were named for the camp. Sisters Sophia and Anthony were sent in advance, and Sisters Bernardine, Alphonse and Magdalen followed. Camp Dennison was situated9 about fifteen miles from Cincinnati, on the Little Miami Railroad. This location was advantageous10 for many reasons—easy of access, with ample space and abundance of water, level and suitable for military purposes. Mother Josephine, the presiding Superior, accompanied the Sisters to this new home. Their duties consisted principally in attending the soldiers who were suffering from measles11, which had broken out in the ranks in the very worst form. After these soldiers had recovered health the Sisters returned to the Mother Superior House at Cedar Grove12, Cincinnati.
After the return from Camp Dennison a hasty call was received from the Mayor of Cumberland to attend the sick and wounded of that place. Sister Anthony was among the number, and an amusing incident is related of the Sisters’ leave-taking. As the good-byes were being said the train moved off, carrying only Sister Anthony. She arrived in Columbus some hours in advance of the others, who boarded the next train. Arriving at the station in Columbus she received a telegram from the Most Rev. Archbishop of Cincinnati to return immediately to St. John’s Hospital to prepare for the sick and wounded soldiers who were there, being brought from 204 different places. The Sisters named for Cumberland were Sisters Sophia, Ambrosia13, Ettiene, Agnes, Jane, Mary, Gabriella. There they were kindly14 received by a Catholic family. Dr. McMahon, the attending physician, was kind and attentive15.
The weather was cold, the accommodations poor and the hospitals, of which there were twelve, were some distance from each other. There were crowded into these hospitals at one time 2200 poor soldiers, suffering from typhoid fever, pneumonia16, erysipelas, etc. The duties were very trying, but a murmur17 never escaped from the lips of one Sister of Charity. Almighty18 God and His glory being their only aim, all seemed easy. “Sad and numerous were the scenes we witnessed in those hospitals,” says one of the Sisters, “yet none presents itself more vividly19 to my mind to-day than the suffering of the boy soldiers longing20 for home and mother. How often were those endearing words, ‘Mother,’ ‘Home,’ mentioned!”
Sister Jane says: “I had in my ward21 a droll22 boy named Billy. Now, our Billy had watched the Sisters for some time and addressed me thus: ‘Lady, what is that I hear the boys call you? Sister! Ah, that is a beautiful name. Well, Sister, will you give me your Bible? I would like to know something of your religion.” Billy received the little Bible, or rather a small catechism, of which he made good use. He was soon baptized, made his first holy communion, and his zeal23 did not end here. “Often have I seen him on a platform explaining the words of his catechism to his comrades, many of whom became fervent24 children of the Church. Many hundreds of like instances could be cited, but I trust they are written in the Book of Life.” 205
Sister Agnes spent about three months in Cumberland nursing the sick soldiers. She then returned to St. John’s Hospital, Cincinnati, to nurse the soldiers who were being sent from Richmond and Nashville to the city. “It was here I witnessed the most appalling sights,” she says; “men wanting arms or legs, and sometimes wanting both arms and legs—pale, haggard faces, worn from long marching and fasting. Many, I think, died of broken hearts. Faces and voices haunt me yet, calling for home and dear ones whom they were destined25 never again to behold26 on earth. The streets of this now flourishing city were then the scenes of extreme suffering and misery27. Frequently fine young men, seated on their own coffins, passed through on their way to execution on some neighboring hillside.”
About the 16th of February the Sisters received a hasty call from Cumberland. Mother Josephine and Rev. Father Collins were to accompany them to the scene of their duties. They reached Wheeling about 5 P. M. the next day, and received hospitality from the Visitation Nuns28. The next morning, in the face of a blinding storm of sleet29 and snow, the Sisters started for Cumberland, where they were met at the station by Dr. McMahon, the surgeon of the post. They walked in procession through the streets, and were the objects of much curiosity. That evening they secured some rooms, but slept on the floor. The next morning they were assigned some apartments in the house of a Southern gentleman, Dr. Healy, whose sympathy with the South compelled him to leave home and family. The accommodations here were little better than at the hotel. The bunks30 were made of rough boards, covered 206 with straw ticks, and the pillows were of the same material.
Pages would not suffice to relate all the good done in Cumberland. Often during the stillness of night one might have gazed on a Sister as she stood at the cot of a dying soldier, heard her whisper words of consolation31 and religion in his ears, saw her close gently his dying eyes. Thus they passed long, weary nights.
Early in March, 1863, the Sisters of Mount St. Vincent, who had already done valiant32 service in other localities, were invited to go to Nashville to nurse the sick and wounded of that place. Those named were Sisters Anthony, Constantina, Louise, Benedicta and Gabriella. They left Cincinnati March 19, 1863, and were accompanied by Rev. Father Tracy. There were four hospitals at this place, fairly well adapted for their purpose. Sister Constantina, who took charge of the first one, proved to be an angel of mercy to the poor invalids33. The building was formerly34 an old cotton mill, located on an eminence35 known as College Hill. The Sisters were quartered in a small house opposite to this place, and during their stay were treated with the greatest consideration. Many of the wounded were sent to this place after the battle of Stone River. Most of the patients were young, and they suffered intense agony.
At one time measles became quite epidemic36 among the soldiers, from which many of them died. It was during the mission at this place that General Rosecrans, with his body-guard, made daily visits to the sick. He was wont37 to say in his kind, jovial38 way: “Come, come, boys, you are foxing; these Sisters are too good to you,” then laugh heartily39 at his remarks. He was very kind to all the 207 Sisters. The next important call to duty was at New Creek40. The Sisters of Charity named for this colony were Sister Sophia, in charge, assisted by Sisters Ann, Cecelia, Beatrice, Stainlaus, Etienne, Laurence and Benedicta. The chaplain was Rev. Father Corcoran.
BATTLE OF WILSON’S CREEK.
From the diary of one of the above-named Sisters the following is extracted: “We left Cedar Grove Academy June 9, 1862, for New Creek. Arriving at our destination, we were assigned a tent, erected41 for our accommodation by order of Dr. McMahon. This gentleman, however, soon procured42 better quarters for us with a family named Dinges. Here we performed our duties of nursing the sick and wounded with energy and zeal. During our stay at New Creek we were treated with great kindness and respect, particularly by Colonel Miller43, who, although a Protestant, proved a sincere friend of priest and Sisters.
“It is not surprising that our peculiar dress was a source of amusement to many persons who had never before seen a religious. We were frequently asked why we dressed so differently from other ladies. We are happy to relate that our care and kindness removed many prejudices against our religion. We remained at New Creek about three months; then the army moved to Culpepper Court House. We followed in ambulances and nursed the sick soldiers in tents pitched on the camp grounds. Some of the soldiers had typhoid fever, of which disease many of them died. When the Confederates were victorious44 at Harper’s Ferry we retreated to Washington, whence we returned to the Mother house, Cincinnati.”
Gallipolis was the next assignment. The Sisters named for the field of charity were Sisters Louis, Ambrosia, Euphrasia, Basilia, Gonzaga, Laurence, Constantina and Seraphine. About eight months after their return 208 from Cumberland they were ordered to this location to attend the soldiers from Winchester and Lynchburg. The wounded did not reach the hospitals until fourteen days after the battle. The misery and suffering presented was most frightful45. The attending physician was Dr. Stone, and the chaplain was Rev. Father Callenberg. Sister Gonzaga, a very holy person, who has since gone to her reward, took quite an interest in little Toby, a little darky, who was conspicuous46 about the camp, and who endeavored, whenever an opportunity occurred, of instructing him in the knowledge and love of God. When she thought she had instructed him sufficiently47 and an examination would not be out of place, she called him to her and said: “Toby, who made you?”
“Dun no, Sister,” he answered.
She then said to him: “Well, Toby, who made the trees, the grass, the flowers and all these beautiful things which we see around us?”
The little fellow looked at her for awhile and said: “Dun no; dey was all hyar when I comed.”
The soldiers in Gallipolis acted as gentlemen in their intercourse48 with the Sisters. The sight of a Sister was sufficient to check the least levity49. Men who had been taught to look on Catholics as dangerous people learned to love and respect the faith which taught even women to sacrifice their lives for the comfort or relief of the soldiers.
The Governor of Indiana made application to the Most Rev. Archbishop of Cincinnati for the Sisters to care for and nurse his troops in Richmond, Ky. Sisters Anthony and Sophia were among the first ones sent. They traveled in ambulances from Cincinnati. The following are extracts from the diaries of these religious: 209
“Much, very much, might be said of our work at Richmond, but God alone could tell the story. En route from here (Cincinnati) we witnessed sights the most appalling; the grounds were covered with wounded, dying and dead bodies. Some of the dead bodies were only partially50 covered, hands and feet protruding51. The weather being very hot added not a little to the hardships of this scene of action.
“Arriving in Richmond, we began work immediately. The hospital had been an academy, affording wards52 larger and better than many other locations during the war. Shortly after attending to those suffering from the most severe wounds, a Sister discovered a poor soldier crouched53 in a corner. For hours he had lain under the burning rays of the sun, suffering severely54 from a wound received in his shoulder. The flesh surrounding the wound was dreadfully mangled55, and owing to neglect was swarming56 with vermin. Pale and haggard he looked. I shall never forget him. We washed and dressed his wounds and administered the necessary cordials, and when we placed him in a clean cot the reader may imagine his joy.
“Another ward in this hospital accommodated more than one hundred men. Seventeen were lying on the floor, each of whom had lost one or more limbs. ‘What shall we do with these poor men?’ was the constant query57.
“The first death that occurred was of a man who had been shot through the lung. He had been exposed to the heat of the sun, and had eaten no food for hours. Everything was done for him, but his moments on earth were few. He received the last sacraments and died a beautiful death. His last words were: ‘Thanks to the Sisters.’ This death and its attending circumstances were the cause 210 of many conversions58. One pious59 Episcopalian asked the Sisters for books on the subject of religion, saying that ‘a religion which teaches gentle ladies such devoted60 self-sacrifice for suffering humanity must be Divine.’
“No page in history can record such noble deeds of courage and devotion as that illuminating61 the life and labors of these Sisters during their stay at Richmond. Particularly noble was our much esteemed62 Sister Anthony.15
“History can point to annals of devotion and self-sacrifice of noble women, but no annals are so rich in noble work and silent charity as that of our loved Sister. Hundreds of men scattered63 over the States will always remember and revere64 her. She seemed happy when engaged in alleviating65 the sufferings of others, particularly of the soldiers.”
The following anecdote66 from the diary of a Sister illustrates67 the influence that the religious possessed68 with these soldier boys:
“It is midnight. The moon sends her welcome light to cheer my watching hours. There is stillness all around, although many soldiers are suffering. But listen! I hear moans. A poor soldier is dying; must away to his cot. Yes, he was dying. I prayed, then spoke69: ‘Now, my young friend, you are going home.’ ‘Home!’ said the boy; ‘what do you mean, Sister?’ ‘Why, would you not like to go to heaven?’ ‘Sister, are you going there when you die?’ I assured the boy that I sincerely hoped to go there. ‘Well,’ said he, ‘so do I.’ I called the chaplain, had the soldier baptized and ere the morning dawned this beautiful soul was in heaven.”
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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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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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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measles
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| n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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ambrosia
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| n.神的食物；蜂食 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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pneumonia
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| n.肺炎 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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49
levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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50
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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51
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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52
wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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53
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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conversions
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| 变换( conversion的名词复数 )； （宗教、信仰等）彻底改变； （尤指为居住而）改建的房屋； 橄榄球（触地得分后再把球射中球门的）附加得分 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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60
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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61
illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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62
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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64
revere
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| vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏 | |
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alleviating
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| 减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的现在分词 ) | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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67
illustrates
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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68
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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69
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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