University of Virginia Library

BRIDGET DIVERS.

THE Heroines of the Great War for the Union, like its
heroes, have come from every class of society, and
represent every grade in our social scale. Ladies of the
highest refinement and social polish have left homes of
luxury, and devoted themselves, week after week, and
month after month, to daily labor and nightly vigils in the
wards of great hospitals.

No less praiseworthy and admirable have been the devotion
and self-sacrifice of those who were born in less favored
circles, and brought with them to the work, if not the
elegance of the boudoir, the hearty good will, the vigorous
sense, and the unwearied industry of the laboring class.

If the antecedents and manners of Bridget Divers, whom
Sheridan's men commonly knew as "Irish Biddy," were not
those of what the world calls "a lady," she proved herself
possessed of the heart of a true, brave, loyal, and unselfish
woman, who devoted herself, from the beginning to the end
of the war, to the good of the soldier, with such uncalculating
generosity, that she deserves and enjoys the grateful
remembrance and the unfeigned respect of every patriot
who saw anything of her admirable labor.

In the commencement of the war, she went out with
the first Michigan cavalry, and through the war continued

to act with and for that organization. But as she became
familiar with the army, and well known in it, she extended
her labors so as to reach the wants of the brigade, and even
the division to which the first Michigan belonged.

She knew every man in the regiment, and could speak of
his character, his wants, his sufferings, and the facts of his
military record. Her care and kindness extended to the
moral and religious wants, as well as the health, of the men
of her regiment, as she always called it. In the absence
of the chaplain she came to the Christian Commission for
books and papers for the men, saying that she was the
acting chaplain, and appearing to take a very deep interest
in the moral and religious well-being of them all.

It made no difference to her in what capacity she acted,
or what she did, so be it was necessary for the good of
the men.

Acting now as vivandière or daughter of the regiment,
now as nurse, hospital steward, ward master, and sometimes
as surgeon, she was invaluable in each capacity.
From her long experience with wounds and disease, her
judgment came to be excellent, and her practical skill equal
often to that of a physician. In drawing various supplies
from the Sanitary or Christian Commissions she showed
good judgment, and knew just what the men really
wanted, never encouraging waste or recklessness in
distribution, while she was really very kind and tenderhearted.

Her whole soul was in the work of aiding and sustaining
the soldier. No day was too stormy or too cold to check
her in an errand of mercy. She overcame all obstacles,

and battled successfully with all sorts of rebuffs and discouragements
in the prosecution of her duties.

When the Christian Commission received letters from
home, which was very frequently the case, inquiring for a
soldier, if the man was believed to be even in the division
to which she was attached, Bridget was the first person to
whom application was made. If it was in "her brigade,"
as she called it, she could tell all about him. If in the
division, she was more likely to know than the commanding
officer or the adjutant, and could generally give all the
desired information. Her memory of names and places
was truly wonderful.

When the brigade was in active service she was with it
in the field, and shared all its dangers. She was a fearless
and skilful rider, and as brave as the bravest under fire.

In actual battle she had two or three horses killed
under her, and in the course of the war lost eight or ten in
various ways.

In the battle of Cedar Creck she found herself at one
time cut off and surrounded by the enemy, but managed,
by an adroit movement, to escape capture.

As to making something out of the war, she was utterly
indifferent to that. At one time a purse of some three hundred
dollars was made up and presented to her; but in a
few weeks the most of it was gone, having been expended
in various purchases for the comfort of her boys. Any
money given to her was sure to find its way back again
into the regiment, as she would expend it for the benefit
of some sick, or wounded, or unfortunate man, or for the
purchase of hospital supplies.

Her personal appearance is not prepossessing or attractive.
Sleeping on the ground like a soldier, and enduring hardships
like the rest, her face has become browned by exposure,
and her figure grown athletic by constant exercise and
life in the open air. But the heart that beats under her
plain cassock is as full of womanly tenderness as that of any
princess in purple velvet; and, though her hand is strong
and brown, it is as ready to do an act of generous kindness
as that of Florence Nightingale herself.

Not even with the close of the war did her self-imposed
duties end. She has become attached to the free and spirited
life of the cavalry soldier, and preferring camp life, with
its hardships and adventures, to the comfort and tameness
of villages, she is now with the detachment that has
crossed the great plains and the Rocky Mountains for Indian
service on the distant western frontier.