 | Women of the war : |  |
INTRODUCTION.
The histories of wars are records of the achievements
of men, for the most part: the chroniclers have
had to record that women, by their intrigues or their
fatal gift of beauty, have been the cause of strifes innumerable;
and it is confessed that they have inspired
heroism and knightly deeds, but they have had small
share in the actual conflicts. It has been their portion
to suffer in silence at home, and to mourn the dead.
For them it has been to hear of sufferings which they
could not alleviate, to grieve or rejoice over results
to which they had contributed only sympathy and
prayers.
It has been different in our Conflict for the Union.
Other wars have furnished here and there a name,
which the world delights to repeat in terms of affection
or admiration, of some woman who has broken through
the rigidity of custom, and been conspicuous, either
the hospitals, like the heroine of Scutari. But our
war has furnished hundreds as intrepid as the one, and
as philanthropically devoted as the other. Indeed, we
may safely say that there is scarcely a loyal woman
in the North who did not do something in aid of the
cause — who did not contribute, of time, or labor, or
money, to the comfort of our soldiers and the success
of our arms. No town was too remote from the scene
of war to have its society of relief; and while the
women sewed and knit, and made delicacies for the
sick, and gathered stores, little girls, scarce old enough
to know what the charitable labor meant, went from
house to house, collecting small sums of money, — the
fruitful energy of all keeping the storehouses and
treasury of the Sanitary Commission full, and pouring
a steady stream of beneficence down to our troops in
the field.
Everywhere there were humble and unknown laborers.
But there were others, fine and adventurous
spirits, whom the glowing fire of patriotism urged to
more noticeable efforts. These are they who followed
their husbands and brothers to the field of battle and
to rebel prisons; who went down into the very edge
the dying with gentle ministrations; who labored
in field and city hospitals, and on the dreadful hospital-boats,
where the severely wounded were received;
who penetrated the lines of the enemy on dangerous
missions; who organized great charities, and pushed
on our sanitary enterprises; who were angels of mercy
in a thousand terrible situations. There are others
who have illustrated, by their courage and address in
times of danger, by their patience in suffering, and
by adventures romantic and daring, some of the best
qualities in our nature. Like the soldiers of the
armies, they were from every rank in life, and they
exhibited a like persistence, endurance, and faith.
There are many hundreds of women whose shining
deeds have honored their country, and, wherever they
are known, the nation holds them in equal honor with
its brave men.
The story of the war will never be fully or fairly
written if the achievements of women in it are untold.
They do not figure in the official reports; they are
not gazetted for deeds as gallant as ever were done;
the names of thousands are unknown beyond the
neighborhood where they live, or the hospitals where
war more creditable to us as a nation, none from its
positive newness so well worthy of record.
It is the object of this book to gather and present
narratives of the services in the war of some of the
women who shared its perils, and ought to inherit its
glories. Their experiences are varied, and include
both sufferings and adventures, the narration of which
cannot fail to warm the heart and excite admiration
wherever they are read. They may be taken as representatives
of the thousand others whose good deeds
are a crown to the national glory.
| Women of the war : | |