Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/618

Rh wounded in the head at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., 1864, and died the following February in a field hospital, after returning to duty from a furlough home.

Yearning to be helpful to her country in its time of peril, Fanny Titus offered her services to the Sanitary and also to the Chris- tian Commission, but the officials of both replied, "You are too young." And so said Dr. Hayward, of Boston, adding, "It would be of no use to send you: Miss Dix would send you right back." She secured letters of reference from the Rev. George H. Hepworth, pastor of the Church of the Unity, Boston, and from Dr. Steadman and Dr. Willard, of Boston, and the last of March, 1864, went to Washington. Her first call was at the office of Surgeon-general Hammond, who said it would be useless for her to see Miss Dix, but gave her some encouragement, how- ever, by promising his endorsement if any surgeon in charge of a hospital would give her a position. This would place her on record as a regularly enrolled army nurse. Dr. Bliss, of the Armory Square Hospital, shortly promised to give her the care of a ward as soon as the new barracks were built. While waiting for this appointment, she im- proved the time by visiting hospitals. She also .sought a conference with Miss Dix, and, being kindly received, spoke of her brothers — the eldest of whom had given his life for his country, the other two being then with the Vermont brigade in V^irginia — and of her desire to care for the sick and wounded soldiers. After listening to her story and reatling her letters. Miss Dix asked her several questions, one being in regard to the amount of baggage she had brought from home. She replied, "A large and a small valise." Miss Dix commended her good sense in taking so little, and added: "Child, I shall not say no, though it is entirely against my rules to take any one so young. I believe your heart is in the work, and that I can trust you. I shall send my ambulance to-morrow morning to take you to Columbian Hospital, there to remain in quarters till I send you to Annapolis. In the meantime you will be under the training of Miss Burghardt. I have so instructed Major Crosby." Columbian Hospital was on Fourteenth Street, Washington, and was in charge of Dr. Thomas R. Crosby. Shortly after. Miss Burghardt having been granted a furlough for rest, she was placetl in temporary care of her ward, the surgeon of which was Dr. F. H. Marsh, of Michigan. By request of Dr. Crosby she was retained at the Columbian Hospital, and upon the return of Miss Burghardt was assigned to Ward Two, where she remained until June 27, 1865, when the hospital was closed.

Her experiences while in charge of this ward have been recorded by Mrs. Hazen in the history of "Our Army Nurses." She thus refers to the summer of 1864: "The hospital was filled in May with wounded from the Wilderness. Then came the battle at Spottsylvania and June 1 the battle of Cold Harbor. From the latter battle-field my youngest brother was brought to my ward. At the first I was so rejoiced to see him alive I did not feel sorry that he had been wounded. After each arrival from the front all who could be moved were transferred to hospitals more remote, to make room for the next arrivals from the battle-fields, until at last the wards were filled with very badly wounded men, some soon crossing to the other shore, others lingering for months, suffering untold agonies ere the longed-for rest came. Still others lived to carry through life crippled bodies. Many were the letters written for tho.se unable to write to the dear father, mother, brother, sister, or sweetheart, and many the letters received with thanks from the absent friends.

" During June, July, August, and September our heads, hands, and hearts were taxed to the utmost. . . . There were many deaths, each one, as the last hours came, saying: 'Oh, please. Miss Titus, stay with me. It will be but a short time. You seem so like a sister.' So hour after hour I watched the life-light flicker and the of many noble men whose lives were a sacrifice for their country. . . . Later we had our bright ilays, too, when wit and song prevailed, and occasionally had time to make (as the boys said) 'pies and other things like what we hatl at home.' The boys