Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/363

330 feminine resourcefulness the quickest case of bullet probing on record. Living, directing and always alone on the battlefields she had of course many thrilling adventures. Before a battle it became a common thing for soldiers, especially of the Vermont troops, to intrust her with money or other valuables for safe keeping. And it so happened that during the battle of Chancellorsville she had an unusual amount of money, which she carried in a belt on her person, with other keepsakes of value in a handbag. After getting into quarters on the Unionists' side of the river she put up a tent, as it was raining, and for the first time in several nights took off the belt and put it with the bag on the ground under the mattress. Perhaps this was all seen in her shadow on the tent cloth by someone watching for that purpose. She had just fallen asleep when she became conscious that someone was trying to get in. The flap-strings had been strongly knotted and tied tightly around the pole so that plan was abandoned and the robber passed around the tent. Fully aroused, Mrs. Farnham now crept from the blankets and finding her revolver awaited results. Her first thought was to give an alarm, but she knew that the thief could easily escape in the dark and return later. He proceeded with his evil errand, cutting a long slit in the tent to reach through. Up to the time when the knife began its work the brave nurse had not realized how serious was her situation; now she hesitated no longer, but aiming as well as she could in the darkness fired. An exclamation, and the sound of hurried footsteps, were all she heard. The next morning news came that one of the new recruits was sick, having been wounded by the "accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of a chum," and Mrs. Farnham did not ask to have the case investigated. After the battle of Chancellorsville, when the army had to retreat to its old camp, Mrs. Farnham used to keep a horse and team to take along supplies on the march. When in camp the boys could easily procure for themselves what they needed but on the march they often suffered severely. Such articles as shirts, socks, etc., coffee, sugar, condensed milk and canned goods Mrs. Farnham carried in her wagon and gave where most needed. It is now a simple matter of history that the Sixth Corps marched from Manchester to Gettysburg from daylight until 4 p. m., and it was the greatest feat in marching ever accomplished by any troops under like conditions. Mrs. Farnham went with them most of the way on foot, giving up the spare room on her wagon to worn-out soldiers, who could not find room in the crowded ambulances. She was in Fredericksburg on the ninth of May, 1864, where the weary Union troops were lying, and here for about the first time she was a regular army nurse. Appointed by Miss Dorothea Dix she so remained until discharged in June, 1865. Mrs. Farnham used to tell with quiet humor of her first interview with Miss Dix. From the time she entered the army, Mrs. Farnham had worn a dress similar to that so recently designed for the woman aviator—full pants buttoning from the top of her boots, skirts falling a little below the knees and a jacket with full sleeves. This dress she had on when she called to present her papers of request. Miss Dix glanced at the papers then looked Mrs. Farnham over from head to foot until the situation was becoming embarrassing. Finally she arose, saying: "Mrs. Farnham. the dress you wear is abominable, a most abominable dress, and I do not wish one of my nurses to dress in that manner;