Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/398

Rh Maine, then Miss Dix gave her a pass to Alexandria, Va. She reached the battlefield of Fredericksburg, ahead of all others, and did hard work among the wounded and dying. In 1863 she nursed in the Second Corps Hospital at Gettys- buig, having charge of the Confederate wounded, and from there she went to Rappahannock, carrying supplies from friends in Germantown. She was then Miss Clarissa Jones. After the war she married Mr. John H. Dye of Philadelphia. She is now a widow over 78 years old, and receives no pension. Her home is in Germantown, Pa. Mrs. Dye says she is the only woman who received a medal of honor during the war.

Mrs. Rebecca S. Smith, past president of the Army Nurses, was teaching when an epidemic of diphtheria broke out among the soldiers in 1862. She at once offered her services, began to nurse them, and after that was continuously on duty on battlefields until 1864.

Miss Hannah L. Palmer, past secretary of the Army Nurses, was for nine months on duty at Columbia Hospital, Washington, under the direction of Miss Dix. She is now 84 years of age and resides at Conestoga, New York.

Mrs. Lettie E. Buckley, was enlisted by the Sanitary Commission under her maiden name, Lettie E. Covell, from October, 1863, to June, 1865, at Memphis. She served in hospitals in that Southern city and did excellent work. She is now 74 years of age. Her home is in Chicago, Illinois.

Mrs. Susanna Kripps enlisted in 1863, and served two years and six months. While nursing she was attacked by typhoid fever, which destroyed the hearing of her right ear. She was attended by Dr. Elliott, surgeon in charge of the hospital to which she was attached. She served with the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery for five months, then in Capitol Hill Hospital, Washington, Jarvis Hospital, Baltimore, and Hough General Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia. Mrs. Kripps is 69 years old, and seldom misses a convention. She resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Mary C. Athow went out in February, 1864 as a volunteer nurse under Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, and served eighteen months to the close of the war. She was in hospitals at Knoxville, Tenn., Louivsille, Ky., and other places. Mrs. Athow is the widow of a veteran. She is 76 years of age. Her home is in Aurora, Ill.

Mrs. Mary A. Aston was living in Philadelphia when war was declared. Her husband being an invalid, and unable to serve his country, gave his consent for his wife to give as much of her time as possible to alleviating the distress of the sick and wounded in the hospitals of the city. She was a volunteer nurse from September 5, 1862, to August 11, 1865. and was only absent from duty in all that time, two weeks during her husband's last illness and death. Mrs. Aston became deaf by the explosion of a cannon while engaged in the performance of her duties. She is 77 years of age. Her home is in Philadelphia.