 Chapter 15, Part 1 of Angels of the Battlefield. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Beau Wood. Angels of the Battlefield by George Barton. Satterley Hospital, Part 1. A sketch of the remarkable labors of Sister Mary Gonzaga and her work as the executive head of a hospital where 50,000 sick and wounded soldiers were cared for. The chaplain kept busy preparing men for death. Bishop Wood visits the hospital and administers the sacrament of confirmation. A soldier who was saved from the stocks. A veteran's tribute. As stated in the previous chapter, many carloads of wounded soldiers were conveyed from Gettysburg to the Satterley Hospital in Philadelphia. Sister Mary Gonzaga, who was in charge of this institution, deserves special mention in connection with her work during the war. If nobility of character, earnestness and purity of purpose, great natural executive ability, together with unaffected piety and humility, tell for anything. This sister will rank high in the bright galaxy of self-sacrificing women whose lives have illuminated the history of Catholic sisterhoods in the United States. Celebrating her golden jubilee, April 12, 1877, she could even then look back over a series of years in the course of which she has been school teacher, nurse, mother superior, head of a large orphan asylum, and the executive of a great military hospital, where nearly 50,000 sick and wounded soldiers received the self-sacrificing attention of a staff of 60 or 70 sisters of charity. Sister Gonzaga, just before her death, was credited with being the oldest living sister of charity in the United States. She spent the tranquil evening of a busy and eventful life as the mother emeritus of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, one of the magnificent charities of the city of brotherly love. This venerable woman's name in the world was Mary Agnes Grace. She came from a respected Baltimore family, being born in that city in 1812. She was baptized in St. Patrick's Church and there and in a Christian home received her preliminary religious training. In December 1823, she was sent to St. Joseph's Academy, Emmitsburg, Maryland, where she proved to be a most diligent pupil. The four years she spent in this institution helped to make that certain foundation upon which her subsequent successful career was built. She had early conceived the idea of retiring from the world and devoting her life entirely to the service of God. Accordingly, on March 11, 1827, she was received into the community of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In April 1828, in company with two other sisters, she opened a school in Harrisburg. On the 25th of March, 1830, she made her holy vows. In May 1830, Sister Gonzaga was sent to Philadelphia to St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, with which her future was to be so intimately connected. The asylum at that time was situated on 6th Street near Spruce, a joining Holy Trinity Church. On October 24, 1836, the institution was removed to the site of the present asylum at the southwest corner of 7th and Spruce Streets. Four sisters and 51 children comprised the population then. The sisters were Sister Petronilia, Sister Theodosia, Sister Mary John, and Sister Mary Gonzaga. Sister Petronilia died on August 3, 1843, sincerely mourned, and was succeeded by Sister Gonzaga, who remained in charge until October 1844. Here she went on with her good work, placid and calm, in the midst of the worrying turbulence of anti-Catholic bitterness and persecution, which at times threatened the lives of innocent women and children. In the latter part of 1844, she was sent to Donaldsonville, Louisiana as assistant in the novitiate, which at that time was for the purpose of graduating Southern postulance. In the following year, Sister Gonzaga was transferred to New Orleans. On March 19, 1851, she returned to St. Joseph's Asylum in Philadelphia to reassume her former charge. In 1855, she was sent in an administrative capacity to the Mother House of the Order in France, where she remained for a year, obtaining and imparting much valuable information regarding the work and duties of the sisters. In May 1856, she returned to the United States, going to St. Joseph's Emmitsburg, where she filled the office of Procuratrix. In January 1857, she returned to Philadelphia, taking charge of her old love, St. Joseph's Asylum, for the third time. The beginning of the Civil War a few years later was to mark one of the most eventful epics in the career of Sister Gonzaga, and to develop extraordinary gifts and qualities of administration. The Satterley Military Hospital was established in Philadelphia. Dr. Walter F. Atley, an honored physician of the Quaker City, felt that the interest of the government and of the soldiers would be benefited if the Sisters of Charity were installed as nurses in the Army Hospital. He had several interviews with Surgeon General Hammond and with the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. As a result of this, the Sisters of Charity were invited to assume charge. On June 9, 1862, Sister Gonzaga, accompanied by 40 sisters, assembled from all parts of the United States, entered upon the duties in the hospital. It is difficult to estimate the good work done by the Sisters during the period they spent in this place, which has been aptly styled, the shadow of the Valley of Death. In those three momentous years, the Sisters nursed and cared for upwards of 50,000 soldiers. Only those who have had the care of the sick can begin to estimate the amount of ceaseless labor and patience involved in such a vast undertaking. The sick and wounded comprised both Union and Confederate soldiers. The gentleness of the Sisters soon endeared them to all under their charge. In securing the necessary number of Sisters, a requisition was made by Surgeon General Hammond for 25 from the Mother House at Emmitsburg. They were sent to Philadelphia at once to take their places in the new hospital. To quote one of the Sisters, the place was so large that they could scarcely find the entrance. The workmen about the grounds looked at the Sisters in amazement, thinking perhaps that they belonged to some kind of flying artillery. At 12 o'clock they repaired to the kitchen for dinner, and by the time this meal was finished, they found plenty of work had been planned for them. 150 men who had been brought in were in the wards. All of the Sisters went to work and prepared nourishment for the men, most of whom looked at them in astonishment, not knowing what kind of persons they might be. But among the number was a French soldier named Pierre, who immediately recognized the garb of the Daughters of Charity. In a short time, the number of patients was increased to 900. On the 16th of August, over 1500 of the sick and wounded were brought to the hospital, most of them from the Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. Many had died on the way from sheer exhaustion. Others were in a dying state, so that the chaplain was kept busy in preparing the men for death. The wards being now crowded, tents were erected in the yard to accommodate over 1000 patients, for the Sisters at that time had not less than 4500 in the hospital. When they first went to Saturday, their quarters were very limited, consisting of one small room about 7 feet square, which served as a chapel. Another, somewhat larger, answered the purpose of a dormitory by night and community room by day. Dr. Hayes soon supplied four more rooms, one of which was for a chapel. The soldiers, who were very much interested, took up a collection among themselves and gave the money to the Sisters, requesting them to purchase ornaments or whatever was needed for the chapel. They did so at different times, until they finally had a good supply of everything that was necessary. They even secured new seats in sanctuary carpet. The men stipulated that when the hospital was closed, the Sisters should take everything for the orphans. In April 1863, Wright Reverend Bishop Wood administered the sacrament of confirmation in the Little Chapel to 31 soldiers, most of whom were converts, and two of whom were over 40 years of age. In February 1864, 44 others received the sacrament of confirmation. One man was unable to leave his bed, and the bishop was kind enough to go to the ward in his robes to confirm that man. After the ceremony, the prelate distributed little souvenirs of his visit and then asked the Catholics who were present to approach the railing of the altar. To his great astonishment, as well as satisfaction, all in the chapel came forward. He gave a little exhortation and then dismissed them. Mass was said at six o'clock in the morning, and many of the patients were in the chapel at half past four in order to secure seats. This was generally the case on great festivals, although some of the crippled men had to be carried in the arms of their comrades. At three o'clock on Sundays and festivals, vespers were sung in the chapel, in which the patients felt quite privileged to join. In Lent they had the Way of the Cross, and in May the devotions of the month of Mary. The chapel was always crowded at these times. The soldiers took great delight in decorating the chapel at Christmas with green bows festooned with roses. Indeed, it always gave them great pleasure to help the sisters in any kind of work, and they often interfered when they found their kind nurses engaged in laborious duties. In May 1864, a jubilee was celebrated at the hospital with great success. Cases of smallpox had occurred in the hospital from time to time, but the patients were removed as soon as possible to the smallpox hospital, which was some miles from the city. The poor men were very much distressed because they were compelled to leave the sisters. It was heart-rending when the ambulances came to hear the men begging to be left at Saturday, even if they were entirely alone, provided the sisters were near them. The sisters offered their services several times to attend these poor men, but were told that the government had ordered them away to prevent the contagion from spreading. At last, the surgeon in charge obtained permission to keep the smallpox patients in a camp some distance from the hospital. The tents were made very comfortable with good large stoves to heat them. The next thing was to have the sisters in readiness in case their services should be required. Every sister was courageous and generous enough to offer her services, but it was thought prudent to accept one who had had the disease. From November 1864 until May 1865, there were upwards of 90 cases. About nine or ten of these died. Two of the men had the black smallpox and were baptized before they expired. The sisters had entire charge of the poor sufferers as the physicians seldom paid them a visit, permitting the sisters to do anything they thought proper for them. They were much benefited and avoided being marked by drinking freely of tea made of pitcher plant. The patients seemed to think that the sisters were not like other human beings, or they would not attend to such loathsome and contagious diseases. One day a sister was advising an application for a man who had been poisoned in the face. He would not see the doctor because he said he did not do him any good. The sister told him that the remedy she advised had cured a sister who was poisoned. The man looked astonished and said, A sister? She answered yes. Why? He said. I did not know that sisters ever got anything like that. She told him that they were human beings and liable to take diseases as well as anyone else. But I believe they are not, he said, for the boys often say they must be different from anyone else or from other people, for they never get sick and they do for us what no other person would do. They are not afraid of the fever, smallpox, or anything else. The men had more confidence in the sisters treatment than in that of the physicians. The doctors themselves acknowledged that they would have lost more of their patients had it not been for the sisters watchful care and knowledge of medicine. One occurrence will show the good feeling of the men towards the sisters. One of the convalescent patients had been in town on a furlough and while there had indulged too freely in liquor. On his return he went quietly to bed. A sister not knowing this went with his medicine as usual and touched his bed clothes to arouse him. The poor man being stupid and sleepy thought his comrades were teasing him and lifting up his arm gave a terrific blow sending the sister in medicine across the room. Several of the convalescent patients seized their comrade by the collar and would surely have choked him to death if the sister had not compelled them to desist. However he was soon reported by the men and sent under an escort to the guardhouse where stocks were prepared for him. Nothing could be done for his release as the surgeon in charge was absent. As soon as that official returned the sister begged that the poor man might return to his ward and be also free from all other punishment as well as from imprisonment in the guardhouse. The surgeon complied with the sister's request but in order to make a strong impression on the soldier he dispatched an order to all the wards which was read at roll call as follows. This man was released only by the earnest entreaty of the sisters otherwise he would have been punished with the utmost severity. When the poor man came to himself and learned what he had done he begged a thousand pardons and promised never to take liquor again. End of Chapter 15 Part 1 Recording by Beau Wood Chapter 15 Part 2 of Angels of the Battlefield This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Angels of the Battlefield by George Barton Satterley Hospital Part 2 The following notes from the Diaries of the Sisters are of interest. From our taking charge of the hospital, June 9, 1862, until we left it on August 3, 1865, ninety-one sisters had been on duty there. The war being over in April 1865 the government only desired our services after that until the convalescents could obtain their discharge. The physicians however requested us to remain until all the sick were removed to the soldier's home or returned to their own homes. I am happy to be able to state that during our whole sojourn at Satterley Hospital there was never an unpleasant word between the physicians or officers and the sisters. The eve of our departure the executive officer said to me, Sister, allow me to ask you a question. Has there ever been any misunderstanding or dissatisfaction between the officers and the sisters since you came to this hospital? I answered, not at all. Well, he said, I will tell you why I asked. The other evening we were at a party. The conversation turned on the sisters in the hospitals. And I said that there had never been a falling out between us at Satterley, that we were all on the same good terms as on the first day we met. Some of the city hospital doctors said they did not believe that forty women could live together without disputing, much less that they could be among such a number of men without it. Among the soldiers who were of many nations there was a large number of Indians. In Ward 20 there was a young Indian named James Wise, who was far gone in consumption. The doctors thought he could not live very many days. A sister sent for Charles Corbyn another Indian, who was in Ward U, to speak to him of his condition. Charlie was a well-instructed Catholic and understood the French language, through which he communicated to Sister the dispositions of the poor sufferer, who did not know that he had a soul or that there was a God. In fact, to use Charlie's own words, he was a perfect savage. He would not listen to anything Charlie had to say, either in regard to the existence of a God or the immortality of the soul. On leaving him for the night, Charlie told Sister what little hope there was of his conversion. But how mysterious are the ways of God? On his return next morning he found him with very different dispositions. The poor, sick one had had a dream, which he relates as follows. He had thought he saw our Lord coming toward him, with a priest ready to baptize him, thinking he was an infant and heaven was open to receive him. This he described to Charlie as minutely as if he had seen the priest in reality, at the same time requesting him to bring him to the chapel to be baptized. The next time Father McGrane came to say mass, Charlie brought his poor little savage, as he still called him, although he was almost too weak to walk to the chapel. Here there followed a scene which I must describe. Three interpretations were needed in order to perform the ceremonies of administering the sacrament of baptism. First, Charlie, who understood the Indian language, interpreted it to the sister in French. Then Sister translated the French into English for Father McGrane, who thus learned the desire of the little savage, the third in the circle. He lingered for two weeks after his baptism and was interred in Cathedral Cemetery. Since his death Charlie has often expressed the wish to be one day as happy as he believes him to be. May he rest in peace. September 27. Quite an excitement was created around two o'clock on the 27th of September, caused by the visits of General Seigel and Hammond. The former lost a leg in one of the late battles of Gettysburg and has been since that time under the care of the sisters in Washington. He is now able to go about on crutches. Dr. Hayes, with the principal surgeons, accompanied them in walking the circuit of the hospital. The patients, who were all eager to see once more their good old generals, who had stood by them so valiantly in the terrible engagement, came out of the wards as best they could, many of them also on crutches, and crowded in the corridors to cheer and welcome them as they passed along. One poor young lad, who was very sick, whose sister thought would feel the privation of not being able to see them, replied to her words of consolation, Do not feel sorry on my account. I would any time rather see a sister than a general, for it was a sister who came to see me when I was unable to help myself in an old bar near Gettysburg. She dressed my wounds and gave me drink, and took care of me until I came here. The poor boy is a Protestant, and never saw a sister before that time. Thanksgiving Day Quite an interesting little party assembled in the laundry yesterday evening. The poor laundresses have been so very generous for some time past that sister Anne consented to let them have a little party as soon as sister Gonzaga would return from St. Joseph's, where she had been for the last two weeks. They came quite early yesterday morning, and hastened to finish all their work by noon, then washed and dressed in all their finery, which they had brought with them for the occasion. Sister Anne arranged the tables, which were covered with snow-white cloths, upon which were placed cakes, preserves, apples, candies, etc. In the center, and at each end of the table, were placed handsome budges of flowers. The pictures looked like silver, and the knives and forks looked as if they had never been used. The tea set was white. In fact, everything looked nice, and our poor washer-women were delighted. At four o'clock sister Anne informed them that everything was in readiness, and sent for sister Gonzaga, who opened the afternoon with a few remarks. The doctor whose duty it is to prescribe for them was present. Two of the patients who have violins had been previously requested to come and play for them, and they, with the exception of two or three small boys, were the only men present. They danced until nearly seven o'clock. The old women gave us Irish jigs and reels to perfection, while the younger ones danced Catilians. There was not a loud or unbecoming word spoken during the whole evening, and they acted as nicely as might be expected from a better class. They all seemed well pleased, and expressed their thanks to the sisters for honoring them with their presence. Sister Gonzaga said grace for them before taking their places at supper, and afterwards made a few pleasant remarks, to which they listened with the greatest respect. The doctors then took their leave after having expressed their thanks to the sisters for having allowed them the favor of being present, which they considered a great compliment. After supper one of the girls, in the name of all, presented sister Gonzaga with a large cake, nicely frosted. She was obliged to accept it, else she would have wounded their feelings. They then made us good-night at a quarter to eight, and returned to their humble homes, well pleased with their evening's entertainment. I must not admit to tell you that they defrayed the expenses of all the refreshments themselves. Each one contributed a little beforehand, for of course they knew that they could not have had it in any other way. The hospital was one of the largest in the country, and everything was arranged on a generous scale. It was not the cause of any wonder, therefore, when the wounded were brought in by the carloads. Sister Gonzaga always recalled two events in the history of the institution with particular distinctness. The first was after the Battle of Bull Run, and the second the day following the Battle of Gettysburg. After the Battle of Bull Run the soldiers were brought to the hospital by the hundreds. The time of the Battle of Gettysburg there was a terrible period of suspense for the people of Philadelphia. They only knew, in a general sort of way, that a battle was taking place, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of the state capital, but they had no information regarding the result, or who was the victor, or vanquished. The earliest information came with the first consignment of wounded soldiers to the Satterley Hospital. The sick and wounded from the blood-stained field of Gettysburg did not come by the dozens, or by the carload, or by the hundred, but by the thousands. One careful estimate puts the number at four thousand. Such an emergency as this naturally tested the capacity of the women in charge, but Sister Gonzaga came through the ordeal with flying colors. The surgeon-in-chief of the hospital was Dr. Isaac Hayes, who achieved much fame by his connection with the celebrated Cain Arctic Exploring Expedition, and who afterwards headed an expedition of his own. The wards of the hospital were very commodious and comfortable, each one accommodating at least seventy-five beds. Dr. Hayes was as a kind father to the sisters, consulting them upon everything that would contribute to their comfort and happiness. Through the kind offices of Dr. Hayes and Dr. Attlee they secured a chaplain, Father Crane, who set mass for them once a week. In the early part of the war many of the wounded soldiers were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where Sister Hillary was in charge. The hospital was then located in a dwelling-house on Gerard Avenue, between 16th and 17th Street. After the Battle of Bull Run about sixty soldiers were cared for at St. Joseph's Hospital. At the same time St. Teresa's Church, of which the venerable Hugh Lane is pastor, was temporarily used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. The sisters from Emmitsburg, as detailed in the previous chapter, did much good service after the fight at Gettysburg, going directly from their mother-house in Maryland to the scene of the battle. There is an old and very rare print of the Satterley Hospital still in existence. From this valuable documentary evidence it is clear that the hospital occupied many acres of ground. In order to reach the building it was necessary to cross a bridge in the vicinity of South Street. In crossing this at the time the hospital was opened the carriage containing a number of sisters broke down and they were compelled to walk the remainder of the distance. During all the time of the war Sister Gonzaga remained in charge of St. Joseph's Asylum, which she visited at regular intervals. At the close of the war she returned to give her whole time to the asylum, the other sisters returning to their various missions. Sister Gonzaga has had frequent visits from grateful soldiers who were nursed back to life through her Christian devotion. One who heard of her serious illness a few years ago called, and then as the outpouring of a grateful heart, sent the following letter to the Philadelphia Evening Star as a soldier's tribute to the noble work of Mother Gonzaga during the war. In your valuable paper dated yesterday the announcement was made that Mother Gonzaga, in charge of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, the southwest corner of 7th and Spruce Streets was lying dangerously ill. In reciting her many acts of charity for the young orphans under her care and protection, victims of epidemics, etc., during the many years of her life, you are not aware that the short notice touched a tender court of affection in the breast of many a veteran of the late war. Mother Gonzaga was a mother of 60,000 soldiers as patients under treatment in Saturday United States Army Hospital, 44th and Pine Streets, from 1862 until 1865. Those who were under her care, no matter of what religion or creed, when they received the midnight visits of Mother Gonzaga, her silent steps after taps and by the dim gas light, will recognize her familiar countenance surrounded by that white-winged hood or cowl, just bending her form to hear the faint breath or whisper of some fever patient or some restless one throwing off the bed-clothes. She kindly tucking them in around his body as a mother would a child, then a visit to the dying to give them expressions of comfort. Those who recall these scenes, I say, think of her truly as an angel of peace and sweetness. Administering medicine when required, loosening a bandage or replacing the same, watching a case of a sufferer in delirium, at all times annoying to those near him, was her daily duty. To see her always calm, always ready, with modesty and fidelity, faithfully performing a Christian duty as an administering angel when physicians, surgeons, friends, and all human aid had failed, was a beautiful sight. No poet could describe, no artist could faithfully portray on canvas the scenes at the deathbed of a soldier that would convey to those not having witnessed them the solemnity of the quiet kneeling, the silent prayer, a murmur faintly heard as a whisper, a sister of charity paying her devotion to him on high and assigning the spirit of the dying soldier to his care. As one of many thousands under her care, I shall always think of Mother Gonzaga as one of a constellation of stars of the greatest magnitude, surrounded by many others that were devoted servants, among whom I would mention Dorothea Dicks, Annie M. Ross, Hedy A. Jones, and Mary Brady. We soldiers cannot forget the service they rendered. J. E. McClain. End of Chapter 15, Part 2. Chapter 15, Part 3. Of Angels of the Battlefield. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Angels of the Battlefield by George Barton. Satterley Hospital, Part 3. On the 12th of April, 1877, Sister Gonzaga celebrated the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in the Sisterhood. On the previous 19th of March, she had attained her 50th year in the community. On that day, she received the blessing of the Holy Father, Pope Pius IX, a gracious act obtained for her at the suggestion of Reverend Father Alizeti, C. M., a saintly man, and a faithful missionary, who has since gone to his reward. Bishops, priests, sisters, and laymen fied with one another on this Jubilee occasion in showing the reverence and esteem in which they held the simple religious woman who had gone about doing good for so many years. Ten years later she was recalled to the mother-house at Emmitsburg by her superiors, who desired to relieve her of her responsibility as the head of such a large institution. According to obedience she promptly responded to the order and left the house which had become as a home, left friends who had become endeared to her, and left orphans who truly regarded her as a mother. There was not a murmur from this woman who was being taken away from associations with which she had been lovingly and intimately connected for nearly half a century. Her Philadelphia friends, without solicitation, and spontaneously and simultaneously addressed petitions to her superiors requesting her return to the scenes of her life's labors. In the words of one who loved Sister Gonzaga, heaven was stormed by fervent prayers for the return of the mother of the poor. She remained at Emmitsburg for sixteen months, and at the end of that time returned to Philadelphia. Her homecoming, on the 20th of December, 1888, was made the occasion of a great demonstration. The sisters, the orphans, the managers of the asylum, and a host of friends participated. The actual extent of the good done by Sister Gonzaga is scarcely realized by those who were about her. Many of her charitable acts have been done quietly, even secretly. There is one story with almost the pathos of a tragedy in which she was concerned. The daughter of an estimable family went astray, and the parents, in the first violence of their anger and grief, turned her out of the house. A few months passed, and then their sober, better judgment coming to the surface they attempted to find and forgive the child they had disowned. But they searched in vain, and finally almost in despair turned to Sister Gonzaga. She had not the slightest clue to the missing girl, but she pledged herself to bring her back. In a short time she located the airing one in the insane ward of the Philadelphia Hospital. She was a raving maniac. The girl was restored to her remorseful parents, and by careful nursing was gradually brought back to reason. On another occasion, when the sister was missing for an hour or so every day, it was discovered that she was in daily attendance on a poor woman who lay ill in a small house in a street nearby. Although this was entirely foreign to her duties, she regularly called and washed and dressed the woman. Sister Gonzaga departed this life on the morning of October 8, 1897, in her room in St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum in Philadelphia. A piece of crepe, on top of which was fastened a bit of immaculate white ribbon, fluttered from the bell on the door of the asylum on that day, to inform the passer-by that this marvellous woman had gone to receive her reward. The obsequies of Sister Gonzaga took place on the morning of Tuesday, October 12. On the evening before this event countless numbers took a last farewell of the devoted sister. Hundreds of women and men kissed her dead face as she lay often. They kissed her hands which held the rosary and about which was twined the broad purple ribbon of her office as superior as. Some of the women shed tears but the men seemed even more deeply affected. On the morning of the funeral the body lay in state. It was attired in the habit of the order with a black gown in the white headdress. Clasped in her hand was a crucifix and rosary and a small roll of paper on which was written the vows that the deceased took when entering upon her work. The casket was heavily trimmed in silver and upon the lid was a plate containing this inscription. Sister Mary Gonzaga died October 8, 1897, aged 85 years. Near the top of the lid was a large silver cross with a figure of the crucifixion. Upon the head of Sister Gonzaga there were posed a golden-leaved crown that was presented to her when she had been fifty years a sister of charity. There was a profusion of floral offerings tastefully arranged about the head of the casket. In a prominent place was a cross and crown from the Children of Mary, a society composed of former inmates of St. Joseph's orphan asylum. The body lay in the community room beneath the altar. Half a hundred sisters of charity were seated along the side of the room. The entire apartment was draped in black. By ten o'clock when the doors were closed several thousand persons had passed around the casket. At length the hearse drew up before the asylum and eight students from St. Vincent's Seminary carried the coffin out to the street. A long procession quickly formed and slowly the march to St. Mary's church was begun. The route being down spruce to fourth and up fourth. Arriving at the church the eight theologians again acted as pallbearers and the casket was carried up the aisle and placed in front of the altar. Among the mourners were the board of managers of the institution, sisters of charity from various houses of the order in Philadelphia and other cities, sisters of other members, the children of Mary, composed of those who were formerly inmates of St. Joseph's orphan asylum, numbers of them now mothers of families, and the orphans at present at the home. In addition to these a large congregation was present which crowded the church. Solemn Requiem Mass celebrated by very Reverend J. A. Hartnett, C. M., of St. Vincent's Seminary, Germantown, who celebrated his first Mass at St. Joseph's Asylum Chapel. Reverend E. O. Hilterman, Rector of Holy Trinity, was deacon. Reverend Edward Quinn, C. M., of Baltimore, sub-deacon. And Reverend John J. Duffy, Master of Ceremonies. Mr. John F. Walsh, a Seminarian, was Thorefer. Bishop Prendergast, who occupied a seat on the gospel side of the altar, was attended by the Reverend James O'Reilly of Downingtown, and Reverend T. B. McCormick, C. M., of St. Vincent DePaul's. The sermon was delivered by Reverend John Scully, S. J., Rector of St. Joseph's, who spoke in substance as follows. St. Paul tells us, in his first letter to the Corinthians, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and in order that God may show to us that this is so, the same apostle tells us that the base, the lowly of this world, and the contemptible, hath God chosen, and the things that are not in order to confound the things that are. How true, in all ages, have been these inspired words of the apostle. How true today. This foolishness, this wisdom of the world, so foolish in the world of God, differs in degree and kind in different ages. In our age it shows itself in the attempt to divide human philanthropy and brotherly love from religion. Take the intellect and culture of this great city in which we live, and what does it lay down as law, except it be that mankind must practice altruism, as they call it. Brotherly love, the civic virtue by which alone society among men can be made possible. Yet not one word about the essential basis which even the modern pagan sees is necessary. When talking about our rights they say nothing of the rights of God, and when talking of our obligations to one another they say nothing of our obligations to God, without which nothing can rest on a solid basis. The wisdom of the world is foolishness. The lowly are chosen by God to confound the worldly wise. In the days of old God raised David from the shepherd of a flock to be the ruler of his people. Christ chose the poor fisherman to be his apostles. He called St. Vincent de Paul from the lowly occupation of a shepherd to be a wonder-worker, a marvel, a propagator of charity, not only in his own days but up to the present time. How many millions of dollars are spent in the spirit of modern philanthropy? For education, in order to raise men up as they think, to give men a chance in life. Because it is divided from religion it falls. The late Mr. Vos said, on what was perhaps his last official visit to the penitentiary, when I first came here I found the children of the poor and the ignorant. Now I find my own schoolmates. Thus are spent millions in charity, or rather in almsgiving, for it is not worthy to be called charity. What is the result? It puffs up one with pride and another with envy. The reason why the thing is done differently is the motive under the acts of thousands and tens of thousands who have given up their lives to works of charity. Have you ever heard of a soldier wishing to become a member of a church to which a trained nurse belonged? How different when the motive is that of Jesus Christ. It is the experience of thousands who beg to be allowed to die in that religion of the devoted sisters who attended them, and it was this that caused a bishop to receive a petition from a remote part of the diocese for a priest to be sent there and a church built. He replied that not only was he ignorant that so many Catholics were there, but that there was even one Catholic. The answer was, there are no Catholics here yet, but we are men who were attended by the sisters, and we want to be of the religion of the sisters. The base, ignoble, and contemptible things of this world has God chosen for his work. What is more foolish in the eyes of the world? What is more despised and held in contempt by the intellectual and the cultured than poverty? Yet the sisters are bound by vows of poverty to be as poor as Christ, to live a life of dependence, depending on one another for their very food and raiment. What more foolish in the eyes of the world than that? As the wise man has said, they are a parable of reproach looked on with derision. What is more foolish, more base, more spiritless, more contemptible than to find women, ladies, willingly binding themselves, not by impulse but by vocation, not as mere whim, but perpetually, to live by rule, doing that to which no man ever yet got accustomed, to purify their acts to make them meritorious in the sight of God? And obedience! The world hates and loathes obedience, yet our Divine Lord was obedient even unto death, the death of the cross. What is the result of all the so-called charity in philanthropy? Nothing lasting. Search the hearts of thousands of men, women, and children who have been benefited by the sisters, and you will find there the love of God. End of Chapter 15 Part 3 Chapter 15 Part 4 Of Angels of the Battlefield Angels of the Battlefield by George Barton Satterley Hospital Part 4 Such was the life of the devoted woman who spent seventy years doing good. Many philanthropists have monuments raised to them and are looked upon as public benefactors and honored as such. Take him or her who was greatest among them, or all of them together. What are all compared with a life such as hers spent in the care of the poor, sick, and needy? One long life doing good. A life not only an imitation of Jesus Christ in its acts, but what is more necessary, and more difficult, a life in imitation of his motives. The world looks in reproach upon such a life. How many times has she been sneered at on the street in her poor dress and strange bonnet? How often has the world looked with contempt on her that served the Lord so faithfully? How he loved that soul that did as he did and for the same reason. All I have said could be said of almost any other sister of charity. But of her, who lived for seventy years in religion, how much could be said those only can know who lived with her and knew her and loved her the more they knew her? Of how few can this be said to have combined in one and the same person the power of execution, the power of government, and at the same time the spirit of kindness and of great-heartedness which does not make commands ever necessary, without emotion, without anger. No one ever saw that kindly face ruffled. This is rare in the world. Yes, even rare in the religious life. To speak of her life and to realize that thousands and tens of thousands of orphans have had her care, many becoming mothers of families and bringing up their children influenced by her example. To realize her hard work in the military hospital, to think of the thousands and tens of thousands dealt with directly by her or indirectly through her as superior as. What a world of well-doing. Seventy years in religion. Eighty-five years spent in the serving of Christ. What a wonderful crown is won by her whose dead body is lying there. Seventy years is a member of the community whose very name is held even by the enemies of her faith as a synonym of all that is good in humanity, something which raises humanity and brings it close to God. Now the reign of sorrow and desolation has passed away. She has gone forth from the scene of her labor to her rest. She has gone into the sight of Jesus Christ, whom in life she made her friend. Not to meet the severe face of a judge but the smiling countenance of a dear friend. Who would recall her? Not those who loved her most, who lived with her in community, not those who were the recipients of her bounty. What so glorious is a death such as hers after seventy years in God's service? Says St. Hilary, shall I fear to die after I have served my Lord for seventy years? So died she, because she knew the good master she served. As theologians tell us, God makes known to his saints the needs of those whom they have left behind. Thou who knowest the needs of thy children be their advocate in pattern now as ever in life. Be unto us a mother and pray for us that we may go forth as thou hast from this valley of affliction and tears to the sunshine of God the Father to live forever with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The absolution of the body was performed by Bishop Prendergast, assisted by the officers of the Mass. The music was the Gregorian chant with the Introit, Offatory, Communion, and Benedictus in harmony. This was rendered by the students of St. Vincent's Seminary, Germantown. From among them were chosen the pallbearers also. The prominent parts taken in the services by the Congregation of the Mission was due to the fact that St. Vincent de Paul, its founder, was also founder of the Sisters of Charity. Eleanor C. Donnelly, the gifted Philadelphia poetess, has written the following verses in memory of Sister Gonzaga and inscribed them to Sister Mary Joseph in her community with affectionate sympathy. Thrice in the rounding of one little year, St. Mary's hallowed temple hath revealed an honoured priest reposing on his beer his pallid lips in icy silence sealed. Thrice have regretful tears bedued the urn where sacerdotal ashes were enshrined, youth, age, and ripened manhood each in turn, unto St. Mary's funeral vaults consigned. And now, before the fading flowers have strewn, their last sweet withered petals round the place, our early snows lie white upon the stone that shuts from sight each well-remembered face. Before the shades of the anointed dead have melted from St. Mary's aisles away, we hear once more the mourner's solemn tread. Another saint is here in death, to-day. Dear Sister Gonzaga, good mother, friend, of Christ's own little ones, his precious poor, from life's beginning to its blessed end, thy words were wisdoms and thy works were pure. In tender youth betrothed to thy lord, for three score years and ten his faithful spouse. He was thy name, thy solace, thy reward, bound to his sacred heart by deathless vows. Toiler of yore with Kenrick Newman Wood, one of our faith's first local pioneers, so long hath been thy service, and so good, thou needest not our prayers or pitying tears. For death is gain to thee, though lost to all, thou leaveest here, thy prayers must plead for them. The orphan's tears that sparkle on thy pawl shall prove on high thy brightest diadem. The dear old heart that loved them now is stilled. The dear old voice they loved is heard no more. She waits afar with ardent yearning filled to bid them welcome to the eternal shore. Prayt not of sculptured immortality. Her children's virtues shall her heart content. If all who look upon their lives shall see in each their mother's lasting monument. The old-time friends may leave us one by one. The ancient landmarks swiftly fade away. The good that Sister Gonzaga hath done shall live when brass and marble both decay. Then lay her gently down in peace and trust where angel memories shall guard her bed. Her soul is with her God. Her virgin dust sleeps sweetly with St. Mary's sainted dead. October 12, 1897. Eleanor C. Donnelly. Sister Gonzaga had accountants of great benignity and firmness, a high forehead, a kindly mouth, and eyes which even age was not able to dim. She was ever a model of graciousness and good-breeding. The effects of a good education were visible and the results of a well-balanced and well-trained mind seen in a remarkably accurate and strong memory. The story of her life is well worth the telling, serving, as it does, as a model and incentive for those who would be successful in their chosen vocation. This chapter upon Sister Gonzaga cannot be concluded better than by the presentation of the roster of the Sisters of the Satterley Hospital. On the 9th of June, 1862, it was as follows. One. Sister Mary Gonzaga Grace, Superior S. Two. Sister Mary Louise. Three. Sister Louise Collins. Four. Sister Ann Joseph Daugherty. Five. Sister Josephine Kelleher. Six. Sister Ann Marie Boniface. Seven. Sister Claire MacGerald. Eight. Sister Mary Kremen. Nine. Sister Augustine Valentine. Ten. Sister Dolores Smith. Eleven. Sister Mary Xavier Lucette. Twelve. Sister Angela Mahoney. Thirteen. Sister Maria Noonan. Fourteen. Sister Catherine Hardy. Fifteen. Sister Edna Haney. Sixteen. Sister Margaret Hepp. Seventeen. Sister Philippa Connolly. Eighteen. Sister Delphine Wevel. Nineteen. Sister Neri Matthews. Twenty. Sister Anna Sime. Twenty-one. Sister Teresa McKenna. Twenty-two. Sister Aloysia Daly. Twenty-three. Sister Stella Moran. Twenty-four. Sister Elizabeth Freese. Twenty-five. Sister Adeline Burns. Twenty-six. Sister Eleonora Tyler. Twenty-seven. Sister Vincent Saunders. Twenty-eight. Sister Mary Joseph Sinut. Twenty-nine. Sister Magdalene Grohl. Thirty. Sister Clitilda Welty. Thirty-one. Sister Pacifica Ulrich. Thirty-two. Sister Alfonso McNichols. Thirty-three. Sister Annie O'Leary. Thirty-four. Sister Mary Lawrence Kane. Thirty-five. Sister Felix McQuade. Thirty-six. Sister Mary Bernard Moore. Thirty-seven. Sister Henrietta. Thirty-eight. Sister Alex Mercerette. Thirty-nine. Sister Martha Moran. Forty. Sister Mary Jane Douglas. Forty-one. Sister Mary Alice Delahunty. Forty-two. Sister Vincencia Waldstein. Forty-three. Sister Martina Trageser. Forty-four. Sister Marie Mulkern. Forty-five. Sister Julia Fitzgerald. Forty-six. Sister Loretta McGee. Forty-seven. Sister Angeline Riley. Forty-eight. Sister Gabriella McCarthy. Forty-nine. Sister Petranilla Breen. Fifty. Sister Amy Dowarty. Fifty-one. Sister Marcella Finnegan. Forty-two. Sister Frances Griffin. Fifty-three. Sister Mary Josephine Gamble. Fifty-four. Sister Deschantele Costello. Fifty-five. Sister Mary Eliza Dowarty. Fifty-six. Sister Dionysia O'Keeffe. Fifty-nine. Sister Cecilia Grohl. Eighteen-sixty-three. Fifty-eight. Sister Euphrasia Mattingly. Fifty-nine. Sister Mary Martha Lynch. Sixty. Sister Mary Harmer. Sixty-one. Sister Mary Bernard Farrell. Sixty-two. Sister Ann Teresa Roche. Sixty-three. Sister Amelia Davis. Sixty-four. Sister Severina Relahan. Sixty-five. Sister Rosalie Beline. Sixty-six. Sister Irene McCourt. Sixty-seven. Sister Clementine McCaffery. Sixty-eight. Sister Felicita Pools. Sixty-nine. Sister Cornelia MacDonald. Seventy. Sister Agnes Sweever. Seventy-one. Sister Euphrasia Wittonanes. Seventy-two. Sister Ann Maria Shaughnessy. Seventy-three. Sister Jenarosa Foley. Seventy-four. Sister Julia Sheehan. Eighteen-sixty-four. Seventy-five. Sister Genevieve Kavanaugh. Seventy-six. Sister Celestine Adelsberger. Seventy-seven. Sister Christine Farrell. Seventy-eight. Sister Josephine Edelin. Seventy-nine. Sister Antonia Asmuth. Eighty. Sister Alfonza McBride. Eighty-one. Sister Catherine McQuade. Eighty-two. Sister Clara Doyle. Eighty-three. Sister Eloise Lacroix. Sister Ann Joseph Cummins. Eighty-five. Sister Frances McDonald. Eighty-six. Sister Mary Xavier Vendrome. Eighty-six. Eighty-seven. Sister Genevieve Garvey. Eighty-eight. Sister Agnes McDermott. Eighty-nine. Sister Silveria O'Neill. End of Chapter Fifteen, Section Four. Chapter Sixteen. Angels of the Battlefield. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rita Boutros. Angels of the Battlefield by George Barton. Fall of Richmond, Chapter Sixteen. General Grant, who had been laying siege to Vicksburg, had captured that stronghold on the Fourth of July, 1863. Then came the surrender of Fort Hudson and the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge. Grant in 1864 was made lieutenant general and placed in command of all the armies of the United States. Early in May, he led the army of the Potomac across the Rapidan toward Richmond. For six weeks, he tried to get between Lee's army and Richmond without success. In this fruitless effort, he fought the battles of the wilderness, North Anna, Bethesda Church, and Gold Harbor, losing 40,000 men. Then he moved his whole army south of the James and laid siege to Petersburg. The burning of Chambersburg by the Confederates and the valor of General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley with Admiral Farragut's achievements at sea completed the notable events of 1864. In the fall of 1864, Sherman began his march to the sea, which was unique in modern warfare and was completely successful. The last campaign began in the spring of 1865. On April 1st, 1865, Petersburg was evacuated. The Union army entered Richmond on the 2nd. On the 9th of April came the surrender of Lee to Grant at Appomattox, which was the practical end of the war. Long before this, the Sisters of Charity felt that their work was drawing to a close. In the meantime, however, their services were being utilized in the West. Colonel Ware, who was then in command of the prisons of that section, applied to the Bishop of Alton, Illinois for the Sisters of Charity to attend the prisoners at Alton. Accordingly, Bishop Yonker applied to the Sisters' Servant of St. Philomena's School, St. Louis. One of the Sisters was at that time in St. Louis at the Gratiot State Prison Hospital. She received a dispatch from Father Berlando to go to Alton and take with her three sisters. They started early the next morning, March 15th, 1864 and reached Alton in 24 hours. There they were met by Father Hardy, who conducted them to the residence of a gentleman, a member of the city council. Colonel Ware soon called to see them and accompanied them to the prison, which had been formally called the Illinois State Penitentiary. It had been vacated before the war for a more commodious and healthy locality. Before reaching the main entrance, the Sisters had to ascend a very rugged road well protected by guards. Here, a residence would have been provided for them, but they did not think it safe or prudent to accept it. They passed through the yard, which was crowded with prisoners numbering 4,000 Confederates and 1,000 Federals, the latter being confined there for desertion and through follies committed in camp. The two parties were separated except in the hospital. The poor sick were so delighted to see the sisters that they could scarcely contain themselves. It is said that the men died in this hospital at the rate of from 6 to 10 a day. The place was too small for the number of inmates who were all more or less afflicted with diseases. Some were wounded, others a prey to despondency, typhoid fever, and the smallpox. Consequently, the atmosphere of the prison was very foul. Fortunately, the smallpox cases were removed to an island in the Mississippi as soon as discovered. The sisters made arrangements with Colonel Ware to visit the sick twice a day. As there were no accommodations for the sisters to remain in the prison, they returned to the residence of Councilman Wise, who had so kindly received them in the morning. He could not accommodate them, but procured lodgings for them in the house of his sister, where they remained for nearly six weeks. On their return to the prison the next day, the sisters found written orders from the government. They also met there, the attending physicians, who appeared glad to see them and said that they hoped soon to see an improvement in the condition of the sufferers who had been here to form much neglected. The sisters were informed that four of the patients had died during the previous night. A place was allotted to them to prepare drinks and nourishment for the sick. It was an old workshop, and the floors were in such a condition that the sisters were continually in danger of falling through. The attendants, who were prisoners, were exceedingly kind and obliging, so much so that they would even anticipate the wishes of the sisters. Two weeks had scarcely elapsed before the sick began to improve. The doctors acknowledged a change for the better, saying that there were fewer deaths and that despondency had nearly disappeared. A look of commiseration or a word of encouragement soon made these poor victims feel that they were cared for, at least by the lowly children of St. Vincent. The sisters visited the Federal Guards Hospital and the Smallpox Island Hospital at the request of Colonel Ware. They visited the Federal Guards Hospital once a day and the Smallpox Island Hospital once a week. But even that consoled the poor patients as the sisters provided them with delicacies and nourishment they mostly craved. On the first of May, the sisters took possession of a house belonging to St. Joseph's Emmitsburg that had been previously occupied as a school but was then vacated. They were now one mile distant from the prison and an ambulance was sent daily to convey them to and fro. On July 1st, they were notified that their services were no longer required at the prison. They could do nothing until the superiors were acquainted with their situation. Meanwhile, the citizens were anxious to have them remain in Alton and convert their house into a hospital. They soon received a letter from the venerated Mother Ann Simeon giving permission to open a civil hospital for the citizens of Alton. One of the sisters was sent to St. Mary's Hospital, Alton to wait on the sick and wounded soldiers from the Battle of Winchester. There was one man in the ward who was nicknamed Bluebeard from his ferocious manners and large mustache. He would never ask for anything nor take anything offered to him. One day, when he was being urged to take some nourishment, he replied, Sister, I do not wish for anything that you have. There is only one thing and that I do not think you can procure for me. The sister inquired what it was and assured him that if it were in her power she would get it for him. He then replied, Sister, I should like to have a lily. I think it would do me so much good. The wish was a strange one. Nevertheless, she at once determined to gratify him which the kindness of a friend enabled her to do. This little act of kindness was not without effect and from that time the man had a high regard for the sisters. At the termination of the war in 1865 the prisoners received their discharge. It was sad to see the streets of the city lined with the ragged and distressed looking men. The sick were brought to St. Joseph's Hospital which was soon filled. The sisters gave the soldiers the very best attention and consideration and within a few months the majority of the men were enabled to return to their homes and families. The little band of sisters who had been laboring in Frederick City, Maryland from 1862 to 1864 certainly did their share in caring for helpless humanity. They were kept actively employed in Frederick City during the summer and autumn of 1862. They found then that their work was not nearly done. The winter set in with heavy rains and deep snow to which they were constantly exposed. The poor patients had likewise much to suffer from the badly constructed buildings. The wind, rain and snow penetrated through the crevices leaving the poor men in a most uncomfortable condition. This was called to the attention of the chief surgeon who immediately gave orders for the dilapidated barracks to be repaired as much as possible. Some of the soldiers were quite amusing with their grateful intentions. A sister was asked one day if she ever wore any other color of a gray or black. Before he continued, I wish to present Sister Agnes with a new dress. She has been so truly good to me. The soldiers seemed to have the greatest confidence in the sisters whose advice they preferred before that of the physicians. General Hunter had now received command of the Shenandoah Valley. He visited the hospital and issued an order that all the prisoners should be placed by themselves in separate barracks barely apart from the Union men. Soon after the United States surgeon in charge of the hospital inspected all the barracks and found one filled with Confederates and with no sister to take charge of them. The sufferings of these poor men touched him so much that he immediately went to the sister's servant and requested her to send a sister from a ward of the Union soldiers to take care of the Confederates. The patience of these poor sufferers was the admiration of all. A worthy clergyman once remarked that in his visits to the hospital he was always edified by their resignation. He said he had never heard the least murmur escape their lips and commenting upon this, he remarked, I think the intensity of their pain both mentally and physically might, if offered in unison, expiate the sins of their whole life. About this time, the leaders of the Southern Confederacy began to realize they were gathering about them and that their cause was hanging in the balance if indeed it was not already destined to failure. They resolved to concentrate their hospital facilities in and around the city of Richmond, Virginia. The sisters who had been doing work upon the various battlefields in the South were summoned to the Southern capital. The sisters had served at Harper's Ferry, Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Las Vegas, Virginia. Those who were located in Richmond at this time began to feel in their bones that the fall of the city was imminent. They were right. The long expected event occurred in April 1865. Jefferson Davis, the president of the Southern Confederacy was at worship in an Episcopal church when he was handed a telegram telling him that Richmond must be evacuated. He said a calm exterior but bad news is hard to conceal and the exact situation was soon noise about the city. The wildest excitement prevailed. Men, women and children rushed hither and thither knowing not what to do or where to go. Finally, their frenzy assumed a decisive shape and a general evacuation of the city began. The sisters who constituted the calmest portion of the population looked on the scene with mild amazement. The city councils met and with the general interest of the people in view determined to destroy all the liquor in Richmond. This work was begun at midnight and before the first gray streaks of dawn revealed the terror stricken city to the public, gays, the streets and gutters were running with veritable lakes of whiskey, wine and beer. They stopped the good intentions of the councils by drinking the liquor and then scenes of drunken revelry were added to the general confusion. Thebes broke loose, houses were robbed, public buildings were fired and bridges leading from the city were destroyed. Notwithstanding the foresight of the authorities on the coming defeat its arrival was most appalling. Medical stores, commissary departments and houses were thrown open. The city was troubled from the blowing up of the gunboats in the river. The sisters were preparing to go to mass early in the morning when suddenly a terrific explosion stunned as it were the power of thought. The noise of the breaking of windows in the hospitals and neighboring buildings added greatly to the alarm. The sisters soon learned that the Confederates had blown up their supplies of powder near the hospital buildings then followed an explosion of all the government buildings. After the surrender a federal officer rode up to the door of the sisters house and told them they were perfectly safe their property would be respected and that he would send a special guard to protect their house. No resistance was shown to the Union troops. The city was placed under military rule and General G. F. Shepley 1,000 prisoners were found in the city and 5,000 sick and wounded were in the hospitals. The prisoners were set free and the sisters with joy hailed the peace that was once again to dawn on a bloodwashed land. They remained in Richmond until the sick and wounded were able to quit the hospitals and then returned home to Emmitsburg followed by the gratitude and blessings of the men of both armies. Soldiers who were in the Washington hospitals also returned to their homes impressed with the kindest feelings toward the sisters. The officers and doctors all concurred in expressing unlimited confidence in them. Printed placards were hung in all the wards reading. All articles for the use of the soldiers here are to be placed in the care of the sisters of charity as also papers, books and clothing. Early in the summer of 1865 the sisters took their departure and the hospital was permanently closed. Another hospital in Washington began its operations in March 1865 and closed in October of the same year. The sisters were placed in charge and since their customs and calling were known did not experience as much annoyance as in the beginning of the war. The house was well filled with the sicken wounded. During the month of July the Jesuit fathers were giving a jubilee at their church in the city of Washington and many of the convalescence attended. The officers of the hospital expressed much gratitude for all that had been done by the sisters. The first surgeon was at a loss to know how to put his satisfaction into words saying that the sisters of charity had marvelously lessened the cares of the physicians and surgeons in all of the hospitals in which they served. This concludes the story of the work done by the sisters of charity of Emmitsburg from the beginning to the close of the war. While they were at work however the sisters belonging to branches of the order and to other orders were not idle as will be seen by the chapters that follow. This is the end section 22 chapter 17 sisters of charity of Nazareth angels of the battlefield by George Barton this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Rita Boutros the main body of the sisters of charity alone in their devotion to the sick and wounded soldiers during the trying days between 1861 and 1865 nobody of men or women did more for suffering humanity than the patient zealous sisters of charity of Nazareth then as now of Bardstown Kentucky a score of sisters in that community offered themselves and their services without pay and without hope of earthly support of any character it was in the spring of 1861 the opening year of the Civil War that Bishop Martin John Spaulding sent a formal communication to General Robert Anderson of Fort Sumter fame then in command of the department of Kentucky tendering the services of the sister of charity of Nazareth to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers their services were willingly accepted and the understanding was that the sisters were to work in the hospitals in and around Louisville three large manufacturing establishments in the city of Louisville had been placed at the service of the government and were being used as hospitals at that time the rooms were long and lines of cots extended along each side the hospitals were divided into sections and in each section under the watchful charge of a sister of charity the system that characterized the three establishments was such that no sufferer was neglected or without a nurse this was in striking contrast with the disorder and lack of system that had prevailed prior to the advent of the sisters there were 23 sisters in the three hospitals in charge of an army surgeon and they worked faithfully from their entrance into the hospitals until the close of the war without a scent of compensation there had been one battle and several severe skirmishes in Kentucky about that time and when the sisters arrived at the hospitals the scene was enough to bring tears into the eyes of the most hardened a great many confederates had been captured and were being held as prisoners of war within the walls of the hospitals hundreds of union men and confederate lay groaning in a common agony those that were not mortally wounded and that had not submitted to the amputation of a leg or an arm were raving in the worst forms of fever or had contracted ericipolis pneumonia and kindred ailments about it all there was a heroism that was touching when the sisters passed from cot to cot many a soldier suffering with a shattered limb or bullet pierced body lifted his wan face and gave forth a smile of welcome and of recognition the sisters soothed the restless patients bathed the fevered brows and moistened the parched lips with a touch impartially tender the attitude of the men themselves was not without interest many of them had never seen a sister before the majority of them looked upon the sisters with distrust and suspicion that the change that came in a short while came as actual knowledge comes when it dissipates prejudice and misrepresentation they could not help but be impressed with the quiet demeanor and the self sacrifice of the sisters and on reasoning dislike and bigotry soon gave a way to natural respect and esteem but the beauty of the sisters lives their habit of thinking of all but themselves had its effect upon many a hardened sinner 500 men died in hospital number 1 and of that number only one passed away seemingly indifferent to his future an incident told by one of the surviving sisters carries a moral with it one of the soldiers in the hospital refused to do anything for the benefit of his soul his end seemed to be approaching and he was transferred to some other place where he could be reasoned into submission and repentance a man who occupied a cot near that of the unrepentant Catholic had heard the sisters pleading with him he listened with a thoughtful manner and when the hard hearted man had been removed called a sister to his side he begged to be further instructed in the Catholic faith his request was complied with he was baptized confessed received holy communion and finally died a most holy and edifying death the parish priests of Louisville and several of the Jesuit fathers paid regular visits to the hospitals each priest came on an average of 3 times a day but there was not a moment during the day or night when the priest was not within easy call the sisters by their forethought and intelligence made the work of the clergy comparatively easy a man who desired to be baptized was prepared by the sisters and ready when the priest arrived those to whom it was necessary to administer the last rites of the church were gradually brought to realize the importance of these rites by these same sisters so it was from day to day from week to week from month to month the sisters were unflagging in their devotion to the men in their charge they nursed, they prayed they consoled, in fact as more than one grateful soldier exclaimed prove themselves little short of earthly angels a pathetic scene took place one day in hospital number two a young soldier a Catholic and a Scotchman lay on his deathbed far from home and family and country but surrounded by all the loving devotion of the sisters he knew that his end was at hand and had been prepared by all of the sacred rites of the church for his journey into the great unknown he was slowly expiring from a fatal wound and was unable to move in a feeble voice he asked the sister to hand him a package of letters that he had read over and over again and which he always kept in view they were given him and he read them over once again and for the last time after that he selected several from the package and placing them close to his heart said slowly but distinctly sister leave them here until I am dead that will not be long then send them to my father and mother in Scotland tell them that I thought of them until the last get the money that is coming to me give some of it for masses for an offering for my soul and forward the remainder to my parents now I am ready to die goodbye with a faint smile he closed his eyes and in a short time the spirit had fled from his youthful body the instructions were carried out to the letter as were the last wishes of all the dying soldiers whenever it was possible and practicable one of the most important tasks of the sisters was to write to the near relatives of the deceased giving accounts of their last moments and delivering entrusted messages from the dying on more than one occasion the sisters supplied the place of a mother to the wounded and the dying many a pathetic death bed scene is still fresh in the memory of the now venerable sisters who have survived those trying times they were able to repress their emotions in most cases but there were times when nature asserted itself and the tears of compassion flowed freely this was especially the case when drummer boys and buglers mere children were brought into the hospitals in such cases all the tenderness of the sisters gentle natures went out in abundance to the wounded lambs as they delighted to call the young one one day three blue eyed fair haired lads in soldier attire were brought into hospital number one they were ill of typhoid pneumonia and they were in an advanced stage two they were placed on cots side by side and there they lay for days uncomplaining and innocent giving expression to the quaintest thoughts in the most childish way they were like brothers although they were not and all three were of about the same height and age the gratitude they expressed to the sisters was more by their manner than anything they said one afternoon one of the three looked up at the sister who was nursing him and with a wistful look in his blue eyes exclaimed oh you are such a good lady just like my mother to me in spite of the care that was lavished on them the three little heroes died as so many heroes have died unknown, unhonored and unsung in the same room another lad of 12 or 13 whose life was fast ebbing away cried out oh sister put your head right down by me and don't leave me the request was complied with and a little fellow clasped the sister about the neck and never let go his hold until grim death relaxed it soon afterward who could look on such scenes unmoved many boys died thus death seemed to pluck the choicest and freshest of the earth to make its bouquets during those four fearful years the sister's care of their lambs after their death was as tender and reverential as it had been in life their eyes were closed with a prayer their silken locks parted and their little hands folded as if in supplication to the divine mercy who can doubt but what the blessings of heaven were showered upon these innocent heroic souls the sisters were always on duty and sometimes the duty was more severe than at others after great battles such as Shiloh the hospitals were hardly able to accommodate the hundreds that were brought there when the orderlies had performed the first essential service for the newcomer he would be taken in charge by the sisters refreshing drafts and nourishing food were intermingled with the remedies that would be administered from time to time the ladies of Louisville were frequent visitors at the hospitals and they brought many delicacies for the sick and the wounded at length near the close of the war the sisters were recalled to their home from the Louisville hospitals the recall came none too soon for the survivors as they stood much in need of rest and change of air for nearly three years they had been confined in the close wards of the three hospitals and this not unnaturally had its effect upon their health many of them overestimated their strength and their powers of endurance some died in the hospitals others soon after at a premature age the actual number of Catholic sisters who laid down their lives during the civil war that their fellow creatures might live will probably never be known but there is no question that hundreds did so their names are not cut upon any earthly monuments but they are surely emblazoned in letters of gold in the great book of the recording angel the sisters of charity of Nazareth as mother Carol could have testified furnished their full quota of fair martyrs many instances have been lost in the long number of years that have elapsed since the closing of the war but several well authenticated cases still linger freshly in the minds of those that were witnesses of the great struggle one of these is particularly pathetic Sister Mary Lucy one of the sweetest young members of the order richly endowed by nature was one of the teachers in St. Mary's Academy at Paducah when the exigencies of war compelled the temporary abandonment of this institution Sister Mary Lucy volunteered as one of the hospital nurses she was assigned to some of the most severe typhoid cases and the manner in which she nursed these patients won for her the unqualified praise of the hospital doctors and attendants the post of honor in this instance proved to be the post of danger Sister Mary Lucy contracted the fever from one of her patients who was convalescent this was in the latter part of December during the first year of the war despite the best medical attention she rapidly grew worse until December 29th when she expired as calmly and heroically as she had lived her death cast a gloom over the entire hospital and the soldiers of both armies were filled with admiration and awe at the martyrdom of this gentle soul they determined that she should be honored in death as she had been in life and that her final obsequies should be of a character befitting her great merits several files of soldiers marched from old drums and noiseless tread from the central hospital to the Ohio River bearing in the midst of them the remains there the coffin was placed in a gunboat in waiting which had been especially designated for this service then the boat slowly streamed away bearing its honored burden under a flag of truce to Union town Kentucky on landing the remains were born to St. Vincent's Academy miles distant where the sisters owned a considerable tract of land and where they have a last resting place for their dead Father Powers at that time pastor of the Catholic Church of Paduca said the solemn mass of Requiem and accompanied the body to the grave and recited over it the last offices of the church of which the deceased had been such an exemplary member a guard of devoted soldiers watched by the coffin day and night from the time it left the central hospital until the earth covered it from mortal view at night the tender hearted warriors kept their vigil around the coffin with blazing tortures made of pine knots Sister Mary Lucy was born in the vicinity of the spot where she was buried she received her education at St. Vincent's Academy became a daughter of charity and died in the performance of her duty this is the short but brilliant life history of one heroic woman a letter dated Louisville, February 1st 1862 written by one of the army surgeons to Mother Frances Gardner contained the following announcement I regret very much to have to inform you of the death of Sister Catherine at the general hospital in this city she as well as the other sisters in the hospital has been suffering and most efficient in nursing the six soldiers the military authorities are into the greatest obligations to the sister of your order still another conspicuous loss was soon to be felt in the death of Sister Apollonia the directress of number one hospital she served long and faithfully in this post and one warm commendation from stern soldiers who whatever else their faults and their guilty of flattery she was a woman of great executive ability and was instrumental in causing order to come out of chaos in the hospital over which she presided her zeal was great not content to direct affairs she also nursed individual cases it was while engaged in this work that she contracted typhoid fever from which she soon after died she had endeared herself to the soldiers by her kind and motherly treatment of them and her death caused universal regret the manner in which the sisters were treated by the soldiers had in it a blending of the humorous and the sublime those of the sisters that lived to tell the tale say that nothing was wanting in the courtesy with which they were invariably considered by the men of both armies on Sundays they were given a special consideration they were escorted to mass by a military guard of honor and received the military salute in passing to and fro in the neighborhood of the hospital and the camps some of the invalid soldiers imagined that every sister carried a charm about her and was thus protected from the contagious diseases that caused such sad havoc among the men but the supposed charms were not always visible in preventing the sisters from wearing the martyr's crown in death the only charms they carried as the soldiers soon discovered were blameless lives absolute devotion to duty and entire self-forgetfulness there was one modest institution near the three large hospitals in Louisville where a great amount of good was done in an un ostentatious manner this was St. Joseph's infirmary of the service of charity of Nazareth this was generally filled in war times with wounded officers and other invalids connected with both armies the good done there though not quite as conspicuous as elsewhere was lasting and bore fruit in after years this is the end of chapter 17 section 23 chapter 18 more about Nazareth Angels of the Battlefield by George Barton reading by Rita Butros Bardstown three miles distant from Nazareth Academy in Nelson County, Kentucky was occupied successively by the Union and the Confederate armies some hostile engagements had taken place in the vicinity of the town and in the neighboring counties and as a result the place was kept in a state of feverish anxiety the victories and the defeats were attended with the usual result killed and wounded men and sickness and suffering on all sides here again the peaceful aid of the sisters came at an opportune time fully aware of the great need there was for experienced nurses the mother in charge of Nazareth sent a devoted band of sisters to the Baptist female college in Bardstown which had been temporarily fitted up for hospital uses on their arrival they found that they had to care for a large number of disabled Confederate soldiers they quickly began their humane work and carried it to a successful completion the Confederates were on the march and their wounds had to be bound up quickly or not at all when they had withdrawn from the town taking with them their convalescence the Union forces came in their sick and wounded were also nursed by another band of the same sisters at St. Joseph's College which was conducted by the Jesuit Fathers but which of course at that time was not in educational use thus in the midst of civil strife with the bullets flying thick and fast did the sisters work under one flag a flag that was respected by Northerner and Southerner alike the flag of humanity some of the episodes connected with the work of the sisters was of an exciting and dramatic nature late one night in September 1862 12 Confederate soldiers in their gloomy gray uniforms marched into Nazareth after a wearisome journey from Lexington, Kentucky they were received as all visitors are of kindness and hospitality they came to ask the sisters to nurse their sick and wounded comrades the request was granted at once how many sisters can you spare for the work six now and more later if necessary was the prompt reply when will they be ready to return with us this very night and at once was the incisive reply such promptness was as surprising as it was to the couriers that very night six sisters without anything beyond the familiar garb which they wore their usual rosaries and a few books of devotion started on their mission ready if need be to offer up their lives in what they believe to be the service of God they proceeded on their long journey under the protection of a flag of truth resting in a farmhouse the capital of the state the next they finally reached Lexington in safety in a few hours they were installed in one of the large halls in that city which had been fitted up for hospital purposes and without any preliminaries they began at once to minister to the sufferers who were collected there later in the same year another band of sisters of Nazareth nurse the union soldiers and colleges in another quarter of the city as far as can be ascertained this was Transylvania University events that took place about that time proved that the sisters believed no material sacrifices were too great when made in the cause of suffering humanity in the spring of 1862 General Smith who was then in command of the union troops strong in Paducah Southern Kentucky asked the Nazareth sisters to come to the assistance of the many sick and wounded soldiers scattered about that city he had been advised to make the request by Dr. Hewitt who had the general superintendents of all the hospitals in that section of the country Dr. Hewitt was a man of great executive ability who stood in the very forefront of his profession he had great faith in the ability of the sisters as nurses he was a convert to the Catholic Church and a brother of the saintly superior of the Paulist fathers of New York City as no communication could be had with the mother of the house at Nazareth at this time owing to the disturbed condition of affairs the request caused the sisters some perplexity a conclusion was soon reached sister Martha Drury at that time was at the head of Saint Mary's Academy probably the leading educational institution in Paducah she resolved to close the schools and go with all of her sisters to the relief of the soldiers they went first to the marine hospital and then moved to the courthouse which was known as the central hospital their experiences in this place were similar to those of the sisters who were engaged in the hospitals at Louisville their greatest difficulty was experienced in caring for those soldiers who were afflicted with contagious diseases typhoid and similar fevers held sway in their most virulent form the havoc that war had made in the human frame was painfully evident in this particular hospital or the sisters returned to their academy which exists in the town today in a flourishing condition it will ever remain as a monument to that brave little band of sisters who gave up their peaceful pursuits to minister to the afflicted and it will ever be pointed out as the house from which sister Mary Lucy the gentle little teacher went forth to meet her martyrdom a martyrdom as blessed in the sight of heaven as any ever undergone by the saints of old the gentleness and devotion with which the sisters nursed all of the wounded soldiers no matter what the color of their uniform and regardless of rank was not unappreciated by either the boys in blue or the boys in gray throughout the whole of the war with but few exceptions their institutions mother houses were exempt from the usual ravages of internessing strife this is especially true of the sisters of charity of Nazareth being in close proximity to the contending armies and their camps great apprehensions were felt at one time for the safety of Nazareth this too in spite of the fact that the daughters and other relatives of the general officers of both sides were still pupils in the school at intervals during the war some of the generals called at Nazareth for the purpose of visiting their children on these occasions they were always hospitably entertained although the sisters felt comparatively safe they desired some official assurance of that fact as is usual in such cases over timid persons generally friends of the pupils sounded alarms the following letter received by the mother superior from general wood the original of which is still in possession of the sisters reassured the community that it need not fear and intrusion of the military into the sacred precincts general wood was in command of the union troops letter headquarters u.s. forces in the next town kentucky january 20 1862 to the lady superior and sisters of the convent of Nazareth I have just had the pleasure to receive by the hands of your messenger the very polite and complimentary note of the right reverend bishop spalding and I hasten to apprise you that it is my earnest desire and intention to afford you perfect protection and the enjoyment of your institution and as ladies individually it is my earnest wish and intention to secure you and your ancient institution which has educated so many of the fair daughters of my own native state Kentucky from all molestation and intrusion and to this end I pray you will not hesitate to make known to me any grievances you may have on account of any misconduct on the part of any officer under my command I assure you it will be equally my duty and my pleasure to attend to any request you may have to make I beg you to dismiss all apprehensions on account of the presence of the soldier in your sacred neighborhood and to continue your peaceful and beneficent vocations as if the clanger of arms did not resound in our midst I have the honor to be ladies your very obedient servant signed Theodore J. Wood Brigadier General Commanding Will you do me the favor to send the accompanying note to Bishop Spalding? Later on Nazareth must again have been in dread of military trespass for one of its patrons Honorable James Guthrie of Louisville Secretary of State under a previous administration applied to President Lincoln for protection of the institution The President graciously issued the necessary orders saying that the violation of such orders by any of the commanders would invoke his serious displeasure General Smith, Doctors Hewitt, Frey, Kay, Austin and the officers of the Union Army surrounded the sisters with every mark of respect and esteem and they in turn devoted all their energies to ameliorating the condition of the suffering soldiers In addition to the labors of the sister of charity of Nazareth already mentioned they did very effective work in the neighborhood of Owensboro and Calhoun, Kentucky At the last name place the sick and wounded soldiers were quartered in the two Protestant churches of the town The sisters entered these places and attended the sufferers there with the same diligence and patience in every other locality When sisters had to be removed on account of their own illness their places were promptly supplied by other sisters Reinforcements were on hand to fill every gap in the ranks As before mentioned the sisters of Nazareth neither required nor received compensation of any sort The hundreds of brave souls that have passed away since the war have no doubt air this received this reward in a better world Dr. Foster, who was engaged in the Louisville hospitals while the sisters were there wrote eulogistic articles about them in the Louisville papers at that time but unfortunately these papers were not preserved The famous conference school from which these sisters came forth to do their great work is worthy of more than passing notice The organization known as founded by right reverend John B. David D. D. who was consecrated the first bishop of Bardstown now the diocese of Louisville in 1810 Henry Clay, who knew this good man well, pronounced him the best representative of royalty off the throne The bishop with the right reverend B.J. Flagit built the little log cabin near Bardstown which was to be the place of the new order It was a success from the start This was largely due to the piety and administrative capacity of the mothers in charge They were sketched in an article in the Catholic world a few years ago The first of these was Catherine Spalding a member of the eminent Kentucky family of that name She held the position of superior for more than a quarter of a century and by her great intellect and modesty won the affection and admiration of all with whom she came in contact On her death in 1858 she was attended by another distinguished member of her family right reverend Martin J. Spalding After her came Mother Frances Gardner who proved a worthy successor to a worthy superior The last of this notable trio was mother Colomba Carol in the world Margaret Carol For 35 years she was directress of studies and teacher of the first and second classes In 1862 when the civil war was beginning to rage fiercely she was elected superioress and for 10 years held that position with credit to herself and the convent school While mother Colomba took no active part in caring for wounded soldiers she was nevertheless the presiding genius of the establishment and directed the movements of the sisters with extraordinary tact and good judgment She held many interviews with persons in power and thus warded off petty annoyances and troubles The occasion of mother Colomba's golden jubilee was celebrated with great fervor by the community on February 22, 1877 A drama written by sister Seraphia entitled, Religion's tribute to our mother on her golden jubilee was performed by the pupils and was one of the most successful features of an elaborate program One of the touching incidents of the celebration was a poem inspired by the venerable sister Martha one of the original five that started at old Nazareth and addressed to mother Colomba Mother Colomba was one of the first pupils under the care of sister Martha The following lines from this graceful offering are worthy of a place here There are many today, dear mother who are crowning your head with gold and writing fine things of the record your fifty long years have told and I too should come with the others my offering before you to cast but I am old and my thoughts, dear mother somehow will feign run on the past the days when our Nazareth, dear Nazareth was not like what Nazareth is now, our dear Lord only knew how then we spun and we wove and we labored like men in the fields and our fair was scanty enough in our garments were coarse and our feet often bare when we lived like the ravens and sparrows In the following year mother Colomba's earthly career closed but the force of her example still lives in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to be her pupils and associates mothers Catherine, Francis and Colomba made a truly wonderful trio they helped to give Nazareth the reputation it enjoys today and while the school exists their memory will endure the sisters of charity of Nazareth are particularly known in Kentucky and they are to be found in suffering humanity calls the ancient house at Nazareth is the mother from which have sprung 47 branch houses in various parts of the country schools, orphan asylums and hospitals perhaps the most conspicuous of the latter is the Mary and Elizabeth hospital in Louisville founded by William Shakespeare Caldwell as a memorial to his wife and a tribute to the sisters who educated her the mother house is located a few miles south of Bardstown which is 40 miles from Louisville the buildings are extensive and imposing there is a presbytery a convent and academy a chapel and the commencement hall in the old fashioned hall are full length portraits of bishops flageot and David and father Shambige the library contains 1,000 volumes and in the corner is an excellent bust of the late Archibald Spalding mother Helena is the present superior and in the administration of her office she has clung to the best traditions of the past I am sure I will be pardoned for digressing sufficiently from the main subject of this volume to mention a few of the distinguished patrons and graduates of the institution the patrons included Henry Clay who sent his daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter there Judge Benjamin Winchester John J. Crittenden Judge John Rowan Zachary Taylor Jefferson Davis James Guthrie George D. Prentice and Charles Wickliffe the graduates include Sarah Knox Taylor of President Zachary Taylor Madame Henrietta Spalding now superior of the Sacred Heart Convent in Chicago the first wife of Jefferson Davis Mary Eliza daughter of James Breckenridge of Kentucky Mary Gwendolyn Caldwell the original benefactress of the Washington University the wife of United States Senator Vance of North Carolina four nieces of Jefferson Davis all converts Mary Anderson whose professional career is as much a matter of pride to the good sisters as her private virtues and Miss Taney the author of the state poem the pioneer women of Kentucky written for the World's Fair such is the institution that furnished so many nurses for the camps and the hospitals this concludes chapter 18 more about Nazareth