Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Sunday, November 9. [Chattanooga] —Mrs. W. is recovering.

Had a visit a few evenings ago from Mrs. Newsom. She has charge of a new hospital that is opened in the Crutchfield House; it is called the “Foard,” in honor of the medical director of this army.

I had a letter yesterday from a Mrs. Young, in Charleston. She is going to send me a box of tracts and other reading matter for the men, which is much needed. She writes very encouragingly of the safety of Charleston. General Beauregard is in command there. I know the enemy dread to meet him.

November 4. [Chattanooga] —Had a man die to-day by the name of Thomas Ford, of the Second Kentucky — “Morgan’s Squadron.” He was from Glasgow, Ky.

Our hospital is filled with men from Cheatham’s command. I am told it suffered most at Perryville. We have few wounded, as they wore left in Kentucky.

They say that the Kentuckians, on leaving their state, many of them old men, cried like children. They think it is gone from them forever, but I trust not.

Sunday, November 2.—Went down to the depot this morning, as I heard General Withers’s division was passing through on their way west, and I was in hopes I would hear something of my brother; was not disappointed, as I met Colonel Buck and Captain Muldon of the Twenty-fourth Alabama Regiment. They told me he was well. His company has gone another route. The army is en route for Murfreesboro, the western portion of this state. It is thirty miles south-east of Nashville.

Went to the Episcopal Church this morning; heard a very good sermon. Mr. Denniston introduced me to some very nice ladies belonging to the place. He is post chaplain here. He called to see us yesterday.

November 1.—Had one man die to-day, named Robbins, from Pontotoc, Miss. Had quite a treat for the patients sent to us from Dr. Young—a large box of sweet oranges, and a quantity of nice clothes.

October 31.—Halloween, or All Saints’ Eve,

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“When fairies light

On sprightly coursers prance.”

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I can not help contrasting to-night with what it has been in days gone by, before “wild war’s deadly blast” had come, when for the sake of “Auld Scotia” we held it in commemoration.

I received a telegram from home to-day, to know if I had heard from my brother. I wonder if he is in the land of the living.

October 29.—I have had more to do today than ever, and am completely worn out. I have a very nice lady to take charge of the kitchen, whose husband is a patient and able to help her, which will be pleasant for both, and a relief to me.

Mrs. W. has typhoid fever in its worst form, and is out of her mind. An apathy comes over those who have it. I have noticed the men with it; they seem perfectly indifferent as to what becomes of them. In this state they seldom speak of home. I sometimes think this is a blessing, as they would worry about it.

A lady has just arrived who came to see her husband, and found him dead. The shock nearly made her lose her reason. Poor thing! my heart aches for her. If Lincoln and his followers could see a few scenes like this, they would surely desist from this unholy strife. This incident is of daily occurrence.

October 27.—Patients from Bragg’s army are coming in daily; the hospital is full of them. I never saw such exhausted and worn-out men; they are in rags, and many of them barefooted. It is said the whole army suffered much; that many a time they had nothing to eat but parched corn.

Mrs. W. is much worse; has typhoid fever. There is a negro girl waiting on her, which to me is a relief.

I thought I had found a treasure in a white woman whom I have made my head cook; but, on going into the kitchen this morning, found her in such a state of intoxication I had to dismiss her, and fall back on the convalescent men as cooks. They do pretty well, but it seems hard to make them understand the importance of cooking properly.

There are many things, if not correctly prepared, are very injurious to the sick. Even mush, simple as it is, is seldom properly made. It should be boiled at least an hour, otherwise it is very unwholesome.

Sunday, October 26.—On looking out of the window this morning, I saw that snow had fallen heavily through the night. The first thing I thought of was a few lines of an old Scotch song:

“A’ the hills are covered wi’ snow;

It’s surely winter fairly.”

Lookout, and the adjoining hills and valleys, arrayed in their snowy attire, looked really beautiful. I should have enjoyed the scene but for the knowledge of what our men were suffering—our half-clad soldiers.

“——Wheresoe’er they are,

That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,

How shall their houseless heads and unfed sides,

Their loop’d and window’d raggedness, defend them

From seasons such as these?”

 

It is said the army is very much demoralized by the retreat from Kentucky; but, I trust, when they get rested, all will be right again.

Dr. H. has written to one of the ladies of the Military Aid Society in Mobile, to sec if she can not send us some bedding, as we have scarcely any.

Last night one of my patients died. His sufferings were so great it was a relief to see him go; he was entirely covered with erysipelas. He seemed well prepared for the change. His name was Newbern— was a member of the Thirty-second Alabama Regiment, and was from Citronelle, Miss.

October 24.—J. T. Barber of the Thirty-second Alabama Regiment, from Choctaw County, Ala., and Mr. Jones of the Twenty-second Mississippi Regiment, died to-day.

I have little or no time to talk to the men on the subject of death; but they all seem religiously inclined, and ready to cast themselves at the feet of Him who is all-powerful to save. I have not yet met one scoffer.

Mrs. W. is very sick, and as I have the three wards to attend, I have no time to take care of her. Some days I leave her in the morning, and do not see her again till night.

October 21.—Mr. H. C. Jole of the Thirty-seventh Mississippi Regiment died to-day. The hospital is filled with men from Knoxville; they come in by the hundred, and all who are able are sent off again to other points. Many of them I never see.

News has just come that Bragg has had to abandon Kentucky, as he did not get the aid he expected from the people. This is a sad blow to us.