It was her request that she should be buried among
the soldiers, and after the military method. This request was fully
carried out. Her coffin was carried to the grave by soldiers, with the
usual escort, buried, and a salute fired over the grave. This was at
Annapolis a few days since.
FEMALE NURSES FOR SOLDIERS
There are many women in one position or another, among the hospitals,
mostly as nurses here in Washington, and among the military stations;
quite a number of them young ladies acting as volunteers. They are a
help in certain ways, and deserve to be mention'd with respect. Then
it remains to be distinctly said that few or no young ladies, under
the irresistible conventions of society, answer the practical
requirements of nurses for soldiers. Middle-aged or healthy and good
condition'd elderly women, mothers of children, are always best. Many
of the wounded must be handled. A hundred things which cannot be
gainsay'd, must occur and must be done. The presence of a good
middle-aged or elderly woman, the magnetic touch of hands, the
expressive features of the mother, the silent soothing of her
presence, her words, her knowledge and privileges arrived at only
through having had children, are precious and final qualifications.
It is a natural faculty that is required; it is not merely having a
genteel young woman at a table in a ward. One of the finest nurses I
met was a red-faced illiterate old Irish woman; I have seen her take
the poor wasted naked boys so tenderly up in her arms.
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