ter, who placed a tug boat at her disposal,
in order that she might visit the camps and hospitals which were
totally inaccessible in any other way, owing to the impassable character
of the roads during the rainy season. Having made a tour of all the
hospitals, and ascertained the condition of the sick, and of the army
generally, she returned to the North, and reported to the Sanitary
Commission the extent of that insidious army foe, the scurvy. They
determined to act promptly and vigorously. Mrs. Hoge and Mrs. Livermore,
as representatives of the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, by
unremitting exertions, through the press and by circulars, and aided by
members of the Commission, and by the noble Board of Trade of Chicago,
succeeded in collecting, and in sending to the army, in the course of
three weeks, over one thousand bushels of potatoes and onions, which
reached them, were apportioned to them, and proved, as was anticipated,
and has been universally acknowledged, the salvation of the troops.

Again, in the following June, on the invitation of General Fuller,
Adjutant-General of the State of Illinois, Mrs. Hoge visited Vicksburg,
on the Steamer City of Alton, which was despatched by Governor Yates, to
bring home the sick and wounded Illinois soldiers. She remained till
shortly before the surrender, which took place on the fourth of July,
and during this time visited the entire circle of Hospitals, as well as
the rifle-pits, where she witnessed scenes of thrilling interest, and
instances of endurance and heroism beyond the power of pen to describe.

She thus describes some of the incidents of this visit:

"The long and weary siege of Vicksburg, had continued many months
previous to the terrific assaults of our brave army on the
fortifications in the rear of that rebel stronghold. On the 19th and 22d
of May, were made those furious attacks, up steep acclivities, in the
teeth of bristling fortifications, long lines of rifle-pits, and
sharp-shooters who fringed the hill-tops, and poured their murderous
fire into our advancing ranks. It would seem impossible that men could
stand, much less advance, under such a galling fire. They were mowed
down as wheat before the sickle, but they faltered not. The vacant
places of the fallen were instantly filled, and inch by inch they gained
the heights of Vicksburg. When the precipice was too steep for the
horses to draw up the artillery, our brave boys did the work themselves,
and