to go on hospital steamers as far as Vicksburg to care for the sick and
wounded, as they were brought up the river, where they could be better
provided for, to visit the camps and regimental hospitals around the
beleaguered city, and to return with renewed devotion to the work of
sending sanitary supplies to the sick and wounded of the Union army,
until the close of the war. After portraying the character of her
lamented husband, his chivalric tenderness, his thoughtful affection,
his nobility of soul, his high sense of justice, which had made him a
representative of the best type of humanity, she goes on to say: "The
sun seemed to me to go out in darkness when he went to the skies.
Shielding me from every want, from all care, causing me to breathe a
continual atmosphere of refinement, and love, and happiness, when he
went, life lost its beauty and its charm. In this state of things it was
to me as a divine gift--a real godsend--to have a chance for earnest
absorbing work. The very first opportunity was seized to throw myself
into the work for my country, which had called its stalwart sons to arms
to defend its integrity, its liberty, its very existence, from the most
gigantic and wicked rebellion known in history."

It is among the grateful memories of the writer of this sketch, that
during the winter of 1863, while stationed at Helena, he went on board a
steamer passing towards Vicksburg, and met there Mrs. Colt, in company
with Mrs. Livermore, and Mrs. Hoge, of Chicago, on their way to carry
sanitary stores, and minister to the sick and wounded, then being
brought up the river from the first fatal attack on Vicksburg, in which
our army was repulsed, and from the battle of Arkansas Post, on the
Arkansas river, in which we were successful, and from an expedition up
the White river, under General Gorman. He was greatly impressed with her
intelligence, her purity of character, the beautiful blending of her
religious and patriotic tendencies, the gentleness and tenderness with
which she ministered encouragement and sympathy to the sick soldier, and
the spirit of humanity and womanly dignity that marked her manners and
conversation. The same qualities were characteristic of her companions
from Chicago, in varied combination, each having her own individuality,
and it was beautiful to see with what judgment and discretion, and union
of purpose they went on their mission of love.

On their first visit, she and Mrs. Hoge, imp