e her friend, Miss Abby W. May, of Boston, though a woman
of extraordinary attainments and culture, and an earnest outspoken
advocate of the immediate abolition of slavery before the War, is
extremely averse to any mention of her labors in behalf of the soldiers,
alleging that they were not worthy to be compared with the sacrifices of
those humbler and unnamed heroines, who in their country homes, toiled
so incessantly for the boys in blue. We have no desire to detract one
iota of the honors justly due to these noble and self-sacrificing women;
but when one is called to a position of more prominent usefulness than
others, and performs her duties with great ability, system and
perseverance, though her merits may be no greater than those of humbler
and more obscure persons, yet the public position which she assumes,
renders her service so far public property, that she cannot with
justice, refuse to accept the consequences of such public action or the
sacrifices it entails. Holding this opinion we deem it a part of our
duty to speak of Miss Bradford's public and official life. With her
motives and private feelings we have no right to meddle.

So far as we can learn, Miss Bradford's first public service in
connection with the Sanitary Commission, was in the Hospital Transport
Corps in the waters of the Peninsula, in 1862. Here she was one of the
ladies in charge of the Elm City, and afterward of the Knickerbocker,
having as associates Mrs. Bailey, Miss Helen L. Gilson, Miss Amy M.
Bradley, Mrs. Balustier, Miss Gardner and others.

Miss Bradley was presently called to Washington by the officers of the
Sanitary Commission, to take charge of the Soldiers' Home then being
established there, and Miss Bradford busied herself in other Relief
work. In February following, Miss Bradley relinquished her position as
Matron of the Home, to enter upon her great work of reforming and
improving the Rendezvous of Distribution, which under the name of "Camp
Misery," had long been the opprobrium of the War Department, and Miss
Bradford was called to succeed her in charge of the Soldiers' Home at
Washington. Of the efficiency and beneficence of her administration here
for two and a half years there is ample testimony. Thoroughly refined
and ladylike in her manners, there was a quiet dignity about her which
controlled the wayward and won the respect of all. Her executive ability
and administrative skill were such, that throughout the realm wher