y accompanied by surgeons, and their men
were often very much neglected, when wounded, as the Infantry Surgeons
with their hands full with their own wounded would not, and perhaps
could not, always render them speedy assistance. A year later Annie
received the following letter, which was found on the body of a
Lieutenant Strachan, of her division, who was killed in one of the early
battles of Grant's campaign.
WASHINGTON, D. C., _January_ 14th, 1864.
ANNIE--_Dearest Friend_: I am not long for this world, and I wish
to thank you for your kindness ere I go.
You were the only one who was ever kind to me, since I entered the
Army. At Chancellorsville, I was shot through the body, the ball
entering my side, and coming out through the shoulder. I was also
hit in the arm, and was carried to the hospital in the woods, where
I lay for hours, and not a surgeon would touch me; when you came
along and gave me water, and bound up my wounds. I do not know what
regiment you belong to, and I don't know if this will ever reach
you. There is only one man in your division that I know. I will try
and send this to him; his name is Strachan, orderly sergeant in
Sixty-third Pennsylvania volunteers.
But should you get this, please accept my heartfelt gratitude; and
may God bless you, and protect you from all dangers; may you be
eminently successful in your present pursuit. I enclose a flower, a
present from a _sainted mother_; it is the only gift I have to send
you. Had I a picture, I would send you one; but I never had but
two, one my sister has; the other, the sergeant I told you of; he
would give it you, if you should tell him it is my desire. I know
nothing of your history, but I hope you always have, and always may
be happy; and, since I will be unable to see you in this world, I
hope I may meet you in that better world, where there is no war.
May God bless you, both now and forever, is the wish of your
grateful friend,
GEORGE H. HILL,
CLEVELAND, OHIO.
During the battle of Spottsylvania, Annie met a number of soldiers
retreating. She expostulated with them, and at last shamed them into
doing their duty, by offering to lead them back into the fight, which
she did under a heavy fire from the enemy. She had done the same thing
more than once on other battle-fields, not by flourishi
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