November 10, 2011 at 1:54 p.m.
Civil War Scrapbook
Charles M. Kendall, a Wisconsin solider writes, "On the 2d of February, 1863, I was sent to the Adams Hospital, in Memphis, having met with a serious accident in breaking one of my shoulders, so as to disable me from field service. The first word of consolation that I received was from 'Aunt Lizzie'. She came to me with these words: 'My dear boy, what can I do for you?' I felt sure from that moment, that, as long as she staid in the hospital, I should not want for anything. After I was able to do duty I was put in charge of one of the wards. There I had an opportunity of seeing what the ladies were doing to alleviate the sufferings of our brave boys. About this time I also became acquainted with 'Mother'. Every one called her by the name; and for me, it was easy to follow their example, for she seemed to have the feelings of a mother for all of us. I do not suppose any soldier ever asked for anything he ought to have, that she did not procure it. If she could not get it of the Commissions, she would buy it for him with her own money. I saw her in the wards by night and by day for months, preparing and giving suitable food to the sickest of the men. A careful observation of over two years has taught me that nursing is fully as important as medicine. In the wards where there was the best nursing, there were always the fewest deaths. ".'Aunt Lizzie' and 'Mother' were Miss Lizzie Aiken and Mrs. Sturgis from Peoria, IL. They as well as many other women from Wisconsin and elsewhere were credited with saving soldiers lives with their caring actions and words.
To share your story, write it up and drop it off at the Iowa County Historical Society Museum 1-4 p.m. any weekday or E-MAIL it to IowaCountyScrapbook@gmail.com. If you would rather, you can call the Iowa County Historical Society at 935-7694.
