| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 3 |
Page 5 |
“The scene presented after the battle was truly a heart rending one. Winchester was literally one vast hospital. All the churches and other public buildings were filled; while almost every private house had its quota of wounded and bleeding soldiers. There have been but few times since the war began when there was greater need of external relief. There was nothing left in the country; the government supplies were all back; the nearest base was Harper’s Ferry, over thirty miles distant; and the intervening country was overrun with guerrillas, so that nothing could go forward safely, unless under the protection of a strong military escort. I cannot pass over this period without bearing testimony to the noble and self sacrificing labours of the loyal ladies of Winchester. When they saw the brave defenders of the old flag, which they still so dearly loved, stricken down in the streets of their city, they at once entered on their work of mercy, and ceased not till all the brave men were made comfortable. They shared their last morsel with them; they washed, and dressed, and cheered the weary sufferers, and bent over the dying to catch their last whispered message to dear ones far away. There are a few names in Winchester which will go down into history garlanded with honours, and coupled with deeds of heroism and magnanimity.
“The world will never know the nature, value, or importance of the work performed in the hospitals by our delegates. It was a quiet, unostentatious work of mercy. Entering on their labours there in a time of greatest suffering, they worked by day and by night among the wounded thousands, washing, dressing, feeding, praying with the dying, burying the dead, and calling upon the living to repent and be saved. It is now nearly three months and a half since the work began, but it is not yet ended. During this time, five hundred men have died in these hospitals; several thousand have been transferred to other hospitals; while several hundred still remain.
Page 5