This series on Kate Cumming is dedicated to all those nurses who give of themselves to heal others. Your kindness, your touch, your wisdom and your unselfish dedication can never be appreciated enough.
To all my sister and brother nurses,
Thank You.
Excerpts from Kate's journal:
October 12th: The hospital is filled with wounded – the very worst which were on the battle-field. There was a raid expected, and they had to be taken off in a hurry. They were put on the train about three or four days ago, and have had little to eat; and many of them have not had their wounds dressed during that time.
I have just received a litter from my brother, dated the 8th. He says the army has been in line of battle ever since the late battle, and are waiting for the enemy to make the attack.
October 28th: On my way to the wards this morning I was annoyed at something which happened. I had made up my mind to leave the hospital, but on entering the wards all of this feeling vanished. When I saw the smile with which I was greeted on every side. And the poor sufferers so glad to see me, I made up my mind, I hope for the last time, that, happen what may, nothing will ever make me leave the hospital as long as I can be of any service to the suffering.
December 7th: I received a letter from my brother today. He is well, and has lost everything except the clothes which he has on. I intend sending him some.
January 3, 1864: Part of our hospital was destroyed by fire last night. It originated in the officer’s quarters of the Buckner Hospital through the negligence of a servant. I have been told that some of the officers who were wounded nearly lost their lives. We lost two buildings; they had few patients in them, and no one was hurt. But a short time since they were filled with badly wounded, who, fortunately, had been removed.
January 29th: We are sadly in want of comforts, cotton to make mattresses, spoons, knives and forks, and in fact everything. Many of our men have to eat their food with their fingers.
May 17th: There has been fighting near Dalton for some days. Our army has left that place, and is moving down, drawing the enemy with it.
I went to Atlanta on the 15th, in company with some ladies and gentlemen of this place. We intended going to the scene of conflict, but as the army is on the move, had to come back. We reached Atlanta on the morning of the 16th, about daylight. Mrs. Harris and myself went to the Gate City Hospital. It is the distributing one. The hospital was filled with wounded , who had come in that morning from the front. Mr. Tucker told me that he had dressed the wounds of four hundred men since 4 o’clock the previous day. He had been up all that night at his work.
That morning was one of the gloomiest I ever passed. Hundreds of wounded men, dirty, bloody and weary, were all around us. And when I thought of the many more which were expected, I was filled with despair, and felt like humbling myself in the dust, and praying more earnestly than ever before that God would send us peace.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Auld and myself went to the cars, on their arrival from the front; and O, what a sight we there beheld! No less than three long trains filled, outside and in, with wounded. Nearly all seemed to be wounded in the head, face and hands. I asked someone near me why this was. They replied, because our men had fought behind breastworks.
The men were lying all over the platform of the depot, preferring to remain there, so as to be ready for the train which would take them to other places. I was informed that there were about seven or eight hundred wounded who had come In that evening.
At daybreak I went to the hospital by myself. On arriving there I found that no more wounded had come, but there were many there already. The scene which presented itself to me in the large room where we had been the night before was sickening.
There was pile after pile of rags, just as they had been taken from the wounds, covered with blood and the water used in bathing them. All of the attendants were too much exhausted to clean up.
These are the things to which we have to shut our eyes, if we wish to do any good, as they cannot be avoided.
I met Dr. Calvert of the Thirty-eighth Alabama Regiment, who requested me to get some rags for him, which I did, and assisted him as much as I could. He had some badly wounded men from his regiment.
Dr. Calvert told me he had not eaten anything for some time. I gave him some coffee, bread, and meat; and when I recollect now the place in which he ate it, I think we can get used to anything. It was in the room or hall which I have just described.
KC
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It is amazing what nurses and physicians can “get used to.” Families of medical personnel frequently have to remind them not to talk about work at the dinner table! I would imagine that Kate surprised herself by being able to eat sometimes after having seen, or having smelled, the sights and smells she encountered.
To all those nurses who have left a sick patient, or perhaps a difficult smell, or an unpleasant sight, grabbed a quick bite of food, and ran off to take care of more sick patients, I applaud you for your ability to “get used to” it and go on. As Kate said, “these are the things to which we have to shut our eyes, if we wish to do any good, as they cannot be avoided.”
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