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[260]

Mrs. Cordelia A. P. Harvey.

Rev. N. M. Mann.
  • The death of her husband, Governor Louis P. Harvey
  • -- her intense grief -- she resolves to devote herself to the care of the sick and wounded soldiers -- she visits St. Louis as Agent for the State of Wisconsin -- work in the St. Louis hospitals in the autumn of 1862 -- heroic labors at Cape Girardea -- visiting hospitals along the Mississippi -- the soldiers' ideas of her influence and power -- young's Point in 183 -- illness of Mrs. Harvey -- she determines to secure the establishment of a General Hospital at Madison, Wisconsin, where from the fine climate the chances of recovery of the sick and wounded will be increased -- her resolution and energy -- the Harvey Hospital -- the removal of the patients at Fort Pickering to it -- repeated journeys down the Mississippi -- presented with an elegant watch by the Second Wisconsin Cavalry -- her influence over the soldiers -- the soldiers' Orphan Asylum at Madison


The State of Wisconsin is justly proud of a name, which, while standing for what is noble and true in man, has received an added lustre in being made to express also, the sympathy, the goodness, and the power of woman. The death of the honored husband, and the public labors of the heroic wife, in the same cause — the great cause that has absorbed the attention and the resources of the country for four years--have given each to the other a peculiar and thrilling interest to every loyal American heart.

It will be remembered that shortly after the battle of Shiloh, Governor Harvey proceeded to the front with supplies and medical aid to assist in caring for the wounded among the soldiers from his State, after rendering great service in alleviating their sufferings by the aid and comfort he brought with him, and reviving their spirits by his presence. As he was about to embark at Savannah for home, in passing from one boat to another, he fell into the river and was drowned. This was on the 19th of April, 1862, a day made memorable by some of the most important events in our country's history. Two days before he wrote to Mrs. Harvey the last sacred letter as follows:

Pittsburg Landing, April 17, 1862.
Dear wife:--Yesterday was the day of my life. Thank God for the impulse that brought me here. I am well and have done more good by coming than I can well tell you. In haste,

Louis.

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