L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

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[301] and the President informed her that the Chamber, feeling deeply impressed with the good work she and the other ladies were doing in behalf of the soldiers, had voted a contribution of twelve hundred dollars a month to the “Ladies' aid Society.” Mrs. Bickerdyke was not, however, disposed to tender them the congratulations to which perhaps they believed themselves entitled for their liberality. “You believe yourselves very generous, no doubt, gentlemen,” she said, “and think that because you have given this pretty sum, you are doing all that is required of you. But I have in my hospital a hundred poor soldiers, who have done more than any of you. Who of you would contribute a leg, an arm, or an eye, instead of what you have done? How many hundred or thousand dollars would you consider and equivalent for either? Don't deceive yourselves, gentlemen. The poor soldier who has given an arm, a leg, or an eye to his country (and many of them have given more than one), has given more than you have, or can. How much more, then, he who has given his life? No! gentlemen, you must set your standard higher yet, or you will not come up to the full measure of liberality in giving.”

Mrs. Bickerdyke was on the field in the battles of November, 1863, around Chattanooga, and in the hospitals of Chattanooga during the winter. In May, 1864, she and Mrs. Porter, of Chicago, both in the service of the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, followed Sherman's Army in the march to Atlanta; being present at every battle, and ministering to the wounded and the exhausted soldiers. Her great executive ability had fair play here, and with few or none of the ordinary