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to the Soldiers' Aid societies in village and town, at work weekly while the war lasted; to the numerous meetings in all the school-houses to arouse the people, when volunteers were called for; and to the effort made to raise funds, to meet the expenses of the Sanitary Commission.

The women of the nation performed a mighty work in sustaining the soldiers in the field, and caring for the sick and wounded, not only in hospitals, but also upon the march. These ministering angels were here, there, and everywhere that duty called them. Many of them yielded up their lives to the cause in which they were engaged; and, if one will take a look among the graves in the cemetery at Arlington, where so many thousands of our soldiers are at rest, he will notice frequent headstones with the names of women placed thereon, who were nurses in hospitals, and there they were given a resting-place among their buried brothers. There are well authenticated instances where wives and sisters were imbued with such irresistible patriotism that they were determined to enlist with husband or brother, and to engage in active service. In this town there were a brother and sister named Mason and Sarah Collins; and the brother had made up his mind that it was his duty to enlist. His sister Sarah, a brave and courageous girl, was determined to accompany him, thinking that she could disguise her. self in man's apparel, and, in company with her brother, be mustered into service. She was a strong, masculine-appearing girl, possessing robust health, with the bloom of the roses upon her cheeks. Her brother entered heartily into the scheme, overcome by the persistent importunities of his sister, that she might go and share danger with him. Preparations for the deception were made; her raven tresses were cut short, she put on man's clothing, and for some time she endeavored to accustom herself to her strange and unnatural apparel. She accompanied her brother to the rendezvous of the company; there, notwithstanding her soldier-like appearance and the air of masculinity surrounding her, her sex was at last detected, while in barracks as it was said, by her unmannish way in putting on her shoes and stockings; and poor Sarah, disappointed beyond

gregate population.

The records of this Post show that thirtysix, of the men whose names I have given, have passed over the silent river, and joined the great majority beyond. Being scattered as they are, in the different states of the Union, it is probable that many other deaths have occurred of which no record has been received.

During the war Lake Mills was not a railroad or telegraph station; but our people's anxiety for news from the front was so overwhelming that a special messenger was sent daily to Jefferson, the nearest point at which the latest tidings of the war could be obtained; and his return signaled a gathering of every one in the village and vicinity, to learn the good or bad news he might bring.

There are many interesting incidents still vivid in the memories of those who were prominent in the events of those years long ago. If I had time I might recount many; but I will only mention briefly two or three. One was a flag presentation upon the shores of yon beautiful lake, to the boys of the Twentyninth. The presentation speech was made by Mrs. Dr. Dubois; it was a most interesting occasion and the feeling of patriotism among those present was at high tide. The flag was given by

the ladies of the town.

I beg leave to quote from a letter which I have received from a patriotic lady of those days,-one of those brave women who did so much to fill up the ranks. In speaking of the recruiting for a company in the Twenty-ninth Regiment, she says: "There was a call for a meeting at the Methodist Church; after the preliminary organization, a few, who had made up their minds before that evening, came forward and volunteered. They were greeted by cheers and remarks, that led one after another to come forward and offer their services. The scene was one never to be forgotten. There was applause from the men, and sobs from the women; and sometimes, when the men would get up, their friends would cling to them trying to hold them back, not from lack of patriotism, but loth to give them up to almost certain death. But the excitement of the time, and example of others already enlisted, would prove too much for them, and they would soon break away and go forward." She also alluded

to the Soldiers' Aid societies in village and town, at work weekly while the war lasted; to the numerous meetings in all the school-houses to arouse the people, when volunteers were called for; and to the effort made to raise funds, to meet the expenses of the Sanitary Commission.

The women of the nation performed a mighty work in sustaining the soldiers in the field, and caring for the sick and wounded, not only in hospitals, but also upon the march. These ministering angels were here, there, and every where that duty called them. Many of them yielded up their lives to the cause in which they were engaged; and, if one will take a look among the graves in the cemetery at Arlington, where so many thousands of our soldiers are at rest, he will notice frequent headstones with the names of women placed thereon, who were nurses in hospitals, and there they were given a resting-place among their buried brothers. There are well authenticated instances where wives and sisters were imbued with such irresistible patriotism that they were determined to enlist with husband or brother, and to engage in active service. In this town there were a brother and sister named Mason and Sarah Collins; and the brother had made up his mind that it was his duty to enlist. His sister Sarah, a brave and courageous girl, was determined to accompany him, thinking that she could disguise herself in man's apparel, and, in company with her brother, be mustered into service. She was a strong, masculine-appearing girl, possessing robust health, with the bloom of the roses upon her cheeks. Her brother entered heartily into the scheme, overcome by the persistent importunities of his sister, that she might go and share danger with him. Preparations for the deception were made; her raven tresses were cut short, she put on man's clothing, and for some time she endeavored to accustom herself to her strange and unnatural apparel. She accompanied her brother to the rendezvous of the company; there, notwithstanding her soldier-like appearance and the air of masculinity surrounding her, her sex was at last detected, while in barracks as it was said, by her unmannish way in putting on her shoes and stockings; and poor Sarah, disappointed beyond

measure at the failure of her efforts to become a soldier, wita tears in her eyes was obliged to return to her home, and her brother, Mason, went to the front without her. The facts in this case are so well authenticated, by the memory of so many familiar with them at the time, that there can be no doubt about them.

THE WEST AS A FIELD FOR HISTORICAL STUDY.*

BY FREDERICK JACKSON TURNER, PH. D.

The Western historical societies have before them a noble future in the collection and utilization of the materials for the history of their section. The pioneers who saw the days of beginnings are passing away, and these societies find their proceedings less and less occupied with the interesting personal recollections of the path-breakers in the wilderness. Their record must more and more be written by the students of the younger generation; the early annals must be followed by the scientific investigation of the institutional and social development of the West. The full significance of a movement never reveals itself to the actors in that movement. The perspective of a longer distance of time is needed to reveal the real proportions and meaning of events. Thus, instead of diminishing in importance, the investigative work of the historical society steadily grows in its usefulness.

Moreover, the earlier tendencies of historical societies have been in the direction of antiquarian research. The description of archæclogical remains, the date of the first settler, the accounts of the life of the pioneer, have won so much of their attention that the collection of the less striking and picturesque material for history, and the later development of the State, have frequently been neglected.

Our own society has always been progressive in these respects. It has collected a library so full and so broad, that the Western man can study, not only all periods of his country's history, but all sections of that country. Nor has the Society

*Paper presented to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, at its Forty-fourth Annual Meeting, Dec. 10, 1896.

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