Monday, January 25, 2021

A Life-Giving Beverage

 Diary of a Southern Refugee during the War, by a Lady of Virginia :  Nebraska Press

The Diary of Mrs. Judith Brockenbrough McGuire, 1862-1863 includes the following entry which notes the “dangerously wounded” condition of her nephew, identified only as “Major B.” She devoted herself to “B’s” care until his parents arrived, living on little sleep with pitchers of water, bowls and baskets readied for more wounded coming on the trains. Mrs. McGuire wrote of herself and other ladies caring for the wounded: “We cannot yield to private feelings now; they may surge up and rush through our hearts until they almost burst them, but they must not overwhelm us. We must do our duty to our country, and it can’t be done by nursing our own sorrows.”

More @ Circa 1865

10 comments:

  1. An interesting yet sad account from the past.
    Thanks for sharing and posting items like this. I really appreciate it!
    What is India Ale that is mentioned? Is there an equivalent today?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like this is it today.
      https://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/shop/online/india-ale-case-of-12/

      Delete
  2. I'll have to locate that, or an equivalent.
    For "medicinal" purposes, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A close domestic equivalent?
    Good brew!
    https://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/commodore-perry

    ReplyDelete
  4. The account of Mrs. McGuire caring for Major B reminds me of this book:
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1594377.Doctors_in_Gray

    ReplyDelete
  5. And this:
    More Damning than Slaughter.
    https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska-paperback/9780803220805/

    ReplyDelete