"Miss Baron," said Surgeon Ackley, "a number of the men are so
disabled that they cannot feed themselves. Proper food at the right
time usually means life."
These words suggested what became one of her principal duties. At
first, rough men were surprised and grateful indeed to find fair
young girl kneeling beside them with a bowl of hot soup; then they
began to look for her and welcome her as one who evoked their best
and most chivalrous feelings. It had soon been evident to her that
the wounded officers in the house would receive the most careful
attention from the regularly appointed attendants and also from Mrs.
Whately. With the exception of the old colonel, she gradually began
to devote the most of her time to the enlisted men, finding among
them much less embarrassment in her labors. With the latter class
among the Confederates, there was not on either side a consciousness
of social equality or an effort to maintain its amenities. The
relation was the simple one of kindness bestowed and received.
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