The Boys In White; the Experience of a Hospital Agent In and Around Washington
New York: Lange & Hillman, Steam Book and Job Printers, 1870. 1st Edition. Duodecimo. Very Good. Item #17440
A beautiful 1st edition, 1st-Hand Civil War Medical account from the 'Florence Nightingale of Michigan'.
"One of the better, straightforward accounts of life in Federal hospitals; Miss Wheelock was stationed through the last three years of the war at Alexandria, Va." - Nevins, I-91
"In September 1861, Julia’s brother, Orville, enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Infantry. His unit fought in the Battle of Chantilly in September 1862. On September 10, 1862, Julia received word of her brother’s condition. She left her teaching job in Ionia, Michigan to be at his bedside.
"Julia started a diary that day and wrote: At 1/2 past 8 o’clock Tinie Stone called and wished to see me: I went to the door, when she informed me that brother Orville was seriously wounded the first day of Sept. in the battle near Centreville, that he lay several days on the field, had his left limb amputated – but was finally taken to a hospital in Alexandria, Va.
"During her search for Orville, she had met Elmina Brainard, a young Michigan woman who had volunteered to nurse the wounded. By the end of September, both women had been appointed visiting agents for the Michigan Soldier’s Relief Association.
"The purpose of this organization was to provide food, clothing and other supplies to Michigan soldiers. Julia assisted the nurses, fed the soldiers, wrote letters home for those unable to do so for themselves and comforted the dying, with an emphasis on those from Michigan." - womenhistoryblog
vii, [3], 9 - 274 pp. Frontispiece portrait of Wheelock. Burgundy Cloth. Titling and illustration in gilt. Square tight binding. Clean interior. Mild rubbing and edge wear.
An exceptional account of Civil War medicine from a woman's perspective.
Price: $175.00