During those three years in hospital, camp or field, I made over six
hundred visits or tours, and went, as I estimate, counting all, among
from eighty thousand to a hundred thousand of the wounded and sick,
as sustainer of spirit and body in some degree, in time of need. These
visits varied from an hour or two, to all day or night; for with dear
or critical cases I generally watch'd all night. Sometimes I took up my
quarters in the hospital, and slept or watch'd there several nights
in succession. Those three years I consider the greatest privilege
and satisfaction, (with all their feverish excitements and physical
deprivations and lamentable sights,) and, of course, the most profound
lesson of my life. I can say that in my ministerings I comprehended
all, whoever came in my way, northern or southern, and slighted none. It
arous'd and brought out and decided undream'd-of depths of emotion. It
has given me my most fervent views of the true _ensemble_ and extent of
the States. While I was with wounded and sick in thousands of cases from
the New England States, and from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania,
and from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and all the
Western States, I was with more or less from all the States, North
and South, without exception. I was with many from the border States,
especially from Maryland and Virginia, and found, during those lurid
years 1862-63, far more Union southerners, especially Tennesseans, than
is supposed. I was with many rebel officers and men among our wounded,
and gave them always what I had, and tried to cheer them the same as
any. I was among the army teamsters considerably, and, indeed, always
found myself drawn to them. Among the black soldiers, wounded or sick,
and in the contraband camps, I also took my way whenever in their
neighborhood, and did what I could for them.