Page 160 - Arkansas Confederate Women

Sisters of Mercy in the War 139

people. His medium height and fair complexion, with reddish

hair and. beard, would not indicate the extraordinary bravery
which he exhibited in time of battle, nor anything of that terri-
ble retaliation which followed the extraordinary outrages which

he and many of his men had endured in Kansas and Missouri.

Very Reverend Lawrence Smythe, V. F., was the pastor at
Fort Smith from 1861 to the end of the war. The following sis-
ters were members of the community of St. Anne's academy
from 1861 to 1865:

Sisters M. Baptist, John, Magdalene, Vincentia and De

Sales.

THE WORK IN HELENA.

The Sisters of Mercy had acquired in the late fifties the
beautiful residence of the Biscoe family, adjoining that of Gen-
eral Hindman and General Cleburne, for their convent and
school. Rev. Philip Shanahan was the pastor. Rt. Rev. An-
drew Byrne, the first Catholic bishop in Arkansas, died there
June 18, 1862.

The hospital work of the sisters was much the same in
Helena, as in Fort Smith and Little Rock. It was subjected
to much irregularity on account of the delay in establishing
any general system of hospital work. The medical staff was
at all times less in numbers and in suitable equipment than
even necessity required. This is why the ladies of the differ-
ent cities and the Sisters of Mercy were almost always thrown
upon their own individual resources. This will also explain why
few exact reports can be made of much of the work.

It is said that disease kills more soldiers than battles.
Helena was at all times a military center and the hospitals never

closed their doors. When General Holmes made a furious at-

tack on Helena July 4, 1863, then held by General Curtis, the
Union commander, the Sisters of Mercy from their elevated
convent were able to see the battle raging in all its fury. They
saw the standard-bearer in an advanced position fall to the
ground, trailing the banner of the South, and, in spite of their
prayers, they saw victory go down with the stars and bars.