Clara Barton and Marsena Patrick

[John Hartwell]

The only excuse for putting these two estimable figures in the same post is a little story that takes place at Frederickburg:

YOU'RE RIGHT, MADAM— GOOD DAY​

Immediately following the Battle of Fredericksburg, every house in the city became a hospital. Among the thousands of wounded Clara Barton, in her usual unobtrusive manner, passed in and out of the houses, first on one side of the street then on the other, on her mission of mercy. Provost Marshal General Patrick seeing her alone among the soldiers mistook her for a resident driven from her home.
The general did not seem to know that any good woman is safe among men, brave and true, and nowhere else more so than among soldiers. He did not fully appreciate that when a woman is true to herself

So dear to heav'n is saintly chastity,
That when a soul is found sincerely so,
A thousand liveried angels lackey her;​

and he did not know Clara Barton. So, with admirable southern chivalry, he dashed to her side, bowing with hat in hand, and said : "Madam, you are alone and in great danger here!"
"No, I think not, Marshal."
"Yes, you are, Madam. May I offer you my protection?"
"No, Marshal, I think it is not necessary."
Then turning to the ranks of the soldiers she further com mented : "Marshal, I am the best protected woman in the United States." The soldiers appreciating the compliment sent up cheer after cheer, accompanied with "That's so! that's so!"
The Marshal, taking in the situation and waving his hand towards Miss Barton with a broad smile, said: "I think you are right, Madam, Good day!"

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"The only picture of myself that I have cared anything about at all is the one taken at the time of the Civil War (1865), in which I am represented in the uniform of a nurse. If my friends had let me have my way, I would never have had another picture taken." Clara Barton.

Brigadier General Marsena Patrick, Provost Marshal of the Army of the Potomac.
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