JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Landing of the troops at Roanoke Island, by Alonzo Chappel, NYPL, Burnside's ships stand in the harbor. Men died in the battle, an exhausted nurse perished on board one of these transports, the USS Northern..
Ramsdell’s 1901 History of Milford N.H. devoted a page to Miss Carrie Cutter, a Union nurse, one of many who perished while serving. It's a revealing synopsis.
"March 24, died, Miss Carrie E. Cutter, daughter of Calvin Cutter, M. D. She was born in Milford July 28, 1842. Her mother was the daughter of Nathan Hall. She was educated at Professor Russell’s school at Lancaster, Mass., at Mt. Holyoke seminary, and at a private German school in Pennsylvania. Dr. Cutter was surgeon of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers. In October, 1861, at her earnest, repeated request, she was permitted to join her father at Annapolis, and when the Burnside expedition sailed she was allowed to continue on the steamship Northerner, on board which vessel she was during the action at Roanoke Island, caring for the wounded. After the action she went ashore and labored untiringly in the care of the sick and wounded. Being able to speak German, she took charge of three young German soldiers, who in their delirium had forgotten the English language."
"The severity of this experience brought on fever of which she died in the cabin of the Northerner, before she had reached her twentieth birthday. By order of General Burnside she was buried with military honors, usually observed at the burial of a colonel. When the National cemetery was established at New Berne, by order of the secretary of war, her remains were removed to that place. Her name is inscribed in enduring bronze on the soldiers’ monument in Warren, Mass., the residence of her father. The United States has furnished her with a soldier’s headstone."
Harper's battle scene, Zouave regiment at Roanoake Island. Nursing wounded took a toll among those who aided, Carrie Cutter was one of them.
Part of the Burnside expedition and on board USS Northerner with the 21st Massachusetts during action, it seems inevitable she, father Calvin and sweetheart Charles Tidd were there, too. Carrie grew up immersed in the abolitionist movement. Her father was a dedicated abolitionist, surgeon and author enlisted as surgeon in the 21st Mass, saw much action with the unit and was captured.
Carrie went ashore, to nurse wounded after the shooting stopped. Frank Leslie's artist left us this- the hospital there. Cannot find whether or not Carrie was here- it's an 1862 image, so maybe.
Sweetheart, Charles Plummer Tidd -one of John Brown's army, enlisted in the 21st Mass. too. The transport Northerner saw his death of typhoid, too.
Clara Barton wrote Carrie Cutter's death into her incredible poem, posted recently by @John Hartwell.
We're familiar with some Barton mentions, others are new to me. Somehow feel Clara would expect us to remember all them. So we will. This small memorial is to Carrie Cutter, dead of typhoid while nursing wounded.