Martha Ann Denton Baker
Civil War Letter

By Mary A. Gardner Holland, first published 1897 (this book has been re-published several times in recent history) Below is an excerpt from pages 228-230 of book published in 2012 by Forgotten Books This excerpt is a letter written by Martha Ann Denton Baker to the author. Martha Baker is the grand-mother of my wife, Beulah Alice Baker Walker

Martha Baker's Letter :

I was born in Concord Indiana in 1838, a daughter of Benjamin and Anna Genton. At the age of 16 I went to Sugar Grove Institute. In 1859 my mother and father, both being dead, I was married to Abner Baker. In February 1862, my husband enlisted in the 40^th Indiana Volunteers, leaving me at my brothers with our little girl. After the battle of Chickamauga he was sent to Nashville, in charge of 27 officers. Finding that he was an extra good nurse he was transferred to the 160^th Battalion Veterans Relief Corps, and made chief wound-dresser of one ward in the Officers� Hospital. He then wrote for me, and I went from Stockwell, Ind., January 1854, and was appointed to the Special Diet Kitchen, under the charge of Major Lyons. At that time we prepared food for the Officers Hospital and No. 2, --about 500 men.

Just before the battle of Atlanta a good many of the boys went home to vote, and it cut us short of hands, as we had 1500 to cook for, and but little help. Our strength was taxed to the utmost. Sometimes it was almost impossible to keep up, but with the aid of the Lord, who always strengthens and prepares the back for the burden, we were enabled to do our duties, and speak a few words of comfort to the poor soldiers who were away from home and friends. We are glad to see our boys come back from their furlough, and to think they remembered to bring us some tokens of love from Mother or Sister. We shall always remember the kindness of the soldiers.

Doctor Green, an especial friend of ours, was put in assistant surgeon, and he often came for my little girl to go with him to see the patients; he would laugh and say she did them as much well as he did.

I was there during the battle of Nashville. Cannon were placed within 100 yards of our building. I saw men bayonetted from the breastwork. The cannonading was so heavy it shook the building. There I beheld the horrors of war and after the battle, the sad sight of the ambulances coming in with their fearful loads.

With almost breaking hearts our hands were still busy caring for the wounded.

I met two soldier girls who had gone the blue^{footnote 1}. One, Francis Hook^{footnote 2}, alias Harry Miller, served two years and nine months; the other was called Anna. She was put under our charge until the Military authorities could send her North.

I left the service February, 1865.

Yours truly,
Martha A. Baker.

___________________

Footnotes:
1. by blue she means the girl pretended to be a male soldier
2. Francis Hook is a well known Civil War soldier who pretended to be a man.
See History of Amrican Woment