Chapter 15: May 6, 1983 and Chapter 16: What Happened After Summary and Analysis

Chapter 15: May 6, 1983

A few weeks later, the regiment was transferred to service under the Vicksburg army, led by General Grant. Vicksburg was a Confederate railway center. If the Union could capture the city, it would cripple the southern forces. But naturally it was well-guarded. Grant had ordered numerous assaults but had failed to overtake the Confederate forces. Grant and his forces dug in and a long siege ensued. Many casualties—both soldiers and civilians—resulted from the bloody conflict. Emma, Mrs. Butler and the nurses worked around the clock to tend to the injured.

Emma fell sick from malaria, or as it was know then, "swamp fever". She was given quinine but saw no improvement. She had to either continue working or be hospitalized. She had successfully...